Welcome to Madurai, the cultural capital of Tamil Nadu, located on the banks of River Vaigai. This ancient and vibrant city is considered one of the major cities in Tamil Nadu. Its rich religious heritage, traditions, architecture, and more make it a wonderful tourist destination. The popular Meenakshi Amman Temple’s fourteen getaway towers dictate the beautiful skyline of Madurai. Hence, it is a hard miss when you visit this city. Check out things to do, see and how to reach this colourful city.
8 Things To Do When In Tamil Nadu’s Madurai
1. Seek Blessings At Meenakshi Temple
In Madurai today – Had Dharshan at ancient temples of
(1) Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple
(2) Sri Subramania Swamy Temple, Tirupparankundram
(3) Sri Koodal Azhagar Temple and
(4) Sri Madanagopalaswamy TempleThe @tnhrcedept is controlling these temples by a FRAUD on… pic.twitter.com/bn9rTQk1c3
— trramesh (@trramesh) May 29, 2024
It is almost a ritual to pay a visit to the divine Meenakshi Temple when you are in Madurai. The ancient temple spread over 65000 square meters! Its gigantic complex is one of a kind in our country and the entire city is built around it. Its intricate design, architecture, and idols of Sundareswarar and Meenakshi captivate every devotee seeking blessings.
2. Visit The Thirumalai Nayak Palace
Thirumalai Nayak Palace:- This Palace was built in 1636 by King Thirumalai Nayak with the help of an Italian Architect.Thirumalai Nayak, a king of Madurai’s Nayaka dynasty who ruled Madurai from 1623–59, in the city of Madurai, India. pic.twitter.com/PrLdzbKJbw
— apvhospitality@gmail.com (@apvhospitality1) October 3, 2019
This 1636 palace is located near the iconic Meenakshi temple. This used to be the palace of Madurai’s Nayaka dynasty who ruled Madurai from 1623 to 1659. You can witness the Dravidian and foreign architectural styles with Elan here.
3. Attend The Jallikattu
Jallikattu Bull Festival Tamil Nadu, India:
A traditional spectacle in which a bull, is released into a crowd and participants attempt to grab the hump of it in order to climb to remove the coins or flags placed on the bull’s horn. The festival has gained a lot of attention due… pic.twitter.com/Utukwj8cqP
— Who am I (@FindMeOnX) September 27, 2023
The most popular sport in Tamil Nadu is Jallikattu. It is a bullfighting game with brave men. It is held in January during the Pongal celebrations. Hence, it is extraordinarily popular among the villagers and only daredevils participate.
4. Explore Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam
🌺Vandiyur Mariamman Temple, Madurai🌺
The temple is located at around 5 km from the Meenakshi Amman temple. The temple is popular for the huge pond known as the Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam. This pond, which was constructed in 1645 CE, is the largest tank in Tamil Nadu. pic.twitter.com/QgGKyaLxs8
— Vibhu Vashisth 🇮🇳 (@Indic_Vibhu) October 27, 2021
Another site that should be on your list when visiting Madurai is Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam. This is 16 acres of a beautiful temple tank located about 5 kilometres from Meenakshi temple. This pond is a famous spot during devotional festivals. The major celebration is the birth anniversary of King Thirumalai Nayak. He built this pond.
5. Go To The Chithirai Festival
The festival of festivals, Chithirai Thiruvizha, commences in Madurai today. Coronation of Queen Meenakshi will happen on 19th April, Dik Vijayam on 20th and Thirukalyanam on 21st. Azhagar will come to Vaigai river on 23rd April pic.twitter.com/plZeOuvaeC
— 𑀓𑀺𑀭𑀼𑀱𑁆𑀡𑀷𑁆 🇮🇳 (@tskrishnan) April 12, 2024
This is a 15-day celebration festival celebrated during April or May. Specifically on the full moon day of the Tamil Month Chithirai. Legends suggest that for the celestial wedding of Goddes Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswarar, Alagar rode a golden horse to Madurai.
6. Go to The Madurai Gandhi Museum
18 May International Museum Day – Banasthali Rajasthan Prof BR Natarajan says that visiting Gandhi Memorial Museum at Madurai is indeed a Mission with Passion. pic.twitter.com/e3HJKDQl2P
— BR Natarajan (@deannattu) May 19, 2023
Established in 1959, it is a memorial built in the name of Mahatma Gandhi in Tamil Nadu’s Madurai. It showcases the struggle for freedom and has galleries dedicated to the Gandhian movement, relics, Khadi, and South Indian handicrafts.
7. Seek Blessings At Thiruparankundram Temple
Suprabhatam to all you good folks from the Lord Subramanya temple at Thiruparankundram near Madurai 🙏🏻
It is one of the 6 major Lord Murugan kshetrams in Tamil Nadu. A magnificent temple with exquisite carvings. pic.twitter.com/zsJFhOJS6q
— Ugra (@_ugra_) January 29, 2019
This is another prominent religious site of Madurai that flaunts its beautiful rock-cut architecture built by the Pandyas. It is a saying that Murugan worshipped his father, Lord Shiva at the spot as Parangirinathar. Later he married Devasena at this temple after slaying the demon Surapadman.
8. Go For Avani Moolam Festival
‘Avani Moolam’ is the day when the Lord promised Manickavasagar that horses will be delivered to him. True to his word he led a herd of horses to Madurai, only that they were in fact Foxes converted as Horses. Pandya King was impressed with the quality of horses he got pic.twitter.com/TsavIFMSG0
— 𑀓𑀺𑀭𑀼𑀱𑁆𑀡𑀷𑁆 🇮🇳 (@tskrishnan) August 28, 2020
Attend a ‘lila’ or a recitation by a priest to celebrate the coronation of Lord Sundareswarar. The priest will narrate 64 stories of Shiva that highlight Shiva’s divine power that protected Madurai from facing adversity.
How To Reach?
Long Pending Due Of International Status Of Madurai Airport that dream Is Longing for Almost a decade For Madurai Peoples..As Same Population as Mdu Other Cities In India Getting Intl Status..✨
Sir @JM_Scindia @mkstalin @narendramodi Pls Look Into This Sir 🙏🙏🙏 pic.twitter.com/TY4APQNeFs
— FaceofMadurai (@FaceofMdu) January 7, 2024
- By Road: Take the National Highway 45 and 45B which connects Madurai to Chennai and from Bengaluru via NH 49. Bus stops are M.G.R. Bus Stand, Arappalayam and Periyar Bus Stand.
- By Rail: Madurai Junction is the major railway station which is an NSG-2 category Indian railway station.
- By Air: Book flights to Madurai Domestic Airport in Avaniyapuram and then take a cab to your destination.
Also Read: What To See & Do When Visiting Nalanda, A UNESCO World Heritage Site, In Bihar? List Inside
Now you have a great list of things to do, explore and visit in Madurai. So, when are you visiting Tamil Nadu’s City Of Jasmine?
Cover Image Courtesy: Canva
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