Madurai to Prague 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 Prague

One of the most popular destinations to go backpacking across, Prague, is one every traveller's list. The city has seen invasions, fires, floods and a lot of overthrows at around 870 AD. Prague is one of the most delightful and charming cities and the most popular European destination, too. The city is known for its magnificent castles, synagogues and towers. It also makes for one affordable trip and hosts a lot of backpackers on a budget every year. It has also been named as one of the largest castle complexes in the world by the Guinness Book of Records. You will also come across a lot of stunning cathedrals and museums that maintain the old-time charm of the city. Even if you are not into architecture a lot, you will find yourself admiring the beautiful structures in Prague.

Best Time to Visit Prague

Spring, from March to May, is an ideal time to visit Prague. The temperature ranges from approximately 0 to 17 degree Celsius throughout the months. The weather is pleasant and mild. You can book a hotel in Prague at reasonable prices. Since it is only the beginning of summer, make sure you do carry some warm clothes to tackle the cold breezes and wind chill. Spring also has a lot of festivals and events that you can attend, like the Prague Marathon in April, Prague Food Festival and Prague International Music Festival in May and June. You can also sign up for Prague Proms in May. If you are staying in hostels, you will even end up making new friends from all over the world.

June to August is summer in Prague, and it is also said to be the best time to plan a trip to Prague. The temperature ranges from 15 to 28 degree Celsius. Booking a hotel room in Prague during this season might be a tad bit expensive if not done in advance. You can even get a decent deal on flights to Prague online if you are planning it way in advance. But if you want a budget-friendly trip, make sure you plan it during Spring or Autumn. Since this is also peak season, you'll find the streets quite crowded and buzzing with tourists. You can also attend Venetian Nights, an open-air music festival that takes place in July.

September and October is also a favourable time to plan a trip to Prague. It is Autumn, and the weather is also quite pleasant. November through February is winter and the least favourable time since it is winter. However, if you want to spend your Christmas and New Year's Eve in the European city, you might get cheap flight tickets to Prague. But you will not be able to enjoy sightseeing or even exploring some of the popular tourist attractions in the city. If you are going to Prague during Christmas, do not miss the Christmas Market. You will also not find a lot of crowd during this time.

Places to Visit in Prague

Prague has a lot of charming castles and cathedrals to its credit. One of the best ways to get around the city is to either take public transport or just walk around. Prague has a well-functioning metro that is connected well within the city. It is yet another efficient way to get around the city, along with trams. The Prague Castle is a major tourist attraction here. The castle has buildings constructed over the last 1000 years, and all of them are connected. It also houses the President of the Czech Republic. You will also get a great view of the city from here. The Charles Bridge that is built over the Vltava river is another popular place for tourists. Late evenings and early mornings are the best time to visit the bridge since you will find a lesser crowd during this time. You will also find a lot of vendors and street artists for your amusement and shopping needs.

The St Vitus Cathedral overlooks the entire city of Prague from over a hilltop. The architecture is magnificent, and you will learn a lot about Prague's history here. The construction of the church was completed in 1929. Old Town Square is another most visited tourist attraction where the famous Astronomical Clock was built in 1410. The climb to the top of the tower can be quite difficult, and it is highly recommended that you avoid it if you are not fit. It also makes for a great spot to take pictures. You can also visit the Prague Zoo that is home to endangered Przewalski's horse, also called the Mongolian wild horse. The zoo has over 4200 animals, and you can pay a visit if you are travelling with your kids. For all the art lovers, there is the National Gallery in Prague that has curated some of the best and classy artwork.

Things to do in Prague

If you travel to Prague during the right season, that is summer, a lot of options will be open for you to go sightseeing. You can either hire a taxi or a guide; you can also walk to most of these places and discover the lesser-known tourist spots. Prague is surrounded by hills and going mountain biking is a popular activity that tourists take up here. If you are done with sightseeing and want to do something adventurous, you can try mountain biking. If you want to make your visit to Prague Castle, you can hike through the Chotkovy Sady. It will be an experience of a lifetime with breathtaking views as you reach the castle.

Hot air ballooning is also a popular activity that attracts tourists in Prague. You can also visit the Náplavka Farmer's Market to binge on some delicious snacks or just stroll across the River Vltava to soak in the view. You can also catch the ballet or an opera show at the National Theatre. The John Lennon wall is also pretty popular among young travellers and fans of the Beatles. An activist had painted an image of the lead singer on a wall right opposite the French embassy after John Lennon was killed in 1980.

Foods and Restaurant in Prague

You are certainly going to love the food in Prague. Be it vegetarian or non-vegetarian food, you will find everything here, and you will love it, too. Bramborák is basically potato pancake but with a lot of flavours. Head to a deli to pick this up, and it will leave you wanting for more. You must also try the Goulash in Prague, a bowl of meat and potato stew with a lot of herbs. You can try the goulash at Mlejnice. Halušky is yet another dish popular in the Czech that is actually a traditional Slovakian dish. It's a kind of dumpling that is topped with ham and fresh herbs.

You will find some great Halušky at Mincovna. Cafe Savoy is a great place to head to for a delicious breakfast. Ensure that you make a reservation in advance since it is a popular place. Portfolio Restaurant is also famous for its excellent choice of wines, interiors and their service. Bistro à Table is a French restaurant that specialises in traditional French cuisine like filet mignon and frog legs. Don't forget to treat yourself to a glass of wine here. Sansho is yet another popular restaurant that serves authentic Asian food. Do try the six-course dinner menu that is served at communal tables family-style. Kmotra is where you head to if you are in the mood for some pizza and delicious homemade pasta. Prague also has a restaurant that specialises in Afghan cuisine called Kabul Restaurant. The menu is translated into different languages, so you are not surprised with what lands on your table.

How to reach Prague

Václav Havel Airport Prague, which was earlier called Prague Ruzyn? International Airport is the international airport in the Czech Republic's capital, Prague. The flight connectivity to Prague from India is excellent. While there are no direct flights to Prague, there are several connecting flights that have layovers at Istanbul and Munich. Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa have frequent flights to Prague from the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai. LOT Polish Airlines and Ukraine International Airlines take off from Delhi to Prague. You also have Qatar Airways and Lufthansa taking off from Bangalore quite frequently. Istanbul, Munich and Doha are some of the popular routes to Prague since most flights to Prague have a layover at these airports. If you are travelling during summer or winter, there are high chances that you will get cheap flight tickets to Prague. Getting around the city from the airport is also not very tedious since you get cabs right outside the airport. If you are travelling from another European city or country, trains are the best and most preferred option. It is quite convenient, well-connected and offers you the best view across the continent, something you will cherish for a long time.

  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.