Madurai to Dusseldorf 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 Dusseldorf

Dusseldorf is a beautiful city in Germany that is constantly seen competing with two other cities in the country, Rhine and Cologne. Though these cities are approximately 40 km away from each other, they are well-connected and popular among tourists, too. It is one of the best vacation destinations in Germany, and you must add it to your itinerary if you are planning a trip to Germany. The city is known for housing the longest bar in the world. There are approximately 300 bars, pubs and breweries in Dusseldorf. It is obvious by this that the city has a vibrant nightlife and even if you wake up with a nasty hangover, it would be completely worth it. Dusseldorf also has a popular tourist attraction, Rheinturm, that promises an aerial view of the city, and it is completely worth it. You can book a hotel in Dusseldorf that has a magnificent view of the lush green surroundings. It also boasts one of the most beautiful and glamorous shopping streets in all of Europe. You will also find a blend of Japanese culture in certain parts of the city.

Best Time to Visit Dusseldorf

Dusseldorf sees a lot of tourists during winter for its Christmas markets and Carnival celebrations. December to February is winter, and the temperature ranges from 0 to 32 degree Celsius. While the days are mildly cold, the nights are freezing, and you might want to put on all of your warm clothes before stepping out. The Christmas market is one of the main reasons why people love visiting the city during winter. You will find a lot of stalls in the market that sell wooden trinkets, Christmas decor and mulled wine. The market adds all the charm to your festive spirit and makes you want to step out in your best attire. The Germans celebrate Christmas with such grandeur that they have fewer events planned in January so that they can recover from the Christmas hangover. Make sure you book a hotel in Dusseldorf well in advance. Since this is not a high tourist season, you will find the best and luxurious accommodation at the most affordable prices. The snowfall and the well-lit city promise to make your Christmas holiday far more special.

Spring season is from March to May, and the weather is quite pleasant in the city. The temperature ranges from 10 to 25 degree Celsius, and while it is slightly chilly with occasional snowfalls in March, it gets pleasant over time. You can expect to see the flowers bloom and lush greenery take over the snow-clad city. May sees a spike in tourists since there are a lot of long weekends in the month. The local Japanese community here celebrates Japan Day in May. You will get to see a marvellous firework display over the Rhine. Summer hits Dusseldorf from June to August. It is also an ideal time to visit the city. The scorching heat makes it difficult for you to step out during the day. It is not an ideal time to plan a trip to Dusseldorf. In fact, even travelling by the local trams and buses can get quite troublesome if they do not have the central air conditioning system. But if you do plan a visit to the city, you can attend a lot of movie screenings and outdoor concerts. You can also head over to the pubs and gulp down the best German beer.

September to November is autumn season in Dusseldorf. The weather remains pleasant, and visiting the city in the first half of September is also highly recommended. The first frost of winter usually occurs in November, but sometimes, it might even occur in October. Make sure you attend the Oktobeerfest if you are visiting during this time. You will surely find a lot of offers at pubs and get to go on a beer tasting tour.

Places to Visit in Dusseldorf

Altstadt in Dusseldorf's Old Town is a sight for sore eyes. With stunning views of the Rhine, housing the world's longest bar, churches and museums, the architecture of which will leave you mesmerized. Your trip to Dusseldorf will not be complete without visiting the Rhine River. It is the lifeline of the city. You can either take a stroll alongside the banks of the river, on the promenade or sign up for a cruise on the river. You will also find museums near the river that are worth a visit. The Rheinturm is the highlight of the city. It offers an aerial view of the city from its observation deck that is 240.5-meters high. You can even dine at the revolving restaurant here in Rheinturm. Visiting the local Farmer's Market is yet another popular thing to do. You can spend half a day here, and you will leave with a bag full of fresh produce and snacks, too. Nordpark is one of the most beautiful parks in Dusseldorf. You will find lots of meadows, flowerbeds, ponds, fountains, walkways and old trees here. The Japanese Garden here is quite popular.

Hofgarten is Düsseldorf's oldest public garden, and you will also find River Dussel flowing through the park. You will also come across Schloss Jagerhof here, which is a historic former hunting lodge that is now a museum. It flaunts the work of the famous German poet, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Kaiserpfalz is the ruins of Emperor Friedrich Barbarossa's royal palace. If you are a history buff, you will certainly love this place. Konigsallee is one of the most charming streets in Europe to shop, and you can also go window-shopping if you don't want to spend a lot of money. Apart from all the high-end fashion brands, you will also find luxury restaurants here that you can try. Eko Haus is a small place in the city that is dedicated to the Japanese population in the city. You will love the Buddhist temple and the beautiful Japanese gardens here. Head over to the Neanderthal Museum to look at human fossils and re-learn everything about evolution.

Things to do in Dusseldorf

Dusseldorf might not be one of your top holiday destinations, but the city does not disappoint its tourists. If you think Japan is out of your budget at the moment, you can head to Dusseldorf in May or June to celebrate Japan Day. The Rhine Promenade turns into a part of Japan as the locals pay tribute to the culture with traditional Japanese food, kimono fittings, Manga comics, spectacular fireworks and performances. The Rhine River is one of the major attractions in the city. You can go on a cruise at the river and catch a beautiful sunset while admiring the beautiful city and everything it has to offer. Climb on top of the Rheinturm, which is 240.5 metre-high. It offers a beautiful view of the Dusseldorf skyline and the entire city. Make sure you also dine at the revolving restaurant on top as you enjoy the view. You can also head to Altstadt which houses one of the longest bars, pubs and breweries in the world. It is one of the most happening spots in the city.

Food and Restaurants in Dusseldorf

While Dusseldorf boasts of a variety of cuisines from all over the world, you must also try the traditional dishes here like Halve Hahn, Rheinischer Sauerbraten, Himmel und Erde, Blutwurst and so on. You will also find a lot of Japanese restaurants in the city since a small part of the city is dedicated to Japanese culture. Sansibar is a popular restaurant in the city that serves not only German food but also European, Contemporary and fusion food. The sushi and oysters in the restaurant are also quite popular. If you want to try authentic Japanese cuisine, head over to DOX Restaurant. Bob & Mary and Nagaya are also popular restaurants that serve German and Japanese food. Grab a cup of refreshing coffee at Toykio Coffee and Gallery. The Victorian restaurant is ideal for a delicious German dinner with cocktails of your choice. Uerige is a pub that serves the best craft beers in the city along with delicious food.

How to reach Dusseldorf (Transportation)

Dusseldorf International Airport is the third-largest airport in Germany after Munich and Frankfurt. The flight connectivity to Dusseldorf from India is quite good. Turkish Airlines, KLM, Vistara, Air France are some popular flights to Dusseldorf that take off from India. The flights have a certain layover at Istanbul, Amsterdam, Paris and so on. If you book in advance, you will get cheap flight tickets to Dusseldorf. If you are travelling during the off-season, you might come across great flight deals to Dusseldorf online. The airport in Dusseldorf makes sure it has everything for the convenience of its passengers from lounges and waiting areas to restaurants, cafes and shopping areas. The airport also has an airport shuttle and car rental facilities that you can opt for if you haven't pre-booked your taxi already. The airport is not very far from the tourist attractions in the city.

  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.