The Growth and Development of Women's Contribution to Tourism in the Pandya Period in Madurai District: A Historical Perspective

Abstract

Madurai, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the Indian subcontinent, has been a centre of pilgrimage, trade, and cultural confluence for over two millennia. The Pandya dynasty, which ruled from Madurai across various periods from the Sangam age until the fourteenth century CE, played a pivotal role in shaping the city's enduring identity as a sacred and commercial hub. While much historical scholarship has focused on the political and architectural achievements of Pandya kings, the contributions of women both as agents of religious patronage and as participants in the economic and cultural life of the region have often been relegated to the margins of historical discourse. This article seeks to examine the growth and development of women's contributions to what may be understood as the "tourism economy" of Madurai during the Pandya period, arguing that women, through their roles as temple patrons, queens, donors, traders, and cultural bearers, were instrumental in creating and sustaining the conditions that made Madurai a perennial destination for pilgrims, traders, and travelers.