Madurai is one of the important ancient centres on the banks of the Vaigai River in the South Indian State of Tamil Nadu. Madurai is a major city in the state of Tamil Nadu and one of the longest living cities in the World. Around 14 colourful gopurams (gateway towers) naturally decorated the skyline of the city.
It is one of the centres of Dravidian art development in architecture hence; the entire city is flourished by many temples, built in the Dravidian style of architecture by Pandyan and Madurai Nayak kings. There are several classic places to visit in Madurai.
Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal is located in the heartland of Madurai city and resides in the vicinity of the very famous Meenakshi Amman Temple. This Palace was constructed by King Thirumalai Nayak and was set up in 1636 AD.
As mentioned, it was built during the rule of the Nayak dynasty and is popularly idealized as the most illustrious monument built by Madurai Nayak Dynasty. This palace reflects the perfect blend of the Dravidian style of architecture with the Rajput style of architecture, it depicts the Saracenic style of architecture.
This place is one of the attractive places to visit in Madurai and after independence, it served as a national monument till now.
Meghamalai is situated in the Western Ghats in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. This petit yet beautiful place is also popularly known as the "High Wavy Mountains". This place is residing at an altitude of 1500 metres above sea level, which seems perfect to beat the heat and enjoy a cool and pleasant time with your loved ones.
This is one of the best places to visit in Madurai for nature lovers and calm seekers and you will love to stay amidst nature. This place is also an ideal location for sightseeing and trekking due to its location which is nestled amidst the dense forest and the fresh aroma of cardamom, cinnamon and pepper.
It is a site to admire nature and one of the great places to visit in Madurai to take a break from your hectic life. This lush green tea plantation will allow you to sip fresh piping tea and enjoy the vibes.
Meenakshi Amman Temple is located on the southern bank of River Vaigai and this historic temple was built between around 1623 and 1655. Meenakshi is primarily dedicated to Goddess Parvati who is popularly known as Meenakshi as well, and her spouse Lord Shiva.
It has been the centre of attraction among the travellers due to its magnificent architecture which includes its exquisite facade, which has highly minute details with great art pieces depicted on the walls and pillars and it has 14 gateway towers or gopurams, golden vimanas, holy sanctums and was built following Shilpa Shastra.
It is one of the best places to visit in Madurai. What makes it different from the others is the fact that both Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati are worshipped together.
Alagar Koil is situated in the north-eastern part of Madurai in the Alagar Hills and is also known as Azhagarkovil. This temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and the statue of the lord is entirely made of stone with an inclusion variety of statues in different postures of the Lord under the same roof of the temple.
It is the best form of the distinct temple in southern India. This majestic and large temple houses many halls and other facilities to perform different rituals with sacred chants under the holy roof. This is one of the places to visit in Madurai which shows the spiritual and religious side of Madurai.
The Winter Season in Madurai stays from December to February and Madurai’s temperature fluctuates between 20 degrees Celsius to 29 degrees Celsius. Madurai’s weather in this season remains pleasant, comfortable and cool hence; it is an ideal season to engage in some sightseeing, hiking and exploring the city life of Madurai.
Places like Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal, Samanar Hills, Gandhi Museum, Iskcon, St. Mary’s Cathedral Church, Thirumohoor Kalamegaperumal Temple, Meghamalai and Meenakshi Amman Temple are some popular places to visit in Madurai this season.
This is also a season of several festivals and among those Pongal is the major highlight and it is celebrated extremely special in Madurai. This three-day festival is believed to be auspicious among farmers. This is a peak season hence; you may find a climb in prices. It is suggested to make your booking on accommodation and travel in advance.
The Summer Season in Madurai is marked from March to July and Madurai's temperature stays between 24 degrees Celsius to 34 degrees Celsius. Madurai's weather is extremely dry, hot and harsh this season hence; it is not an ideal season to engage in sightseeing in days but in the evening time when the climate is not that harsh you can explore the city.
Places such as Vaigai Dam, Goripalayam Dargah, Alagar Koyil and Athisayam are some great places to visit in Madurai this season. If you are looking to have a budget-friendly trip to Madurai then it is a season for you to travel. You will not find much crowd this season as well.
The Monsoon Season in Madurai stays from June to August and Madurai’s temperature is 24 degrees Celsius to 37 degrees Celsius. The monsoon brings a little relief from the harsh and hot summer and south-west monsoon winds bring in a large amount of rainfall which is extremely heavy.
This is the season when you find this city in its greener and fresher form and it looks amazingly beautiful. Places like Mariamman Teppakulam, Samanar Hills, Meghamalai and Gandhi Museum are some places to visit in Madurai this season. This season will be loved by nature lovers due to the lush greenery surroundings.
How to Reach Madurai by Air- Madurai Airport is the nearest domestic airbase at a distance of just 10 kilometres away and well connected to other major cities of the country like New Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Trichy, Coimbatore and Mumbai.
However, the closest international airport would be the Chennai International Airport which is connected to most of the domestic prime cities along with several international cities like Sri Lanka, Dubai, Auckland, Paris, Tokyo and Beijing. Plenty of airline carriers such as Air India, Go Air, IndiGo, Jet Airways, Spice Jet, Fly Emirates, Qatar Airways and Air Sri Lanka do operate several flights to Madurai Airport and Chennai International Airport on regular basis. Once you reach the airport you can easily hire a cab or take a taxi to reach Madurai.
How to Reach Madurai by Train- Madurai Junction Railway Station connects Madurai to other neighbouring major cities like Chennai which is an approximately 7-hour journey, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Coimbatore, Mumbai and New Delhi.
Train options such as Vaigai Express, Sampark Kranti Express, Nizamuddin TVC Super-Fast SPL, Navyug Express, NZM C ape Super-Fast Express, CDG MDU SF Express and NZM CAPE SF Express are some decent options that run trains to Madurai on weekly basis. From outside the railway station, you can take a state bus or hire a cab to reach your destination.
How to Reach Madurai by Road- Madurai is nicely connected to the neighbouring cities like Chennai at a distance of nearly 462 kilometres, Coimbatore which is 209 kilometres away, Bangalore at a distance of 434 kilometres, Kochi which is approximately 274 kilometres far and Hyderabad at a distance of 1,009 kilometres via well-maintained and smooth roads connectivity.
Travellers also have the option to reach Madurai via state and private buses which operates buses on regular bases in deluxe, non-deluxe and semi-deluxe varieties as per travellers' convenience and preference. The bus terminal is residing at a distance of 6 kilometres from the main city hence; the bus option seems nicer.
Travellers do travel to Madurai via their vehicle as well and if you are heading from Chennai then NH-38 and from Coimbatore NH-81 are the routes to take. There are some lovely places to visit in Madurai to make your holiday an experience of a lifetime.
There are some decent 5-star and 4-star accommodation options which provide premium services at a very reasonable cost. Heritage Madurai is located at Doak Nagar and it provides you with the services like Bar, Café, Restaurant, Coffee Shop, Bakery, Special Diet Meals, Dining Area, Kids' Meals, Kids' Play Area, Childcare Services, Shuttle Service, Currency Exchange, Gym, Yoga, Activity Centre, Spa, Massage, Pub, Entertainment, Tours and Treks, Cycling, Outdoor Sports, Indoor Games, Temple/Chapel, Library, Sit out Area, Lawn, Sun Deck, Game Room, Bellboy Service and Multilingual Staff.
The Gateway Hotel Pasumalai, Madurai is residing at Pasumalai and it offers you the facilities such as Restaurant, Bar, Kids' Meals, Paid Airport Transfers, Childcare Service, Currency Exchange, Gym, Activity Centre, Spa, Bonfire, Photo Session, Game Room, Indoor Games, Sun Deck, Balcony/Terrace, Lawn, Concierge Service and Multilingual Staff along with some other facilities.
Fortune Pandiyan Hotel, Madurai-Member ITC Hotel Group is a 4-star Hotel at Ramaond Reserve Line and it gives you the amenities like Restaurant, Bar, Café, Dining Area, Kids’ Meals, Playground, Paid Pickup and Drop, Currency Exchange, Yoga, Gym, Spa, Rental Vehicle, Library, Lawn, Aquarium, Seating Area, Indoor Games, Bellboy Service, Wake up Call, Doctor on call and Multilingual Staff with some other basic amenities.
Regency Madurai by GRT Hotels is a 4-star hotel situated at Muthuramalingapuram and it offers you the facilities such as Bar, Restaurant, Dining Area, Gym, Smoke Alarms, Lounge, Conference Room, Free Parking, Free Wi-Fi, Caretaker, Doctor on Call, Wake-up call and Bellboy Service. All these mentioned accommodation options are do providing installed sanitisers, masks and gloves due to safety causes.
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