Madurai to Silchar 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 Silchar

Silchar is a small town in the state of Assam, located on the South-Eastern side from the state capital Guwahati. It has been coined as the 'Island of Peace' by the former Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi. The city is nestled amid wide expanses of lush greenery. Much of Silchar's cultural heritage is a testament to the British influence on the town. There have been various developments in terms of building the airport to cashing in on the tea plantations, that have taken in recent years. The quaint town is one of the developing cities in India with a busy airport. The Silchar airport was initially a Royal Air Force that was built during the Second World war by the Britishers. However, after the war was over and they lost command in India, the airport was passed on to the Royal Indian Air Force, which eventually opted to open a commercial airport.

The small town enjoys a good number of tourists because of the neutral yet pleasant climate it has to offer. The flights to Silchar are also well-connected, further enhancing tourism in the city. The accommodation is not lavish, but you can still book a hotel room in Silchar and enjoy the scenic views.

Best time to visit Silchar

Silchar's location is ideal for travelling at any time of the year. There is no restriction as such to visit Silchar only in specific seasons. However, the experience of Silchar's beauty can only be experienced depending on the time you visit the small town. The climate is quite neutral and perfect for many who wish to take up an impromptu flight to Silchar and relish the serenity of the place. Winters in Silchar can be quite cold with temperatures falling down to 10 degree Celsius. The season kicks off from October and stretches on till March. The trails turn misty, and the city looks beautiful under the winter sun. This is the perfect time to visit if you wish to indulge in some exploring of Silchar while engaging in adventure activities.

Summers in Silchar are also quite pleasant as the temperature ranges between 25 degree Celsius and 35 degree Celsius. Starting from April, the summers stay with Silchar till June. The season does witness many tourists for its pleasant ambience and environment, making it the peak season. With the enchanting weather and sublime air, exploring more of Silchar definitely becomes easier. The sun isn't too harsh and helps tourists check out some of the attractions without sweating it out.

Monsoons in Silchar begin from July and stretch up to September. Due to its location and the torrent rains that the town witnesses, travelling during monsoon is not advisable. The city sees frequent showers, which could turn somewhat risky as the possibility of floods in Silchar is quite high. Not to mention how the roads turn mucky too, making transit within the town difficult. The flight tickets to Silchar might drop during the off-season. If you think you can deal with the heavy rains, then you should give it a go and also get some great deals on flights to Silchar.

Places to visit in Silchar

Silchar's fame comes from the vast expanse of teas that it grows. They have a dedicated Tea Garden which showcases how the tea plants are maintained and everything pertaining to the processing of the leaves. With its a beautiful sight and informative tour, visiting the Tea Garden is a must when in Silchar. You should also check out Haflong, which is a small but quaint hilly town which is surrounded by scintillating water streams, green hills and exquisite waterfalls. Silchar is also famous for all the temples it has, including the Kancha Kanti Kali Temple, Bhuban Temple and ISKCON Temple.

Things to do in Silchar

There are very few things that can be done in Silchar. One of the top things to do would be to go on a pilgrimage and visit all the lovely temples that are present in the town. Or you can always opt to venture out of the town, a few kilometres away and find some new travel expeditions to indulge in. Khaspur seems like an excellent option to try this out. It has relics from the Dimasa kingdom and some tourist attractions. You can visit the place and check it out. If you're looking for peace and serenity, then you should visit the Dolu Lake and go on a photography excursion. The place offers some scenic views that would make for good postcards.

Food and Restaurants in Silchar

Silchar's food culture is not as flourishing as one would expect. Assamese cuisine is known to be eccentric from the rest of the cities in the country. With the Bengali-influence interspersed with their own flavours, the cuisine is certainly one of a kind and delicious. Some of the famous authentic dishes from the Assamese culture include Khar, an exquisite meat delicacy which also has flavours of raw papaya, taro and pulses. The dish is certainly odd but worth the try.

Assamese also indulge in cooking duck and are pretty good at it. Their duck meat curry is one of the best. However, the dish is only reserved for special occasions which include festivals, weddings and more. If you do come across something called an Oou Khatta, do not hesitate to try. The sweet and sour chutney is made from elephant apple and is a blast of flavours in the mouth. There is a handful but relevant vegetarian food options too. The famous one is Xaak Aru Bhaji, which is a mix of vegetables cooked together and garnished with herbs, garlic, ginger and lemon.

There are a few good restaurants in Silchar, but none of them exclusively sell the real Assamese cuisine. In fact, to cater to the tourist crowd, they often have dishes that are famous and easy to sell. Nevertheless, you should still check out their down-to-earth dishes. Nahaz, Sudakshina, Eclipse - The Restro Lounge, Hasty Tasty, Swarupa Restaurant are some names that you should remember when you go to Silchar.

How to reach Silchar (Transportation)

By Air

Silchar Airport was originally built by the British as Royal Air Force. However, after the freedom movement, when the British left the country, the authority changed to the Royal Indian Air Force. The airport has been used for commercial purposes since then. Located about 29 km away from the main city area of Silchar in Assam, the airport does enjoy a good number of flights and passengers. Flights to Silchar regularly fly as it is one of the busiest airports in the state. Located at 338 ft above the sea level, the airport offers quite a scenic view during take-off and landing. The airport enjoys great flight connectivity from Silchar to major cities such as Delhi, Kolkata and Guwahati. In fact, Air India, SpiceJet and IndiGo airlines have dedicated flights to Silchar, enabling the city to be of reach for major Indian cities.

The airport has only one terminal and handles flights taking domestic routes to Silchar. From Silchar airport to the main city, there are Volvo bus services made available to help travellers with their travel plans. There are taxi cabs also present at the airport that you can hire. These are the only two modes of transport to reach the city centre. However, once you're in the city, you can book a hotel in Silchar and start exploring.

By Rail

Silchar railway station is also called Bhasha Shahid Railway Station, which could be a mouthful to say. The location is precisely in the middle of the city, making transport within the city easy. The railway has excellent connection from Silchar to the rest of Indian cities. There are trains from Silchar connecting with Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Vizag, Coimbatore, Guwahati, Bhubaneswar, Agartala, Patna, Thiruvananthapuram and more. On a total, it is claimed that the city connects with approximately 170 cities in the country. Considering how the train connectivity from Silchar to other cities in India is so impeccable, the demand for it is also high.

Hence, you should book your tickets to Silchar in advance. It is necessary to get a confirmed ticket and for that to happen, you will have to book tickets in advance. Despite having only three platforms, the station has managed to maintain a good log of cities visiting and exiting Silchar.

By Road                                                                             

Flight tickets to Silchar could be exorbitant due to its high demand. However, in comparison, the road is believed to be the most convenient way to reach the city. The domestic road routes to Silchar are perfectly connected, leading many travellers to opt for this choice. Some travellers actually get down at Guwahati and opt for a bus journey. Since roadway is the most favourable way to reach Silchar, many visit the state capital and take buses from there.

The Assam State Transport Corporation (ATSC) provides public AC and non-AC buses to passengers heading to Silchar from Guwahati. In fact, major cities in the North-east offer to travel to Silchar via their dedicated buses.

  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.