About Madurai

Touted to be one of the ancient cities in India, Madurai is especially recognised for its religious significance. The city has a lot of temples of which the Meenakshi Amman Temple is considered as the most important one. The temple also has a shrine for her consort, Sundareswarar. Madurai is also pretty close to hill stations like Kodaikanal, Thekkady, Munnar, Kumily and so on. Madurai is the perfect blend of natural beauty and heritage with a dash of urbanisation. It also plays a crucial role in preserving Tamil culture, Carnatic music and Bharatanatyam. People of Madurai are also known for celebrating all the key festivals with a lot of grandiose.

Best Time to Visit Madurai

Madurai is best visited during winters. The weather in Madurai is pleasant, and the city is buzzing with tourists and pilgrims. You can book a hotel room in Madurai closer to the Meenakshi Amman temple if that is your main purpose of the visit. Commuting in the city is not very difficult.

Winters in Madurai start from December and last till February. The temperature ranges from 20-29 degree Celsius. This is also when Pongal is celebrated across the city for three whole days. The harvest festival, that is celebrated across Tamil Nadu with a lot of grandeur, gets only better. However, since it is peak season, booking a hotel in Madurai can get a tad bit expensive. Do lookout for good flight deals to Madurai online. Since it is peak season, make sure you book your flight tickets to Madurai well in advance.

The city experiences monsoon from June to August and Madurai experiences very heavy rainfall. Though the rains add to all the beauty and charm of the city with the greenery, the climate is gloomy, and the rains stop you from venturing out.

March to May is summer in Madurai, and the temperature can rise up to 34 degree Celsius. Not only does it get hot, but the weather is quite dry, making it a less favourable time to visit the city. Since it is off-season, you will also find it easier to get cheap flight tickets to Madurai.

Places to Visit in Madurai

The Meenakshi Amman temple is one of the major tourist attractions in Madurai. A lot of tourists and pilgrims visit the temple throughout the year. The Amman temple is dedicated to Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva. According to mythology, Lord Shiva came to Madurai to marry Goddess Parvati, who was residing in a human form here and was called Meenakshi. Madurai is considered sacred primarily because it is believed to be the birthplace of the Goddess. Not only is the temple huge, but the architecture will leave you stunned. Adding to this is the divine feeling that you experience in the temple. Do not miss the morning and evening aarti at the temple. You can also embrace your spiritual side at the Saint Mary's Cathedral in Madurai.

Another magnificent place to visit is the Thirumalai Nayak Palace which was built in the 17th century. It was built by King Tirumala Nayaka who was a King then. The Jain Caves is yet another top-rated tourist attraction in Madurai. You can also explore the Thiruparankundram Murugan temple dedicated to Lord Murugan, the eldest son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. It's a beautiful temple and a masterpiece in every way. While you are in this part of the city, do also visit the Pazhamudhir Solai. This is easily one of the best places to spend with yourself in solitude.

Meghamalai and Samanar Hills are also two popular locations in the city. You can go hiking to one of these mountains and reach a spot from where the entire city looks absolutely breathtaking. It's the perfect getaway from all the city hustle-bustle. Make sure you go to these places during the right season. You'll even be able to take the best pictures of yourself and nature over here.

Things to do in Madurai

The Meenakshi Amman temple is a must-visit when you are in Madurai. The queue can be pretty long depending on what time you visit the temple. Not to mention, you will also have to adhere to a few rules like wearing traditional clothes and not carrying your phones, cameras or gadgets inside the temple. It is believed that the kumkum you get after offering your prayers here is auspicious and blesses your marital life. After visiting the temple, you can stop by Puthu Mandapam, which is right opposite the temple. It is a popular place to shop for clothes, accessories, handicrafts and different kinds of art work. Go for a hike at the Samanar Hills and make sure you also stop by the Jain Caves. You might come across the Keelakuilkudi village that is famous for its Jain sculptures and painted mud horse collection.

Madurai is pretty close to the Vaigai Dam, and a lot of tourists visit the dam when they go to the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary since it is on the way. It is one of the architectural marvels in the city and a very popular picnic spot, too. The sunset here is simply mesmerising. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu is the Alagar Kovil, recognised for its exquisite beauty. It will make you want to spend at least 10 minutes in solitude to just admire it. If you are visiting Madurai during the Chithirai Festival, you must definitely attend it. The locals celebrate the festival for over a month, and you can also be a part of the ceremonies that take place to celebrate the marriage of Goddess Meenakshi to Lord Shiva, who is worshipped at Sundareswara here.

Food and Restaurants in Madurai

Even though Madurai is a city that has a lot of religious importance, you will find restaurants in the city that serve non-vegetarian food, a little away from the temples. Of course, you can blindly trust and have the traditional South Indian food like Idlis and Dosas here. But Madurai is known for delicacies like Paruthi Paal, Jigarthanda, Kuzhi Paniyaram and Appam. Jigarthanda is a very popular beverage here, and you'll find it almost everywhere. You can even try some outside the Meenakshi Amman temple. Just a few streets away from the Amman temple is Murugan Idli Shop. You'll get the fluffiest, most delicious idlis here with four different types of chutneys. You can also order the Onion Uttapam and Sweet Pongal here. You can also head to Kodaikanal from Madurai since it is not very far from here. Ooty is quite far by road, but you can make a trip to Ooty, too, if you have the time and if you are planning the trip during winter. Both the hill stations are worth visiting during the cold season. You'll get buses and taxis to Kodaikanal very easily from Madurai. You might have to negotiate the fare a little bit if you are taking a private taxi from Madurai.

The Burmah Idiyappa Kadai is a local eatery that serves Idiyappam only. There is no seating here, but the outlet sees a lot of customers on a regular basis. The Idiyappams are served with tomato chutney and sweetened coconut milk. Chandran Mess at the Alagar Kovil main road is another popular restaurant that you can visit. Its speciality is Kola Urundai or mutton balls. It is owned by a family that overlooks everything that goes into making the best dishes. Not only do they grind their masalas using a mortar pestle like the olden days, but the members of the family also supervise the kitchen at all times. You will also find a lot of restaurants that serve other Indian dishes, Chinese and Continental cuisines, too.

How to reach Madurai (Transportation)

By Air

The nearest airport is Madurai Airport, which is about 10 km away from the city. The airport connects Madurai to domestic routes in the city like Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai and Delhi. The flight connectivity from Madurai to these cities within the country is excellent. However, the nearest international airports are the Coimbatore International Airport and Tiruchirappalli International Airport. You can either change flights from these airports or take a taxi from outside the airport. You will also get taxis from Madurai airport to your hotel or wherever you wish to go first.

By Rail

Trains run regularly to and from Madurai Junction. Trains run quite frequently from the city, and it is also well-connected to other major cities in the country. It is advisable that you make your ticket bookings done well in advance during summer since it is a holiday season and a lot of people travel to Madurai for the summer vacation with their families and kids. In any case, booking tickets in advance will help you find better coaches.

By Road

There are quite a few buses, both government-run and private, that are connected to Madurai. You will also get buses from Madurai to other major cities of Tamil Nadu and neighbouring states. Getting around the city and to the city by road is also quite convenient. The NH 44 is a popular route to Madurai.

  About Agatti Island

One of Lakshadweep's finest islands and well-connected places is Agatti. The 6km long Agatti island is not just home to a wide range of marine life but is also the only place in the archipelago to sustain an airstrip. The fact that the island has an airstripe makes the flight connectivity to Agatti Island extremely convenient. With regular flights from Kochi and Bengaluru and ships services, Agatti easily becomes a place that can be visited. Folks who wish to escape from the noise of the city or multitude of people on beaches should pick this island as their destination.

With pristine white-sand beaches, clear blue waters and opportunity for a bunch of water sports activities, Agatti island easily manages to draw a certain kind of crowd. You can find yourself swayed by the quaint vibe and beauty of the island. Not to mention, the population is also quite less, which makes it all the more tempting. Not just underwater but diversity prevails even on the surface with Islam as the main religion for the habitants. While Malayalam and Tamil are the primary languages spoken here, English is also becoming a native tongue for the locals as it is easier to communicate with travellers.

The island might be easy to reach, but there are some restrictions which make travelling a wee bit difficult. Even though tourism is open and the island sees a lot of tourists, there are some essential documents and paperwork that the traveller must carry with them. You will require an Entry Permit from the administration of Lakshadweep to enter the island. The permit is granted to individuals who have already confirmed an accommodation, ahead of their voyage. Interestingly, the island also has only two hotels which means you must be certain of making your hotel bookings for Agatti Island before time to secure a worry-free trip. The tropical island is undoubtedly beautiful and definitely worth visiting.

You should know that while the tropical island has some of the best beaches, it has a very humble background. The people, the lifestyle, the hotels and basically the entire experience here would be nothing like what the Maldives has to offer. However, the simplicity of Agatti Islands will draw you to the island and especially the shores.

Best time to visit Agatti Island

Monsoon is a bane to islands, and Agatti is no different from the phenomenon. Hence, it is usually advised not to venture out to take up a trip to the quaint island between May to September. Since monsoon begins in the second half of May at the Arabian Sea, travelling becomes a big risk. In fact, the cruises and ship services are also suspended, owing to the challenges involved during this season.

The months between October to the first half of May are practically perfect, though. The weather is delightful and relaxed, with temperatures ranging from 22 to 36. It is ideal, especially for a tropical setting. The bearable heat further makes it an attractive travel option for individuals who wish to escape from the city's bustling. These months are also perfect for sailing and to pick up a cruise as a travel option. With lesser disturbance at sea, the risk of seasickness also drops tremendously.

The clearer summer and winter months also make it easy for divers to explore reefs and the wide sea. The added benefit of this is how it will enable you to experience the tropical bliss that Agatti Island has in store. With Agatti Island, picking the right season is imperative as that will decide how your trip will transpire.

Places to see in Agatti Island

The options of places to see in Agatti Islands is quite minimum since the place is rather tiny. Interestingly though, you can take up island-hopping and explore more of the islands such as Pitti Island or Bangaram Island as these two are close to Agatti. It'll take you minutes of a ferry ride to reach both the islands mentioned. Here's a fun fact, the Bangaram Island is the only place with a private resort. The accommodation is swanky and beautiful. The best way to spend time in Agatti is to put your energy towards exploring the sea and the marine habitats.

Things to do in Agatti Island

Agatti's azure blue waters touching the white sand coasts don't just make for a postcard-worthy setting but also offer a fun underwater adventure. The beauty of the place makes it possible for you to sit by the beaches and relax your soul. The calm waters and soothing sound of waves hitting the shores make for the perfect getaway from the city's noise. Soaking yourselves under the scorching sun is not the only fun activity that you can do on this island. From scuba diving to exploring the reefs, there are a plethora of activities that you can indulge in during your stay.

The place promotes water sports so you will get to sail on the waters as well as ski on it. Take a lovely kayak for yourself and go rowing towards the sea. You can explore Agatti's waters by kayaking. At the same time, if taking up scuba diving is something that you have always wanted to indulge in then that option is also available here. The crystal clear waters will make you spot an abundance of quirky and colourful fish. It is definitely going to be a joyride for all the water babies.

Snorkelling, fishing, water skiing and diving in the delicious seafood platter are some of the other things that will keep you occupied during your Agatti trip. Much of the cuisine has seafood, and if you are an enthusiast, their curries will go down well with your system. If all the water activities sound a little too overwhelming for you, then you can take it easy, throw on your flip flops and plop on a beach chair.

Restaurants and food in Agatti Island

The island is a tiny place with a bunch of activities to do but hardly many places to eat. There are literally only two hotels and limited restaurants too. Thanks to the small population and the few travellers who visit Agatti, there aren't many restaurant options to pick from. However, the positive here is that these hotels do offer phenomenal seafood. You will be amazed by how perfectly they emulate the traditional Kerala cuisine and service to the customers. If seafood is something that excited you, then Agatti would undoubtedly be the best place to explore more of the food sphere. From giant fish to octopus, you can experiment with the seafood that they offer.

How to reach Agatti Island (Transportation)

By Air

Agatti Island is the only island in all of Lakshadweep to have an airport. Since the islands are spread out on the Arabian Sea and not all of them, have the capabilities to host an airport Agatti is the only island to make it possible. In fact, the bird's eye view of the airport is simply marvellous and the kind to blow your mind. Do not fall asleep ahead of landing for you should definitely witness the beautiful airport's setting.

There is only one airline that offers services to charter planes to Agatti Aerodromes. You can make your flight bookings to Agatti Island by selecting Air India Regional. Although Agatti Island is not well-connected in terms of air as well as other modes of transport, you can always find flights to the island from Kochi, Chennai and Bangalore. In fact, the flight connectivity to the Agatti Island from the major metropolitan cities, including Mumbai and Delhi, is excellent so you can easily get your travel plans in order.

By Water

Since the Lakshadweep Islands is located in the middle of the Arabian Sea, there are no routes to Agatti by rail or road. The only way for the islands to connect to India is via the air route or the waterway. Luckily, for those who have never travelled by ships and cruises, this could be the best opportunity to give waterways a go. Two ship services can be found in Cochin. The ships named Bharat Seema and Tipu Sultan are the only ones to voyage to Agatti.

While these are government-run ships to Agatti, there are some private cruises too namely Star Cruises and Ocean Cruises. These private ships come with a plethora of luxurious benefits with swanky lounge settings, first-class accommodation, jacuzzi and more. They easily become a choice for many travellers as a journey by water can be quite tedious, especially if you are seasick. The luxury cruises run from Mumbai and Goa.

Aside from the government and private services, there's a travel-centric cruise service too that takes the domestic route to Agatti Island from Cochin and back. These trips basically have five islands listed out and will only go as per the itinerary. Going by the name Lakshadweep Samudram, the cruise goes on an island-hopping voyage from Agatti to Kavaratti. However, this is subjective to the kind of package that you choose and the perks that come with it. The cost of the package is also quite reasonable, so many couples do opt for this over the other ways.

  About Madurai Airport

The Madurai Airport is touted to be a customs airport that majorly serves the city and its neighbouring districts in Tamil Nadu. It is located close to State Highway 37, which is about 12 km from the Madurai railway station. The airport stands at the 32nd position as the busiest airport in India. This includes in terms of passenger handling as well as aircraft movement. Established in 1957, the airport was originally used as an airfield by the Royal Air Force of the British during the Second World War, back in 1942. Later after independence from the British, the airport chartered its first passenger flight which was a Fokker Friendship aircraft that followed the Madras - Madurai - Trivandrum - Madurai - Madras route. This took place in 1956. The airport soon found recognition for being one of the 35 non-metro airports chosen for modernisation. Much recently, the airport received a revamp from the government as a new integrated terminal building was constructed. Madurai airport also has international flights that fly to Malaysia and Sri Lanka.

About Madurai Airport Terminals

The Madurai Airport has two terminals placed in an adjacent direction to connect the old and the new unified terminal. The integrated terminal is presently being used for all domestic and international activities. Meanwhile, the old terminal has been reserved as a Cargo Terminal. The growth in the demand for flights to and from the Madurai International Airport, there are plans to separate the two terminals into individual domestic and international. The terminal with the area of 189,000 ft has the capacity to handle about 250 passengers on arrival and departure. The airport's parking bay can accommodate 375 cars and ten buses. The new terminal also includes features such as 16 check-in counters along with 12 immigration booths. There are two security counters, too, with five customs counters. The new terminal also entertains two lounges for passengers, a VIP lounge managed by AAI and a CIP lounge (Commercial Important Persons) handled by the Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry. There are three aero-bridges too.

About airport authority

The Madurai Airport is owned and operated by the Airports Authority of India. The AAI is a statutory body that ensures to handle the infrastructural development, maintenance and management of various airports, including the Madurai Airport. Much recently, the airport proposed to create a new terminal building specifically for the Madurai International Airport, as the airport has been witnessing an increase in passenger traffic. The new building will also have a control tower and plans to erect seven new aprons at the Madurai Airport. This is due to the airport's current capacity to handle only 250 passengers at their arrival and departure halls at once. A proposed site is going to extend the runway to 12,500 ft, enabling the efficient functioning of overseas services. Work to extend the airport has already begun with plans to disconnect the Ring Road at the Mandela Junction and divert the route to Perungudi and Avaniapuram, which would eventually connect to the Tuticorin Road.

Top airlines flying from Madurai Airport

Madurai Airport is one of the small airports in the state of Tamil Nadu. As the airport does have two adjacent terminals, one is for the domestic, and the other is for international airlines. There are only two international airlines that fly from Madurai Airport. The Srilankan Airlines, which flies to Colombo–Bandaranaike and SpiceJet, which flies to Dubai-International, are both available at the Madurai airport. Air India Express also has a flight to Singapore, available at Madurai Airport. Aside from these three airlines with cities to international connections, the rest of the airlines are domestic. Domestic airlines such as Air India, Air India Express, Alliance Air, IndiGo and SpiceJet, fly from the Madurai Airport. The airlines connectivity is a little limited as they only fly to cities such as Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Tiruchirapalli and Hyderabad.

Facilities at Madurai Airport

Airport lounge – The airport has a few lounges including a retiring room for passengers who are waiting due to a layover. Madurai Airport also has a lounge called the Golden Chariot Lounge. It is essential for passengers to get access to hang out at the lounge space. The same can be availed through membership programs.

Foreign exchange – The foreign exchange counters are available at the arrivals of the international terminal. The counters have been placed to enable passengers travelling from abroad to exchange currencies and even make money transfers.

Restaurants and cafes – There are a few restaurants and cafes available in the premise of the airport. There is a dedicated food court present in the departure while the arrivals section has small food joints. These include some local food establishments which service tea, coffee and other beverages. Similarly, the airport also has restaurants and joints such as Subway, KFC, to name a few.

Baggage – Madurai Airport provides excellent baggage services. These include provisions of trolleys, baggage wrapping services and storage facilities. As Madurai Airport has flights connecting to domestic and international destinations, they have proper facilities to help ease the transit. You can get your bags wrapped in plastic. This would ensure that the luggage is not mishandled or the contents are affected. Trolleys are available at all intervals until the security check.

Smoking room - Smoking is prohibited in the airport, and hence, the airport has installed dedicated smoking lounges. The smoking room is available in the domestic terminal's Gate 6. Lighters and cigarettes can also be found at the terminal.

ATMs - ATM kiosk of Indian Bank has been placed in the airport's entrance. As the airport caters to domestic and international flights, the ATM kiosks would help withdraw money and exchange currencies.

Medical services - In order to help out with emergencies, the airport has installed medical rooms and services. There are first aid centres in the airport and details on the same can be received at the airport. The terminal manager would be the best to guide the passenger through the process. Pharmacies are also installed at Madurai Airport to help with last-minute medical purchases.

Special assistance - Madurai Airport provides special assistance for passengers who need the same. There are trolleys and wheelchairs available at the airport that the passenger can avail. In fact, it would be best to inform the airline beforehand to avail the services. The airport will provide staff to help passengers travel within the airport and even help them with the check-in and security check procedures.

How to reach Madurai Airport

Madurai Airport has excellent connectivity with buses operated under the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC). There are many routes that directly connect to the Madurai airport. In fact, Madurai Airport is known to be one of the few airports in the country that has dedicated government transport services to enable connectivity. Within the city, you will find bus stops with regular buses to help reach Madurai Airport. You can find them at the Periyar Bus Stand, Thirupparankundram, Arappalayam, Krishnapuram Colony, Mattuthavani and Park Town. Plus, these buses have services at the most convenient timings. It is considered to be one of the best ways to reach Madurai Airport.

Another convenient way to reach Madurai Airport is by hailing a taxi. Prepaid taxis are available in the city. The city of Madurai has prominent call taxi services that operate within the city as well as to the airport. These taxis also have services that traverse to neighbouring cities from Madurai. Auto-rickshaws are also considered to be one of the easiest and affordable means of transport to reach Madurai airport. They are widely available within the city to the airport. However, the only concern here is to ensure that you can haggle with the rickshaw. The auto rickshaws do not function on the meter system, so a fixed price needs to be agreed upon with the drivers before you start the journey.

About Madurai

Formerly known as Madura, the city of Madurai is recognised as one of the major cities in the state of Tamil Nadu. In fact, it is actually known to be a cultural capital of the state and is the third largest city after Chennai and Coimbatore. Madurai is also known to be the hub for Tamil Sangam, a congregation of Tamil scholars which is held in the city on an annual basis. Madurai has seen some flourishing history with several big empires taking leadership. The city was ruled by Pandyas, Madurai Sultanate, Madurai Nayaks, Cholas, Vijaynagar Empire and British East India Company, to name a few.

The city's major highlight is the famous Meenakshi Temple as well as the Tirumalai Nayak Palace. These two historical monuments have played a vital role in shaping the cultural heritage of the city. Apart from the historical sites, Madurai also has essential educational institutes run by the government. Madurai Medical College, Madurai Law College, Homeopathic Medical College and Agricultural College and Research Institute are some of the important educational institutes.