Madurai to Las Vegas 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 Las Vegas

Nevada's jewel and the United States' casino capital, Las Vegas is one of the best places to visit in the United States. The city has a culture and lifestyle that only beckons tourists who wish to splurge and party. Las Vegas is a great tourist spot with stunning attractions that could put many other places in the country to shame. Not to mention how it is also quite lit with neon lights and themed-casinos.

Best time to visit Las Vegas

Las Vegas witnesses extreme hot temperatures during summers. However, the winter season between December to February is extremely famous for the Sin City among travellers. Vegas bustles with extravagant holiday parties as the city hosts a bunch of parties during the holiday season. Thanks to the popularity of the season and the place, flight bookings and hotel accommodations in Vegas see a tremendous spike. To avoid expensive hotel room prices and flight tickets to Vegas, it would be ideal to make reservations ahead of time, six months in advance, if possible. The months leading up to the winter season in Vegas are also quite pleasant and perfect to hit the casinos. The crowd visiting the city during this time is also considerably less, making travelling and accommodation cheaper and convenient. September to November sees a tremendous drop in the temperature from 34 degree Celsius to 18 degree Celsius. This season does experience amazing festivals and events too such as Las Vegas BikeFest, Las Vegas Greek Food Festival, Life is Beautiful Music & Art Festival, Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon and iHeartRadio Music Festival.

The spring in Vegas also has an agreeable climate as the temperatures waver between 21 degree Celsius to 30 degree Celsius. The desert city also hosts the country's best music awards such as Billboard Music Awards, Academy of Country Music Awards, Viva Las Vegas to name a few. In March, the NASCAR Weekend is also hosted, which is perfect for an automobile enthusiast. The racing event attracts a plethora of crowd, especially those who get the thrills from watching racers burn fuel and drive to take home the trophy.

Places to visit in Las Vegas

Much of Las Vegas' list of places to visit falls on the slew of casinos that is basically the city's highlight. However, there are some specific places that will blow your mind. While you let the neon lights and kitschy signs drive you through places, do a drive by the Strip. It is the epicentre of Las Vegas and has the most iconic sights such as the Bellagio Fountains, the Eiffel Tower at Paris, the pyramid and sphinx of Egypt, The Luxor, to name a few. These places are literally what give Las Vegas the luxurious feels. They have also managed to bring a Venetian vibe to the city with the Venetian Casino and Grand Canal. There are replicas of some highlights that can originally be found in Venice. At the Polynesian-themed casino of The Mirage Casino and Volcano, you will find exquisite sights and Hollywood-references. It is after all known to have made an impact in Ocean's Eleven movie where Danny Oceans robbed this as part of the three establishments on his list. They also have an MGM Grand Casino, which features from Hollywood. New York-New York and the Big Apple Rollercoaster is an immaculate execution of bringing New York to Las Vegas.

Talk about fancy casinos, and you simply cannot miss the Caesars Palace Casino and The Forum Shops. The casino has made more appearances in movies than some of the actors even! The theme is Roman, and the vibe is very European. Interestingly, part of their entertainment treasure troves also includes Cirque de Soleil, which consists of some of the finest forms of acrobatic feats. Stepping away from all the casino madness, you should check out Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, which has features such as the Mojave Desert and more. You will run out of fingers and toes, but the number of tourist attractions in Las Vegas would still continue to rake up. Visiting Vegas is an experience that is definitely worth all the trip.

Things to do in Las Vegas

With casino keeping a tab of your finances, make sure that you also save enough aside for some desert indulgence. There are various activities such as horseback riding, dune buggy adventures, a helicopter trip to the Grand Canyon, a bird's eye view of the Hoover Dam and a little bit of trekking at the Red Rock Canyon National Conversation Area too. You can also expand your trip by hopping from casino to casino to explore more of the colourful city. One of the best things to do would be visiting the Pinball Hall of Fame and learning more about how the game came into existence and what the relevance of the said Hall of Fame is in Las Vegas. You can also give yourself some more adrenaline rush, aside from at the casino table, by driving a fast-car at SPEEDVEGAS.

Food and Restaurants in Las Vegas

Much like the plethora of choices you have in casinos when you visit Las Vegas, you will also find a lovely spread of options for where to eat and what to eat. The vibrant city is full of places with a high-range dining experience and cheap but affordable settings. It has a kind of food experience for all kinds of people and their varied mood. You will also find culinary institutes curated by world-famous chefs such as Wolfgang Puck and Emeril Lagasse, to name a few. Divulging in some exquisite dishes made at their establishments would certainly be quite the icing on the cake. For an Italian rendezvous, you can visit Chef Julian Serrano's Lago, which overlooks the Bellagio fountain. It would be quite the sight to devour while you enjoy some posh Italian cuisine. If you're in the mood for something Asian, look no further and head to Wynn's dining experience and walk into Wing Lei to gorge down their Michelin-starrer Cantonese and Shanghai meals. To indulge in the celebration of meat, you can pay Chef José Andrés at his establishment, Bazaar Meat. While you're there, do not forget to check out the Kobe beef. It is to die for.

To keep the dining experience light and easy on the pockets, you will also be able to find some budget food at Sin City. There are various centres that host all-you-can-eat buffet styles with lines of pizza, crabs, Chinese to even some beer and liquor. To get some nice sushi, if you're in the mood, head to Kabuto. Or you can go to Juan's Flaming Fajitas and Cantina for some Mexican meals. Here are some more names that would intrigue you - Weera Thai Restaurant, Arawan Thai Bistro and Dessert, Andiamo Italian Steakhouse, Le Cirque. While you're in the city, do not miss some of the wine and breweries that can give Los Angeles and New York City a tough competition. It is worth the indulgence.

How to reach Las Vegas (Transportation)

Flight connectivity to Las Vegas from India is quite good. However, there are no direct flights connecting Las Vegas with any Indian metropolitan cities. Much of the international routes to Las Vegas from India pass through the European belt. In fact, some of the connecting flights to Las Vegas can be taken from European countries as well. Depending on the airlines that you have chosen, accordingly, you'll receive connecting flight options. There are other international routes to Las Vegas as well, such as the one travelling from Hong Kong to San Francisco. The popular route to Las Vegas though is the one passing from Europe. Sometimes there is one flight you need to change, which could be from within the US. Other times there are requirements to switch two flights from Europe as well as the US.

A plethora of airlines such as United Airlines, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, American Airways, Air India, etc., fly to Las Vegas and have great connectivity. The city has two major airports, but you'll mostly land at the McCarran International Airport. There are private jets too that are chartered and land in Las Vegas. There would be no trouble to reach Las Vegas in general. However, the ticket prices might be a little steep. As the city runs on tourism and casinos, Las Vegas witnesses massive crowds of tourists throughout the year. Due to this, flight tickets to Las Vegas are always expensive. But a little snooping around on the internet might bless you with some cheap flight tickets to Las Vegas. In fact, if you're lucky (something you definitely need if Vegas is on your mind), you might even get combo deals of flights and accommodation in the city.

Although lavish lifestyle and expensive restaurants and hotel deals are what Las Vegas aims at, you might be able to find some affordable hotel deals in Las Vegas. It would be best to book your flight and hotels in Las Vegas in advance. That way, you'll be able to snag some pretty good deals too.

  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.