About trip

Madurai Tourism

About Madurai city

Madurai is one of the oldest permanently settled cities in India, just like Varanasi in the north. Located in Tamil Nadu, on the banks of the Vaigai River, the city is known for its Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple. Besides being a pilgrim city, Madurai is also known for its wine, cuisine, architecture, shopping and endearing people, a popular tourist destination, a cultural hotspot and the former capital of the Pandyan dynasty.

Madurai is known by several names, among others: Koodal nagaram (City of Junctions), Malligai maanagar (City of Jasmine), Koil maanagar (City of the Temple), Thoonga nagaram (City that never sleeps) and Naanmada koodal (junction of four towers, referring here to the four major temples for which Madurai was known). The city is also mentioned in the classical Tamil epic, Silappatikaram, which revolves around Kannagi, who, by destroying the Pandyan empire, avenges the death of her husband.

The known history of Madurai dates back to the 3rd century BC. Megasthenes, the Greek ambassador to India, as well as Kautilya are mentioned here. The Meenakshi Sundareswararar Temple is the geographical centre and the centre in which local people's everyday lives revolve. In 1310, the Muslim invader Malik Kafur ransacked the original temple and it is assumed that the new building was built between 1623 and 1655 CE.

The city also exports its famous Madurai Malligai jasmine flowers.

In the Indian independence struggle, Madurai played a significant role; it was after seeing farm workers wearing the loin cloth in Madurai that Mahatma Gandhi decided to turn to wearing one on his own.

Madurai festivals are popular and draw lots of tourists. The 10-day annual festival celebrated during April-May, Meenakshi Tirukalyanam, draws over a million visitors. The game of taming angry bulls, the Jallikattu, is close to the Pampalona Bull Run held in Spain.

Madurai also serves as the gateway to hill stations such as Kodaikanal and Munnar, as well as the popular Periyar National Park wildlife hot spot.

Madurai, located in Tamil Nadu, is a city noted for its cultural and historical significance. The town is said to have been built around the famed Meenakshi Amman temple in the form of a lotus. Since it has a similar architectural theme, like alleyways, it is known since the 'Athens of the East.' Various magnificent temples and buildings were built by the rulers of the Nayak Dynasty, making it one of the top places in India to attract large numbers of pilgrims and tourists. In Madurai, there are a lot of things to do that are listed here. 

Madurai is surrounded by historically important mountains-Nagamalai, Yaanaimalai, to name a few. Owing to the existence of diverse Hindu temples of cultural significance, the area is known as the temple city.

Madurai tourist places

This famous place was built by King Thirumalai Nayakkar and is dedicated to Lord Sundareswarar. This place is packed with tailors and stalls showcasing scarves, handicrafts, fabric, artwork, jewellery, fashion accessories that are available for sale, with a 17th-century pillared entrance hall situated opposite Meenakshi Temple. 

Pudhu Mandapam is a must-visit for you while you are looking for exclusive items to shop in Madurai. You can also find clothing and replicas in high quality. This site illustrates architectural brilliance with a heightened mandapam at 25 feet. This site has been used as a place for temple festivals such as float festivals, Avani Moolam, etc. The mandapam has 124 pillars surrounding it.

One of the important things to see in Madurai during your visit to this beautiful city is Thirumalai Nayak Palace. Founded by King Thirumalai Nayak, this palace dates back to 1636 AD. With a perfect mix of Dravidian and Rajput designs, the palace is a magnificent shrine to the South. The interior is in the Indo-Saracen style, and this palace is considered one of the Madurai Nayak Dynasty 's glorious monuments.

The palace used to be four times the size of what it is now. The stucco work on the palace's domes and arches looks very rich. The palace is divided into two major parts, Swargavilasa and Rangavilasa, and comprises approximately 248 pillars.

Paying a visit to the Gandhi Memorial Museum is widely recommended among the many things to do in Madurai. This place was built in memory of Mahatma Gandhi. This pays tribute to his homage to our country. This museum houses mementoes synonymous with Indian history as the bloodstained cloth Gandhi wore when taking his last breath in 1948, becoming one of the few Gandhi Museums in the entire large world.

There are also historic British stamps and a few letters penned to and from Mahatma Gandhi.India's fight for independence is represented here, in one of the country's five great Gandhi Museums. As chosen by the United Nations Organization (UNO), this museum in Madurai comes under the 'Unity Museums.'

This magnificent and impressive Vandiyur Mariamman Temple, located near to Meenakshi Temple, is another important and popular item in Madurai. Dedicated to Lord Vigneshwara, a must-visit on our list is this holy shrine. There is a massive tank in the temple compound that holds the record of being the biggest in the whole of Tamil Nadu.

History suggests the statue of the deity that is inside the temple was located at the bottom of the tank. That is how fame was acquired by the tank and this temple was thereby built in its memory. With great pomp and joy, numerous popular festivals are celebrated here.

As the city was created around the Shiva lingam that is within its temple, it forms the focal point of Madurai. Spread over 15 acres of land with 4,500 pillars and 12 walls, this is a living temple with a steady stream of couples visiting this location for marriage purposes.

Parvati and Lord Shiva are devoted to this shrine. As God and Goddess are adored together, this temple is different from the others. The interiors contain the beautiful exterior with fantastic works of art made in minute details which are placed around the temple in the walls which pillars.

One of the best places to see in Madurai is the Vagai Dam. This is a beautiful man-made construction built on the Vaigai River near Andipatti, located 70 kilometers from Madurai. For group excursions and friends, this site is a popular picnic location. For photo fanatics, the mesmerising scenery makes it a must-go.

For hours, the magnificent view illuminated in the evening will help one linger here. There are scenic hills and dense greenery lining the shore. With a lovely garden known as Little Brindavan, which has a number of tropical flowers and trees, the dam is about 111 feet tall and is visited by many nature lovers.

Madurai special

The town that never sleeps, restaurants , shops and markets in Madurai are open 24/7, living up to its sobriquet. Some special flavoured beverages, such as Jigarthanda and Paruthi Pal, are available in the region. In this authentic South Indian restaurant, one must try cooking. 

Established in 1993, this exquisite and vegetarian South Indian restaurant is the Murugan Idli Store. The flavour of the kitchens, which is not only delicious to the tongue, but also high with nutrients, can be enjoyed. Experience South India's authenticity in every dish here. 

A wide selection of mouth-watering idli, crispy hot doses, and lip-smacking chutneys, podis, and others are included in the menu which are some of Madurai 's best items to eat. 'Jigarthanda' is a must-try specialty cocktail.

The Prithu Mandapam Market is an ancient pillared hall popular for buying cotton fabrics. Shops dealing with handicrafts, metallurgical articles, and textiles fill the market.

To know more info click here https://renghaholidays.com/hidden-paradise-packages

Trip Overview

DAY 1 - Madurai Sightseeing

Morning Pick up From Madurai airport. Pick up from airport and then transfer to Hotel. Hotel Check in. After Breakfast at Hotel. Then proceed to visit Madurai major attractions such as Sri Meenakshi Amman Temple,Aayiram Kaal Mandapam,Gandhi Museum,Thirumalai Nayakar Mahal and Thiruparankundram Murugan Temple. Come back to Hotel. Overnight stay @ Madurai.

DAY 2 - Madurai Sightseeing.

On Second day ,Morning breakfast at Hotel and then check out from Hotel. Then proceed to visit Madurai major attractions such as Koodal Azhagar Temple, Pazhamudhir Solai, Vandiyur Mariyamman Temple, Yoga Narasimha Perumal Temple and Pandi Muneeswaran Kovil. Finally proceed towards Madurai airport with sweet memories of Madurai. Finally drop @ Madurai airport.