Top places to visit in Madurai

• Meenakshi Amman Temple

  temple · 4.8 rating · about 2.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Madurai's magnificent twin-shrine temple to goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarar, with 14 soaring gopurams covered in thousands of vivid sculptures — a Dravidian masterpiece.

• Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal

  palace · 4.4 rating · about 1.3 h · check the fee at the gate

  A grand 1636 Indo-Saracenic palace of the Nayak dynasty, famed for its colossal pillared courtyard (Swarga Vilasam) and an evening sound-and-light show.

• Gandhi Memorial Museum

  history · 4.5 rating · about 1.3 h · free entry

  Housed in a 17th-century Nayak palace, this museum traces India's freedom struggle and holds the blood-stained dhoti Gandhi wore when assassinated.

• Thiruparankundram Murugan Temple

  temple · 4.5 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  One of the six sacred abodes of Lord Murugan, a striking rock-cut hillside temple about 8 km from the city, hewn into the granite Thiruparankundram hill.

• Azhagar Kovil

  temple · 4.4 rating · about 1.3 h · check the fee at the gate

  A hillside Vishnu temple about 21 km from the city amid forested slopes, the abode of Lord Kallazhagar who features in the famous Chithirai festival.

• Koodal Azhagar Temple

  temple · 4.4 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  An ancient Vishnu temple in the city centre with three forms of the deity (sitting, standing, reclining) and finely carved wooden and stone art.

• Puthu Mandapam

  heritage-bazaar · 4.2 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  A 17th-century pillared hall outside the temple's east gate, now a bustling bazaar of tailors, artisans and shops amid intricately carved Nayak columns.

• Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam

  temple-tank · 4.2 rating · about 0.7 h · check the fee at the gate

  A vast temple tank with a central island shrine, fed by the Vaigai, famous for its float festival when deities are floated on illuminated rafts.

• Pazhamudhir Solai

  hill-temple · 4.4 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  A forested hilltop Murugan temple, the sixth and last of his sacred abodes, set in a grove with a spring, above the Azhagar hills.

• Samanar Hills (Jain Caves)

  jain-caves · 4.3 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  A serene hillside of ancient Jain rock-cut beds, carvings and bas-reliefs from the 1st-10th centuries, with a lotus pond and sweeping plains views.

• St Mary's Cathedral

  cathedral · 4.4 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  A handsome 1916 Gothic Catholic cathedral with twin spires and stained glass, one of Tamil Nadu's largest churches, near the temple precinct.

• Kazimar Big Mosque

  mosque · 4.3 rating · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Madurai's oldest mosque, founded in the 13th century by a descendant of the Prophet, with an adjoining dargah revered by the local Muslim community.

Things to do

• Meenakshi Temple Guided Tour Sightseeing Tour · 2.5 h · from INR 1,000 per person
• Meenakshi Night Palli Arai Ceremony Cultural · 1 h · from INR 500 per person
• Madurai Temple-Town Food Walk Food Tour · 3 h · from INR 1,200 per person
• Thirumalai Nayakkar Sound & Light Show Show · 1 h · from INR 100 per person
• Madurai City Sightseeing Tour Sightseeing Tour · 6 h · from INR 1,500 per person
• Madurai Heritage Walk Walking Tour · 2.5 h · from INR 800 per person
• Chettinad Cooking Class Cooking Class · 3 h · from INR 2,000 per person
• Rural Village & Crafts Tour Cultural · 4 h · from INR 1,500 per person

Day trips and tours

• Madurai Temple & Palace Day 8 h · from INR 2,000
• Madurai Hill Temples Day 7 h · from INR 1,800
• Madurai Heritage & Crafts Day 6 h · from INR 1,700

Where to stay in Madurai

• Temple Area about INR 2,000 per night

  Near Meenakshi Temple with budget and mid-range accommodation

Hotels

• The Gateway Hotel Pasumalai 5-star · INR 8,000 to INR 15,000 per night
• Courtyard by Marriott Madurai 5-star · INR 6,000 to INR 11,000 per night
• Heritage Madurai 5-star · INR 7,000 to INR 13,000 per night
• KMR Villa 2-star · INR 1,200 to INR 1,700 per night
• Criston Home stay 2-star · INR 1,575 to INR 2,000 per night
• Madurai Residency 3-star · INR 2,000 to INR 4,000 per night

Where to eat

• Murugan Idli Shop South Indian, Vegetarian · about INR 200 per person
• Famous Jigarthanda Beverages, Desserts · about INR 100 per person
• Amma Mess Tamil, South Indian, Seafood · about INR 400 per person
• Konar Kadai South Indian, Tamil, Street Food · about INR 200 per person
• Sree Sabarees South Indian, North Indian, Vegetarian · about INR 300 per person
• Surya Restaurant (Hotel Supreme) South Indian, North Indian, Chinese · about INR 500 per person
• Kumar Mess Tamil, South Indian · about INR 350 per person
• Modern Restaurant South Indian, North Indian, Chinese · about INR 400 per person

Getting to Madurai

Airport: Madurai (IXM)

How visitors arrive in Madurai

• Train to Madurai Junction By train from Chennai and other major cities · common

  Madurai Junction is the main station, with direct trains to Chennai, New Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata. Source: madurai.nic.in

• Fly into Madurai Airport By air from Indian cities, Colombo, Dubai, Singapore · common

  Domestic flights plus limited international service to Colombo, Dubai and Singapore. Source: madurai.nic.in

• Bus or car on national highways By road from Tamil Nadu · common

  Several national highways and state highways pass through Madurai. Source: madurai.nic.in

From the airport to the centre

• City bus 10A to Periyar

  From Madurai Airport, bus 10A runs to Periyar bus stand. Source: aai.aero

• Taxi from arrivals counter

  Madurai Airport lists authorised cab services (Max Cab, Ola) and local call taxis for pickups. Ask at arrivals where the cab desk is rather than assuming a counter. Source: aai.aero

From the railway station to the centre

• Train to Madurai Junction

  Madurai Junction is central with many facilities nearby; Chennai is the preferred rail link. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Getting around

• Auto Rickshaw

  Auto rickshaws are available for hire within Madurai.

• Taxi
• Walking

Safety and scams to avoid

• Pre-paid taxi "broken meter"

  Airports, train stations, popular squares

  Driver insists meter is broken, quotes ~3x the fair price; or detours via "shopping" stops earning commission.

  How to avoid it: Use pre-paid taxi counter at airport, or Uber/Ola/Rapido apps. Insist on meter or agree price upfront.

Best time to visit Madurai

• Jan 31°C
• Feb 33°C
• Mar 36°C
• Apr 37°C
• May 38°C
• Jun 36°C
• Jul 36°C
• Aug 36°C
• Sep 35°C
• Oct 33°C
• Nov 32°C
• Dec 31°C

More in India

• New Delhi
• Agra
• Jaipur
• Panaji
• Mumbai
• Varanasi

Frequently asked questions about Madurai

What are the top-rated places to visit in Madurai?

The highest-rated places in our Madurai guide are Meenakshi Amman Temple, Gandhi Memorial Museum, Thiruparankundram Murugan Temple, Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal, Azhagar Kovil.

Where should I stay in Madurai?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in Madurai: Temple Area.

How do I get around Madurai?

Ways to get around Madurai covered in our guide: Auto-rickshaw, Taxi, Walking.

What scams should I watch out for in Madurai?

Scams reported to us for Madurai include Pre-paid taxi "broken meter". Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.

What is the weather like in Madurai?

Average daytime highs in Madurai run from 31°C in Dec to 38°C in May.

Which airport is nearest to Madurai?

The nearest airport to Madurai has the code IXM.