The Pudhu Mandapam is the pillared hall directly in front of the east gopuram of the Meenakshi Temple. Built by Thirumalai Nayak in the 17th century as a ceremonial pavilion, it has long since become a chaotic and wonderful covered bazaar — rows of tailors with treadle sewing machines, cloth merchants and tourist-trinket sellers all working under the carved Nayak pillars.
If you want a shirt or a kurta sewn to measure in an afternoon, this is where to do it; bargain hard, expect to pay something like 600-1000 rupees plus the cost of cloth, and pick it up the next morning.