Things to Do in Madurai

The historic Meenakshi Amman temple is located on the southern bank of the Vaigai River, Madurai, Tamil Nadu. Built sometime between the years 1623 and 1655, the wonderful architecture of the place is renowned globally. Meenakshi Temple is primarily dedicated to Parvati, known as Meenakshi, and her spouse, Shiva.

Thirumalai Nayakar Palace was erected in 1636 AD in the city of Madurai, by King Thirumalai Nayak. The palace depicts the perfect blend of Dravidian and Rajput styles. After Independence, this palace was declared a national monument and to date continues to be one of the spectacular monuments of Southern India.

Alagar Koil is an exquisite temple situated in the north east of Madurai. The temple is the rest place of Lord Vishnu and is the sacred place for several followers of Lord Vishnu in the region.

Often known as the “High Wavy Mountains”, Meghamalai is a petit yet beautiful place in the Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu. At an elevation of 1500 meters, this place is a perfect getaway to beat the heat and enjoy some peaceful time relaxing amidst nature.

Vaigai Dam, a magnificent human-made structure, is constructed over River Vaigai near Andipatti, Theni District in the South Indian State of Tamil Nadu. Over the years, the site has become a favourite picnic spot as it gets beautifully illuminated in the evenings.

Located in Keelakuyilkudi village near Madurai, Samanar Hills or Samanar Malai is a beautiful hill rock complex originally home to Tamil Jain monks. The hill caves are a popular place for tourism and have elaborate carvings and drawings of the monks on the interior walls.

The Gandhi Memorial Museum serves as a remembrance and tribute to the efforts of our very own father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi. Established in 1959 in his cherished memory, eleven years after his demise, it is one of the few Gandhi Museums in the country.

This casual dining restaurant is renowned for its South Indian tiffin cuisine. Serving hygienic food, this air-conditioned restaurant is best known for its authentic idlis, dosas, Jigarthanda, varied accompaniments and meals.

Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the Koodal Azhagar Temple, located in the centre of Madurai city of Tamil Nadu is a unique and famous temple of historical significance constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture and supposedly built by the Pandyas.

Constructed in honour of Lord Vigneshwara, this divine temple is situated about 5 km from the Meenakshi temple. It has a huge tank in the temple's compound and holds the record of being the biggest tank in the region of Tamil Nadu.

Pazhamudhir Solai is a beautiful temple created in the memory of Lord Subramaniya who is worshipped by several people in southern India. It has great sculptures of Lord Subramaniya carved in wood and marble and is a wonderful temple with giant steps in front of it.

St Maryês Cathedral is a gothic style catholic church situated in East Veli Street in Madurai. The striking architecture is a mix of European, Continental and Roman designs. The statue of virgin Mary installed inside is dressed in a saree. The church receives a regular influx of visitors all year long.

Cascading from a height of 27 m, the Kutladampatti waterfalls are nestled in Cholavantha village, 30 kms from Madurai. This artificial waterfall is extremely popular for its scenic beauty and makes for the perfect weekend getaway. The freshwater streams descending down the huge rocks, the cool breeze and the lovely ambience of the area make it a local favourite.

Madurai’s rich cultural heritage is married to its culinary identity as Tamil Nadu’s food capital. A cuisine that draws influence from all its trading partners, from the Saurashtra Gujaratis and Chettinad to Sri Lanka, food in Madurai is a hodgepodge of all these culinary styles.

Madurai, the cultural capital of Tamil Nadu, is one of India's oldest and holiest cities. The temples in Madurai are a testament to it being one of India's most important pilgrimage sites. The city was planned and built in the shape of a lotus and is thus known as the 'Lotus City'.

Kazimar Big Mosque or Kazimar Periya Pallivasal is the oldest mosque in Madurai, located near the Periyar bus stand. The mosque also holds significant religious importance and is visited by pilgrims from far and wide. With space to accommodate close to 1500 people, the mosque has an enchanting architecture with a magnificent maqbara.

First Parotta masks and now biscuit cups- Madurai seems to be where creative concepts germinate with a motto, particularly around food. RS Pathy Nilgiri Tea kiosk ditched the chai in the kulhar concept (tea in earthen cups) and adapted to chai in an edible cup! The innovative manufacturers had launched a new product — biscuit cups.

Banana Market in Madurai is a wholesale market for bananas situated in Rukmanipalayam. The place sells as many as 16 varieties of the fruit and is a hot trading place in the city. The bananas are brought early in the morning from the factory outlets and are unbranched from the branches to sell them to the local vendors.

The Chithirai festival of Tamil Nadu happens to be one of the longest stretched festivals to be celebrated anywhere in the world. The festival is celebrated in the city of Madurai in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu for over two weeks.

The most fulfilling activity in Madurai that one must explore is that of shopping in the town as it is worth the experience. To help visitors get to the right places that offer the best prices and merchandise, there are a few malls that can be visited on your stay here.