Madurai to Orlando 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 Orlando

Orlando is one of the most visited cities in Florida and the perfect place to head to with your family. There are quite a few theme parks, world-class spas and sports. Orlando must be the destination for your next vacation. While it has a lot of theme parks for you to visit with your kids, you can always revisit your childhood by going to the theme parks here with your friends. The Walt Disney World, Universal Studios and Universal Islands of Adventure and SeaWorld are some of the most popular tourist destinations in the city. If you are a cinema buff, this place is like paradise to you. If you are lucky, you might get a chance to be a member of the audience for the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. Orlando also has a diverse culture and eclectic dining scenes. The city also has museums for every art and history buff. You can attend the ballet, orchestra, dance performances and Broadway show in the city when you visit here. Make sure that you book your seats for the same in advance. Orlando is one city that makes sure you never get bored. There are plenty of entertaining options that will make your holiday special. The city also has pristine beaches and parks for nature and water lovers.

Best Time to Visit Orlando

Unlike other cities in Florida, the best time to visit Orlando is from December to February during winter. Make sure you book your hotel in Orlando several weeks in advance since it gets pretty packed as soon as winter begins. You might also want to book your flight tickets to Orlando in advance. The top attractions in the city will be jammed and since it does get quite chilly, make sure you also pack your warm clothes. The temperature ranges from 10 to 23 degree Celsius. If you are planning a visit to the theme parks, please ensure that you reach early to avoid long queues or to get in. The theme parks do reach a point when they have to stop admitting people into the park to stop overcrowding. You can also attend events like Citrus Bowl, Downtown Food and Wine Fest, Annual Winter Park Bach Festival, Mardi Gras at Universal Orlando Resort and Seven Seas Food Festival at SeaWorld Orlando. The city has its spirits up during winter with so many events, festivals and carnivals happening in the city.

Spring season hits Orlando from March to May, and the temperature ranges from 14 to 31 degree Celsius. It is a very pleasant time to visit the city. The hotel prices drop considerably, and you might even get cheap flight tickets to Orlando. While the theme parks will be more accessible and not packed with a lot of tourists, the numbers might increase after March. The Annual Winter Park Bach Festival, Mardi Gras at Universal Orlando Resort and Seven Seas Food Festival at SeaWorld Orlando continue from February to March. Apart from these, you can also attend the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival at Walt Disney World Resort, Florida Film Festival and Orlando International Fringe Theatre Festival.

June to August is summer in Orlando, and though it is not the best time to visit the city, a lot of families head to the city for their summer vacations. The temperature ranges from 23 to 33 degree Celsius with a high humidity level which makes it a very uncomfortable time to visit Orlando. The city also witnesses a hurricane threat during this time. Make sure you are well-hydrated, not outside a lot and use a sunblock frequently if you are visiting Orlando in summer.

You will come across great flight deals to Orlando along with hotel accommodations in the fall season. September to November, however, is not an ideal time to head to Orlando. The temperature ranges from 15 to 32 degree Celsius, and the chances of hurricanes only increase, which might ruin your vacation. Please ensure that you check the refund policy on the flights and hotels that you book in case you have to cancel it, owing to bad weather. If you are on a budget, it would be best to end your trip right before Thanksgiving.

Places to Visit in Orlando

The Walt Disney World is every kid's paradise. It has about four parks called Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. You can either choose from the options or visit all of them in a day. Since the theme park is pretty crowded during summer, you can head to the city in the spring season. Lake Eola Park in Downtown Orlando is the best place to head to if you want to spend a peaceful day. You can take a ride on the swan boat or take a stroll through the park. It is also a popular place to head to during fairs and festivals. Orlando Eye is a new attraction in Orlando, and the ride offers you an enchanting view of the city. It is one of the best experiences in Orlando that tourists love. SeaWorld is another popular tourist attraction in the city and one of the best places to visit with your family. You can catch the dolphin and whale shows here, and even interact with them. Universal Orlando is a theme park that does not have any Disney characters in it. However, you will find Minion-like characters here along with a glimpse into Steven Spielberg's artwork and mind-blowing rides.

Discovery Cove is right next to SeaWorld Orlando and is one of the best places to go snorkelling and swim with the dolphins. Treat the science buff in you and head over to the Science Centre in Orlando. If you want to go on a shopping spree, head over to Old Town. The Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary is an architectural marvel and one of the beautiful places in Orlando. It attracts a lot of visitors and tourists throughout the year.

Things to do in Orlando

One of the major attractions is Walt Disney World. You can spend about 2-3 days at the mega-resort here. You cannot miss The Wizarding World of Harry Potter if you are a Potterhead. You can sign up for a sightseeing tour of the city or explore it on your own. Make sure you have pre-booked or bought tickets to attractions, so you don't have to wait in long queues. You can also sign up for a food tour or a history tour of Orlando. Catch the dolphin and whale shows at SeaWorld Orlando. You can also interact with and pet the marine animals here. It will be an experience of a lifetime. Make sure you take loads of pictures at every tourist spot that you head to in Orlando. The Mall at Millenia is a great place to go to for a shopping spree. You can also go golfing at the Harry P. Leu Gardens if you want a break from all the kid stuff.

Foods and Restaurants in Orlando

Orlando offers a very diverse culinary experience for tourists. While you will find a lot of American restaurant chains and fast-food joints, you will also come across restaurants that serve Japanese, Italian and Cuban cuisines, among others. Bull & Bear steakhouse in Waldorf Astoria Orlando and Eddie V's Prime Seafood is a popular American eatery in the city. You can also head to NYPD Pizza for some delicious pizzas. You can also dine at Victoria & Albert in Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa or Chatham's Place Restaurant. Q'Kenan Restaurant, Melao Bakery and Padrino's Cuban Cuisine are some of Orlando's best Latin-inspired cuisines. You can head over to Bosphorous Turkish Cuisine for authentic Turkish, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food. It would help if you definitely tried the doughnuts at Krispy Kreme year. Make sure you try the glazed one instead of going for chocolate. The Gnarly Barley and Zeta Asia are some of the popular pubs in the city that are worth visiting.

How to reach Orlando

Orlando International Airport is about 10 km from Downtown Orlando. The flight connectivity to Orlando from India is excellent. United Airlines, Lufthansa, American Airlines have frequent flights to Orlando with layovers at Newark, Frankfurt, Munich, London, Miami and so on. If you book in advance, you might get a great deal on flights to Orlando from India. It takes more than 20 hours of journey by air to finally reach Orlando. It is easy to get a taxi or car rental from the airport. You will find several facilities at the airport, like WiFi, restaurants, cafes, shopping areas, and so on. If you travel during the offseason, you might even get cheap flight tickets to Orlando. If you are travelling from another city in Florida or nearby states, you can opt for road travel. Hire a car or a taxi to head to the hotel or go for an airport shuttle to take you to the hotel. The bus might be a cheaper option, but it does not quite like that girl.

  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.