Madurai

Madurai is located in South India. It is a huge and crowded city, but also an ancient and particularly interesting one, and according to Indians it is the religious cultural center of Tamil Nadu.

Weather in Oroville

25°C

Nearby airport

Cochin International Airport.

Nearby train station

Madurai

Madurai is located in the state of Tamil Nadu in southern India. It is a huge and crowded city, but also an ancient and particularly interesting one, and according to the Indians it is the religious cultural center of Tamil Nadu. There are countless religious holidays and festivals in Madurai, and almost every evening you can watch ceremonies, colorful celebrations, dances and songs around temples.

Historical evidence indicates settlement in the area as far back as 2500 years ago.

Most often, Israeli travelers come to Madurai only as a transit stop between destinations in southern India, usually on the way to/from Kodaikanal and Vattakanal which are a four-hour drive away, but it is recommended that those interested in Indian culture stay even for one night and not miss the main attractions in the city – the large and famous Madurai temple and the Gandhi Museum.

Getting to Madurai

Madurai is a large city that can be reached by all means of transport.

– Domestic flight: Madurai has a large airport with connections to many destinations in India

– Train: There is a train station in Madurai

– Buses and sleepers: Many buses arrive in Madurai and depart from it to various destinations.

Recommended season in Madurai

We usually come to Madurai during a trip to southern India during the winter months – November to March. This is the recommended season to travel to southern Madurai because during the rest of the year the heat and humidity are unbearable and make it very difficult to stay there.

Madurai Temple - MEENAKSHI TEMPLE

A huge temple, with a unique structure typical of South India, rises to great heights and is filled with statues, figures and carvings in all the colors of the rainbow. A spectacular sight combined with an authentic cultural experience.

The temple is dedicated to the goddess Meenkashi and her consort, who, according to Indian tradition, is one of the incarnations of Shakti, the complementary half of the god Shiva, and the feminine power and energy.

Every evening there is a ceremony - a statue of Shiva is taken out and led to meet all his statues, "and laid down to sleep".

The temple attracts many pilgrims, and thousands of people visit it every day.

It is worth knowing - cameras, bags and cell phones cannot be brought into the temple. There are paid storage points outside the temple.

Those who want to get a view of the entire temple can ask to go up to one of the rooftops of the surrounding buildings. There are many hotels with rooftop restaurants or tourist shops with rooftops that tourists are used to asking to go up to. They may try to sell you all sorts of things.

Gandhi Museum

In Madurai is one of the five museums dedicated to the liberator of the Indian nation – Mahatma Gandhi. The museum is divided into two parts, the first part focuses on the British rule that ruled India and its struggle for independence, and the second part is dedicated to the life of Mahatma Gandhi and tells about him personally. The museum displays the blood-stained armor that Gandhi was wearing when he was assassinated by an assassin.

What else is there to do in Madurai?

Thirumalai Nayak Palace – a palace built in the 17th century and featuring architecture that combines styles from different parts of the world. Every day there is an audio-visual show that tells about the history of Tamil Nadu.

St. Mary’s Cathedral – a cathedral located right next to the palace

Madurai Banana Market – an authentic and photogenic experience, you will find many varieties of bananas there!

Villcherry Pottery Village – located about a twenty-minute drive from Madurai. You can watch the local population there, who with great dedication and for many years create all the figures and statues that decorate the temples and shops.