The Duke of Tuscany first brought jasmine in India in 1690, a flower originally from Arabia. Whether fresh or dried, they still play a quintessential role in India’s myths, legends and daily rituals. At times, jasminum sambac perfumes loose-leaf tea; at others, it is braided into floral necklaces. Revered spiritually, the odorant flower turns into an offering in Hindu temples. In the Southern part of the country, Maduraï offers among the most beautiful temples of India. Well known for the culture of jasmine, it is also a significant Tamil cultural centre, built on the banks of the river Vaigai. The city draws its history from a legend saying that god Shiva blessed the ground with the divine nectar escaping its hair.