Madurai to Johannesburg 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 Johannesburg

Johannesburg is in South Africa and one of the most diverse cities in the country with about 11 national languages. It is also one of the world's largest cities that is not situated near a river, coastline or lake. The city has a rough history of violence and politics. The locals have suffered racial segregation and political turbulence. Late Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, or Mahatma Gandhi as he is respectfully called, used to work in the city as a lawyer and was also the catalyst in starting a revolution in the city for equal rights. The city has quite a lot of museums, sites that are dedicated to legendary revolutionists like Nelson Mandela, Robert Sobukwe, Walter Sisulu and many more. In fact, Mandela played an important role in the history of South Africa. Not just history but the city is also known for its music, bohemian art and an eclectic dining scene. You can either book a hotel in Johannesburg that is closer to the historical monuments or with a beautiful view of the city, and you will find myriad options if you book it at the right time.

Best Time to Visit Johannesburg

December to February is the high season in Johannesburg, and the temperature ranges from 13 to 25 degree Celsius. Make sure you book a hotel in Johannesburg well in advance since the availability and reasonable prices will be tough at the last moment. It is also quite difficult to get cheap flight tickets to Johannesburg during summer. You will also have to pack your umbrella since it rains in summer here. You can attend events like Johannesburg International Mozart Festival and FNB Dance Umbrella that happen any time between January to March. If you don't mind the scorching heat that comes with an increase in humidity, this is the perfect time to head to Johannesburg. But be prepared to wait in queues at major tourist attractions. If you are a history buff, you will absolutely enjoy your stay in the city.

March to May is autumn season in the city, and it is also an ideal time to head to Johannesburg. You won't have to deal with a hot summer or a cold winter. The weather is quite pleasant, and the temperature ranges from 7 to 24 degree Celsius. The best part about travelling to the city during this season is that there will be fewer tourists. You can book a hotel in Johannesburg at a lower price, and you'll also come across some decent flight deals to Johannesburg in autumn. You can attend events like the FNB Dance Umbrella and Rand Show. If you don't like crowded places, this is the perfect time to visit the city. You can explore it without having to wait in queues at the important monuments and places of historical significance.

Johannesburg experiences winter from June to August. You can find accommodation at affordable rates and cheap flight tickets to Johannesburg in winter. This is a low tourist season for the city, and the temperature ranges from 4 to 19 degree Celsius. The weather is pleasant, and it doesn't rain in the city, which makes it a perfect time to visit Johannesburg. You can attend the Encounters South African International Documentary Film Festival in June or the Good Food and Wine Show that happens from July to August. September to November is the spring season, and the weather remains quite pleasant. The temperature ranges from 9 to 24 degree Celsius, and you can attend several events and festivals in the city like FNB Joburg Art Fair, Arts Alive, Standard Bank Joy of Jazz Festival and Johannesburg Pride. This is also the perfect time to find good flight deals online to Johannesburg, just like in autumn.

Places to Visit in Johannesburg

Market Theatre is a popular place in Johannesburg that showcases the vibrant culture of the city. You will also find book shops, photo galleries and restaurants here to visit after you are done visiting the theatre. South Africa is known for its wildlife, and the Lion Park is an important place to visit. It is an experience that will stay with you forever. Head over to Holy Hill for the most exhilarating view. This is the best place to take pictures. Johannesburg is also home to several histories and art museums. You can visit the Wits Art Museum and the Apartheid Museum to get to know more about the history of the city. SAB is owned by South African Breweries and is located in Newtown. You can opt for a guided tour and know more about the brewery through a 3D movie. You can also go on a beer tasting spree here and binge on some bar snacks. Mandela House is an important tourist attraction that you cannot miss. It used to be the house of Nelson Mandela which has been turned into a museum. You will find a lot of photos and paintings of Mandela and his family.

Take a break from all the sightseeing and head to Zoo Lake. It is surreal and one of the most romantic locations in the city. You can take a dip in the pool, go on a boat ride or take a stroll alongside the river. Mary Fitzgerald Square is named after South Africa's first female unionist. The place also pays tribute to the country's most talented Jazz musicians. If you are a history buff, you must visit Constitution Hill. You will get to witness a magnificent view of the city, and you will also get to know more about this site, which was once a prison. Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela were also held prisoners here. Lindfield Victorian House Museum is a unique site in Johannesburg, and you must take a two-hour tour of the museum. Pilanesberg National Park is the best place to head to if you want to experience wildlife at its best. You will spot a lot of animals like rhinos, elephants, African wild dogs, zebras and so on. You will also find 300 species of birds here.

Things to do in Johannesburg

Sign up for a sightseeing tour of the city to all the historical monuments. Johannesburg has a rich history, even though it is dark and full of struggles. The city has given the world a lot of revolutionary leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela. You can visit all of these museums and monuments. You cannot miss experiencing South Africa's wildlife when you are planning a trip here. Johannesburg has national parks and zoos that are worth visiting. You can also opt for a safari ride at Lion Park. Sign up for a food tasting tour of the city to explore it better.

Food and Restaurants in Johannesburg

Johannesburg is one city that welcomes people of other ethnicities also to settle down. You will find a lot of Zimbabwean, Nigerian, Mozambican, Chinese, Indian and Somali cuisines. Some of the local delicacies like pap (boiled corn with mashed potatoes), umleqwa (Xhosa-style chicken stew), samosa (Malay and Indian delicacy) and boerewors, a sausage dish are worth trying. Wombles is a diner that is known for serving the most delicious steaks. If you are on a budget, you can head to Lucky Bean and order the Ostrich burger, springbok pie and Casamance chicken. Ristorante La Trinita is one of the best restaurants to head to for Italian cuisine. You can also try Plaka Restaurant Cresta for authentic Greek food. The Grillhouse Rosebank and The Local Grill are the best restaurants to go to if you want to binge on steak. Mozambique Linksfield serves delectable seafood and Portuguese food. If you want to try some Japanese fusion food with a glass of beer, you must try Urbanology. The Big Mouth serves lip-smacking sushi, grill, seafood and Asian cuisine. Mezepoli Meze and Wine Bar is a Greek restaurant that you will fall in love with instantly. You can also try Quills for authentic European cuisine. While fine dining is an excellent experience here, you can also try the local street food.

How to reach Johannesburg (Transportation)

O. R. Tambo International Airport is the busiest airport in South Africa and is also the main hub for South African Airways. The flight connectivity to Johannesburg from India is excellent. Air Seychelles, Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways and Emirates Airline have frequent flights to Johannesburg from India with layovers at Mahe Island, Addis Ababa, Nairobi and Dubai. The airport has a lot of car rental services that are available to passengers quite easily. The airport also has premium lounges, shopping areas, restaurants, cafes and a lot more for passengers. If you book at the right time, you might get cheap flight tickets to Johannesburg easily. If you are booking your flight tickets to Johannesburg during the offseason, you might come across some exciting flight deals to Johannesburg online, and you can't miss it. You can either book a hotel in Johannesburg that is closer to the airport or opt for one that is closer to the historical monuments.

  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.