Madurai to Detroit 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 Detroit

Detroit is observed as one of the populated city in the state of Michigan in the US. Notably one of the most populated cities in the state, Detroit plays a perfect hub to various trades and businesses. Popularly known as the Motor City, Detroit is the birthplace of famous automobile brands, Ford, Chrysler and General Motors.

Over the years, Detroit has seen some tremendous downfalls after the industrial reconstruction, which led to a loss of employment and population. Things got so terrible that Detroit actually became the first city in all of the US to file for bankruptcy. While they did manage to get out of the dire situation, to this day, the city continues to work towards uplifting the city and bringing back the glory days. Interestingly, in the past few years, things have been looking good for the city.

While traditionally, it is not considered to be a tourist destination, the city has been working on adding a new essential industry in their profile. With flourishing cultural development, especially in the music space, the city has attracted many artists and even enthusiasts to flock over to the city during festivals and events. Various architectural sites and entertainment venues have been worked on to revitalise them. As a flourishing city in terms of tourism, the city is doing its best to revive their lost treasures and stance in the map of the US.

Intending to get back their reputation, the city is working on expanding its tourism industry by introducing new festivals and events along with working on infrastructural development. It would be ideal for you to book your flight tickets to Detroit in advance as the prices are quite high most of the time. You can opt for fancy living or hostels for budget travellers.

Best time to visit Detroit

The Motor City witnesses its best season from May to September. Basically, the summers in Detroit are ideal for tourism. This is majorly in terms of the weather and temperatures. Many avoid frigid winters in Detroit as it can be quite taxing to the body, especially if you're a tourist who is yet to explore the city. Every season in Detroit comes with some fun activities and festivals to keep the locals and tourists in high spirits. From Plymouth Ice Festival during winters to St Patrick's Day Parade in Spring to Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix in May, these festivals and events certainly keep people on their toes. As a tourist, you would be thoroughly amazed by the enthusiasm the city brings. Summer is also an expensive month, so if you do plan to stay for long, you will have to ensure that you have enough resources. With temperatures ranging from 21 degree Celsius to 26 degree Celsius, it would be quite ideal for tourists flocking over from India.

Detroit's fervour further continues through September and October as fall takes over. The city continues to engage in festivals such as the Detroit Jazz festival, Tour de Troit ride, Detroit Red Wings, to name a few events. Even if not participating, witnessing these festivities from afar will also elate you and give you reasons to stay back and never leave. Flight tickets to Chicago during the summer season could be a little expensive as it is a peak season there. However, fall might not be so high-priced. In fact, you can also get your accommodation fixed during fall as the hotels in Detroit see a dip in prices. The best would be to find some amazing flight deals to Detroit online. Hopefully, if you're lucky, you might hit the jackpot with deals that cover both, your travel as well as accommodation at a reasonable price.

Place to visit in Detroit

Detroit's beauty is in the fact that it caters to people with varied interests. From being an out and out sports fan to an architecture-enthusiast, the city manages to engage you with its attractions. The place brims with a cultural vibe, making it one of the best places to visit. For the art patrons, you can start your trip from the Detroit Institute of the Arts. Often referred to as the 'temple of art', the institute has up to 100 art galleries plus lecture halls. The gallery also has Vincent van Gogh's famous painting, 'Self Portrait' on its wall. You should also check out the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. Fox Theatre is also a must as the place brings forth Broadway musicals and is quite a landmark in itself. Plus, the interiors are so alluring that you would be blown away by its finesse. Detroit Zoo is also an interesting place to visit as it inhabits over 2,400 animals and also has added to the history of Detroit. They also have a special Polk Penguin Conservation Centre within the zoo which observes close to 80 penguins.

Things to do in Detroit

One of the coolest activities to undertake in Detroit has got to be the food-tasting expedition at the Eastern Market. It is actually honoured as a historic location which gathers food nerds. The place is sprawled over 43-acres and is known to be the largest historic public market. In fact, you can also take up food sampling while you're strolling through the market. There are tours made available for this specific place. Watching shows at the Fox Theatre would be no short of awesome. As the theatre has witnessed some stalwarts from the artists' sphere, Ringo Starr, to name one of them. Another fun activity to take up would be to relish the finest cuisines that the city has. And if possible, take a tour to the Ford factory.

Food and Restaurants in Detroit

Detroit is also touted to be the birthplace of Coney dog, a specific type of saucy hot dog. What gives it the distinguished stature in the hot dog family is how the meal is topped with chilli. There are far too many restaurants and food joints selling Coney hot dog. The one place in Detroit where you will find the best of Coney hot dog has got to be the Lafayette Coney Island. The place is recognised worldwide for its tasty hot dogs topped with chilli. In fact, if you do ask locals to direct you to a place which serves this dish, they will take you to Lafayette. While Coney hot dog does take the cake to be the most famous food, Detroit also caters to some amazing coffee shops and baked goods. Pizzas, pastas, seafood, bagels and such dishes can be found in the city's restaurants. The city's oldest neighbourhood Corktown will give you a taste of some street-style food with coffee shops, roasteries and other fancy establishments too. While you're in Corktown, you should definitely hit some of the pubs and bars.

The place has a grand culture with a slew of distilleries and breweries that will pique your interest. Check out Grand trunk Pub, Batch Brewing Company, Motor City Brewing Works and Detroit Beer Co. for amazing beer. You will also find some Flemish bars offering bowls of piping hot mussels such as the Cadieux Cafe. For more seafood, you should definitely head to Eastern Market Seafood Co to get your hands dirty with their mouth-watering aquatic cuisine. Their meals are often protein-rich, making it ideal for individuals who are health conscious and have a strict diet to follow. You should also delve a little deeper into their coffee culture. The city has some of the best roasteries and coffee shops with aromatic and top-notch coffee. You can visit Astro Coffee for the best coffee experience.

How to reach Detroit (Transportation)

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport is considered to be one of the biggest international airports in the United States of America. The important airport sees tremendous tourist action as well as fantastic flight connectivity. In fact, there are quite a handful of flights flying to Detroit from India. Many of them are mostly from big cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, to name a few. Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, United Airlines, Qatar Airways, Swiss Air, American Airlines, also fly from India to Chicago. There are layovers and connecting flights that a tourist will have to work around as there are no direct flights. The flight tickets to Detroit from India are quite decent for the USA standards. However, depending on if there are any good flight deals online for Detroit, you might be able to get cheaper flights. As long as you opt for round trips, you will be able to find some cheap flights to Detroit from India.

Interestingly, the airport also has a Westin Hotel within its premise. In case you wish to make your hotel booking in Detroit, you can opt for this hotel. The hospitality is world-class, and the location is also quite convenient. The city also has some amazing accommodation options. It would be quite splendid to opt for some fancy hotels to stay when in Detroit. However, in terms of favourable locations, the airport does sound like an ideal place.

  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.