Top 10 Places To Visit In Madurai
Were you trying to find the best place to travel with a family or friend group? Madurai is one of the best historical places in TamilNadu. Madurai is well known for its historical and cultural significance. It is said that the city of Madurai was built in the shape of a lotus around the infamous Meenakshi Amman temple. To make it more significant, the city is called “Athens of the East ” because both cities’ roadways are similar.
According to the 2011 census report, Madurai is the third largest Urban agglomeration in Tamil Nadu. Apart from that, it is also the 44th most populated city in India. The city of Madurai is situated on the banks of River Vaigai. You can discover more than 2500 years old documented history of this city. Local people have named the town “Thoonga Nagaram,” “the city that never sleeps.”
As we said, the city is surrounded by many temples and historical structures. You can immerse yourself in the history of the place. All of those uncountable numbers of historical monuments are enough to make you keep the business in mind forever. So, without wasting time, you can add this place to your next destination on vacation with your family or friends, or even if you are daring, you can go out for a memorable solo trip. Here in this part of the report, you will find a straightforward guide to travel in Madurai, and also you will find out the top 10 places to visit in Madurai.
Let’s explore with us!
How can you reach Madurai?
Madurai is one of the best I.T. hubs in Tamil Nadu, which houses many I.T. giants like H.C.L. technologies, Honeywell, etc. The place is also one of the biggest hubs for automotive services. And, of course, the tourism business is the central part of this city. The transportation service is too good to make the town convenient for travelers, job holders, locals, etc. You can find almost all modes of transportation. Here you can check it.
- Road
Madurai is where you will be connected to major national highways like NH-44, NH-38, and NH-85. Apart from this, SH-33, SH-72, SH-72A, SH-73, and SH-73A are major state highways that have passed through the city. This city of culture is one of the seven circles of the Tamil Nadu State Highway network. You can enjoy local and inter-city bus transport, connecting you to different cities and districts like Dindigul, Sivagangai, Theni, Virudhunagar, etc. Three major bus termini are M.G.R. Bus Stand or Mattuthavani bus stand, Arappalayam, and Periyar Bus Stand. M.G.R. Bus Stand, or Mattuthavani bus stand, is the second largest bus stand in Tamil Nadu. Arapalayam is used for inter-city buses, and Periyar Bus Stand is the place for intra-city bus services. In Madurai, you can also avail of three-wheeled vehicles called auto rickshaws. You can rent these vehicles to travel across the city. Here is also the option of private mini buses that can take you to different local places.
- Railway
You can enjoy railway services to a lot of major cities in India. Madurai has a central railway station named Madurai Junction. This station is one of the most booked sections in the Indian railway service. This is also the headquarters of the Madurai division of Southern Railway. There is a chance of having a monorail project soon in Madurai.
- Air
Madurai airport is a domestic airport that serves India. This domestic airport is located in Avaniyapuram, which is 12 kilometers away from the central part of the city. Flights of Air India, Air India Express, SpiceJet, IndiGo, and Srilankan Airlines are carriers in this airport. A limited number of international flights are allowed to places like Colombo, Dubai, and Singapore. Air India Express took this initiative in February 2018.
- Metro rail
Though the metro rail project is on paper, soon, the facility will be available for locals and travelers.
- Sea
Madurai is connected with the nearest major port, V. O. Chidambaranar Port Trust. This port is situated in Thoothukudi, 150 km from Madurai. You can easily connect to this place through NH-38. From the Madurai airport, the distance of the port is nearly 143 km.
What is the most suitable period to visit Madurai?
This is the best time to spend time in Madurai. If you want to enjoy it to the fullest, you can explore the place from October to March. Summer is quite hot and dry in Madurai, so people love to travel during winter. Also, the temperature during the winter season is between 20 degree Celsius and 29 degree Celsius. The moderately cool temperature will help you to travel across the city without any issues.
If you want to enjoy Madurai’s monsoon, you must go between June and August. Though the rainfall is heavy due to southwest monsoon winds, if you are a nature lover by heart, you will love this place. Greenery and the natural surroundings will make you feel soothing and better.
Season-wise festival in Madurai
As Madurai is a cultural hub, many events and festivals make the city more cheerful and attractive to visit. Here is the list of great festivals in Madurai.
Chithirai: Chithirai is one of the city’s biggest festivals, celebrated for two weeks.
Pongal: Pongal is the celebration of harvesting. The festival is celebrated in January. All local people make this a grand celebration. Pongal is celebrated to thank the natural elements like the Sun. You can enjoy the Jallikattu celebration, a significant part of the Pongal celebration.
Apart from this festival, other festivals like Cradle, Avanimoolam Festival, Float Festival, and Dance Festival are celebrated in Madurai amongst the local people.
Top 10 best places to visit in Madurai
As you have reached here, you are ready to take your backpack and explore the culture and history of the temple city and the pilgrim town of Madurai. You can enjoy every corner of the city because there is a wide array of Dravidian-style temples.
Here are the ten finest locations to visit in Madurai.
Meenakshi Amman Temple: the place of colorful aesthetic
The most exciting place to visit in Madurai is Meenakshi Amman Temple which is the best place of colorful aesthetics. It is your first destination in Madurai. It is situated in the center point of the city, and the whole of Madurai city is built around the temple. You can enjoy soothing Dravidian architecture in every pillar and gopuram of the temple. The area is 13 acres, and you can explore two essential things: a sacred golden lotus pool and mandapas. We can assure you if you are a history lover and fond of architecture, you will feel both here instantly. Even if you spend a few hours, you may be unable to explore the whole.
Address: Madurai Main, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, 625001
Timings: 9 am – 7 pm
Entry fee: INR 5 for Indians and INR 50 for foreign tourists
Koodal Azhagar Temple: the best place to appreciate the beauty
As your next destination, we have Koodal Azhagar Temple, dedicated to lord Vishnu. This stunning intricate structure will make you appreciate the beauty of the place. This temple is also built in Dravidian style architecture. The raja gopuram has five glorious towers 120 feet tall with embellished designs. The temple is near Meenakshi Amman temple, so don’t take the cost of missing this place while traveling in Madurai. You can also visit the site at the time of the float festival. It is a 10- days festival in this place.
Address: Perumal Koil Sannathi Street Near Periyar Bus Stand, Periyar, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, 625001
Timings: 7 am – 12 pm, 4 pm – 7:30 pm
Entry fee: Not applicable
Thirupparamkunram Murugan Temple: must visit place
Thirupparamkunram Murugan temple should be on your bucket list if you want to visit a real royal place. You will be amazed by the ancient structure and architecture. The whole temple is rock-cut, making it more attractive to pay a visit. You can see that lord Shiva and Vishnu are facing each other here. This factor makes the temple more beautiful because you will experience the beauty of combining two different groups – Shaivites and Vaishnavites. Visit the nearby holy pond where devotees used to feed lots of fish.
Address: Thiruparankundram, Tamil Nadu, 625005
Timings: 5 am to 1 pm, 4 pm to 9 pm
Entry fee: Not applicable
Alagar Kovil: visit the intricate details
It may seem very normal to you initially, but with time, you can enjoy a deep lifestyle and community revolving around the Kallazhagar Temple. A lush hill is there to make the place more beautiful, and the ancient structure will attract you dramatically with its detail. Unlike any other famous temples in Madurai, you can feel the serenity here. A perfect combination of village life and Hill’s beauty can be observed together in Alagar Kovil.
Address: Alagar Kovil Main Rd, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, 624401
Timings: 6 am to 12:30 pm, 3:30 pm to 8:30 pm
Entry fee: Not applicable
Pudhu Mandapam: stop here for shopping
Well, here is the best place near Meenakshi Amman temple, which is famous for its lively shopping. The shopping area is amidst massive stone pillars, and shopkeepers sell things like wooden toys, fabrics, stoneware, brush ware, etc. You can take souvenirs for your family and home to make them feel happy. Just learn how to bargain and jump into the place.
Address: E Chitrai St, Chinnakadai Area, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, 625001
Timings: 9 am to 8:30 pm
Entry fee: Not applicable
Gandhi Memorial Museum: explore history with detailed information
Though it is known as a sightseeing place in Madurai, don’t ignore this one, the Gandhi Memorial Museum. It is the grand Tamukkam palace that the Nayak Dynasty built. You can enjoy the beautiful landscape and no doubt you will be immersed in the old history of India. All three sections, namely the ‘India Fights for Freedom’ gallery, ‘Visual Biography of Gandhi’ gallery, and ‘Relics and Replicas’ in this Museum, are worth visiting.
Address: Collector Office Rd, Tamukkam, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, 625020
Timings: 10 am to 1 pm, 2 pm to 5:45 pm
Entry fee: Not applicable
Kazimar Big Mosque: a place for blessings
Kazimar mosque is the first mosque in the city of culture. This mosque was founded by Hazarat Kazi Syed Tajuddin, a descendant of Muhammed. It is also famous for the maqbara of essential hazards. You can bow and seek blessings here. A total of 2500 people can be accommodated inside the mosque simultaneously.
Address: Kazimar St, Periyar, Madurai Main, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, 625001
Timings: 4:30 am to 11 pm
Entry fee: Not applicable
Yanaimalai: hills with beauty
Yanaimalai, or Elephant Hill, is a stunning beauty in Madurai. You can declare it is one of the best travel points in the city. This place has a combination of Shaivite and Vaishnavite temples and Jain sculptures. All temples are located in the foothills to make travelers energetic to visit. You can also avail yourself of hiking opportunities in Yanaimalai. Spend a few hours to feel the beauty and essence of this place.
Address: Narasingam, Tamil Nadu, 625104
Timings: 7 am to 12 noon, 4 pm to 8 pm
Entry fee: Not applicable
Thirumalai Nayak Mahal: must visit for Indo-Saracen
Thirumalai Nayak Mahal is the carrier of the Indo-Saracenic style of architecture, making the place a must-have location for travel enthusiasts. The whole interior is designed with Shaivite and Vaishnavite themes. You can also visit the Darbar hall (courtyard) and the Natakasala (dancing hall), which are the major attractions of this palace.
Address: Panthadi 1st St, Mahal Area, Madurai Main, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, 625001
Timings: 9 am to 5 pm
Entry fee: INR 10 per adult, INR 5 per child
Vaigai Dam: the place of a fantastic artificial thing
If you want to visit an artificial travel spot in Madurai, this is the place – Vaigai Dam. This dam is situated over the Vaigai river. Usually, in these times, the dam is completely illuminated, and you can see an eye-catching beauty. You can enjoy this place to the fullest if you can spend your time here in the evenings and on weekends.
Address: Guest House Rd, Melmangalam, Tamil Nadu, 625562
Timings: 6 am to 6 pm
Entry Fee: Free
