Madurai to Kandla Flights

  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 Kandla

Gujarat is a state with major tourist attractions like the Gir National Park, Laxmi Vilas Palace, Somnath temple, Bhuj, the Rann of Kutch and so on. Kandla is another popular destination, also known as Kandla Port. It is situated on the Gulf of Kutch and is the largest port of India in terms of the volume of cargo it handles. It might not be an ideal tourist destination, but it is one that you must visit. Since it is the largest port in India, you can head over to catch all the action. You can look at all the heavy cargo being moved and large ships that help with the transport. However, you will need a certain set of approved permissions to get closer to the ships that are parked at the port. If you are travelling with your kids, this is one of the best places to visit. It will be quite the learning experience for them and for you, too. You can also check out the huge hydraulic cranes that take out the massive containers.

Best Time to Visit Kandla

Kandla is the hub of commercial activity in Gujarat, and it is busy all year round. While there are barely any tourist attractions in the port city, there are a lot of attractions near Kandla that you can visit. Bhuj, Rann of Kutch, Mandvi Beach are some of the popular attractions. If you are planning to visit all of these attractions in addition to Kandla, it is best to plan your trip anywhere between October to February. The state witnesses winter, and it is the ideal time to head to Kandla. The temperature ranges from 12 to 35 degree Celsius during October to February. The weather is favourable and pleasant for you to plan a trip to the port. You can also enjoy a mesmerizing sunset by the Gulf of Kutch while you watch the cargo being boarded on the huge ships. The famous Rann of Kutch also takes place during February, which attracts a lot of tourists to the port also during this time.

March to May is summer in Gujarat, and the temperature reaches up to a maximum of 40 degree Celsius. May is the hottest month in Gujarat, and taking a trip to the state during this time can be quite exhausting. It is best to avoid travelling to any place in Gujarat during the summer. Even if you are planning a summer trip, make sure you stay hydrated and carry sunblock with you. June to September is monsoon in Gujarat, and the city doesn't receive very heavy rainfall. The humidity does increase during monsoon, and it might kill any plan that you have to venture out. Heavy rains or not, travelling during monsoon can become quite painful. If you don't like getting drenched, you might have to spend the day sitting in your hotel rooms waiting for the rain to stop. However, since this is the off-season, it will be easier to get cheap flight tickets to Kandla.

Places to Visit in Kandla

Kandla Port is one of the major attractions that is located on Kandla Creek. It was established in 1952 and inaugurated by then Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. Kandla Port is also the commercial hub of Gujarat and is the centre for importing oil and exporting grains from India. There are quite a few tourist attractions that are near Kandla and are destinations you cannot miss. Gandhidham is a very popular and beautiful town that is 13 km away from Kandla. The town was made for all the people who were left homeless during the India-Pakistan partition. Kandla creek is also where late Mahatma Gandhi's ashes were submerged, which makes it a special place for people to visit. The Rann of Kutch takes place in February and is a very popular event in the country. You get to experience the best of the culture, artwork, tradition, performance arts, music and more. A lot of people club their trips to Kutch with a few hours to spare to visit Kandla Port.

Kandla is also quite close to Bhuj. You can add Kandla to your itinerary if you are planning a trip to Bhuj. The Ashapura Mata temple in Bhuj sees a lot of devotees during Ashwin Navratri and Chaitra Navratri. Dholavira is one of the largest excavations of the Indus Valley Civilization. You can also visit the Mandvi Beach for an evening stroll after you are done soaking in the mesmerizing view at Kandla Port. Bhadreshwar Jain Temple is yet another place that sees a lot of tourists. It is an ancient temple and a highly recommended tourist spot, too. You will also find approximately 52 monuments and tombs surrounding the central temple. The nearby cities of Kandla are worth a visit and will not burn a hole in your pocket at all.

Things to do in Kandla

You will need a certain set of permissions to enter the Kandla Port and look around. If you are with your family, it will certainly be quite an educational trip for your kids. Kandla Port is an important commercial hub, and it will also be quite an experience for you. You can take a look at the massive ships up close and get to know exactly how things work at the port. You can also interact with the workers in their spare time to get to know more about their work culture. Enjoy a beautiful sunset at the port. Kandla Port is also where the ashes of late Mahatma Gandhi were immersed, which also makes it an important historical destination. The port is also near important tourist cities like Bhuj, Rajkot, Mandvi, Ram Leela Maidan, Gandhidham and Kutch. You can head over to the Rann of Kutch if you are visiting the state in February. Gandhidham is also a city of historical significance. It was founded after the partition of India for the refugees. Dholavira is a great place to visit for all the archaeology lovers. Mandvi Beach is also near Kandla Port and is known for its beautiful sunsets. If you are in the mood to do something adventurous, you can go for a hike to the Bhujia Hills, which is also pretty close to Kandla.

Food and Restaurants in Kandla

Gujarat is known for its lip-smacking delicacies like Dhokla, Fafda, Khandvi and so on. The Gujarati thali is also highly recommended for tourists who want a complete dining experience of the state. Wave is a popular restaurant in Gandhidham's Radisson Hotel near Kandla. Not only is the food delicious, but the service is also top-notch. You will not leave disappointed from here. The Cafe Irani is another recommended restaurant for a refreshing chai and bun maska. You must also try the Akuri and other dishes made of eggs at the restaurant. If you are a fan of Iranian and Parsi food, you will love it here. Head over to Rangoli Restaurant at Zanda Chowk in Gandhidham to try some authentic and yummy Gujarati thali. The restaurant is known for its service and for serving the best Gujarati food in the vicinity. You can also try Big Bite Restaurant and Rasoi Restaurant for a variety of Indian cuisines offered on their menu. The food is delicious, affordable and comes with service that you cannot complain about at all. Rajwadi Rasoi in Anjar serves both Indian and Chinese cuisines but is known for its delectable Rajasthani thali. The Chocolate Room, which is about 2 km away from Radisson Hotel in Gandhidham, is also worth a try if you are not in the mood to try traditional Indian desserts. It is also a popular franchise in the country, and you will love it here.

How to reach Kandla (Transportation)

By Air

Kandla Airport is called Gandhidham Airport, which was constructed in the 1950s. The flight connectivity to Kandla is quite limited. It is also a small airport in comparison to other airports and can only accommodate over 100 passengers at a time in the terminal building. Only domestic routes from Kandla airport can be accessed, and the destinations are limited. International routes from Kandla can be accessed through connecting flights from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad. Another nearest airport to Kandla is Bhuj Airport. It is also difficult to find flights to Kandla from most major or small cities in the country since it only flies to and from limited destinations. It is not very difficult to get cheap flight tickets to Kandla since the fares are quite low.

By Rail

The nearest railway station is at Gandhidham, and it is connected to other cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Ahmedabad and Hyderabad. You will get a taxi or an auto outside the station to Kandla Port. Do make sure that you have the necessary permissions in place before you head to the port.

By Road

Reaching Kandla by road is one of the best and most convenient options. You will get buses and taxis from Ahmedabad, Jamnagar, Vadodara and Ahmedabad.

  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.