Madurai to Raleigh 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 Raleigh

The capital city of North Carolina, Raleigh's fame comes from its important universities such as North Carolina State University. The city is one of the best in the US for encouraging scholarly institutions pertaining to the fields of science, technology and art. Over the years, Raleigh has also turned a new leaf on its culinary front and has emerged into a foodie's paradise.

Best time to visit Raleigh

Raleigh's spring and fall are two beautiful seasons which see the city in a pleasant view. The temperatures during these two seasons are extremely favourable, and the city's landscape is quite pristine. Colours of red and yellow take over the streets and the scent of blossoming flowers take over the city. The whole air of the place is vibrant and brimming with life and excitement. The months September through November have an average temperature of 22 degree Celsius which is quite ideal for indulging in tourist activities. You can step out in the city and soak in all the beautiful weather as well as the lively atmosphere. It is essential that you carry a light jacket along with you as the brisk winter breeze would surprise you. This is also a good time to walk through some of their parks such as the Umstead State Park or Pullen Park. This time of the year, the accommodation prices also see a good discount. Booking hotels in Raleigh during the fall would be cheap and affordable. Plus, the city would also be celebrating Bugfest, North Carolina State Fair, Hopscotch Music Fest and SPARKcon, to keep you engaged.

The second-best wave of the season to marvel you would be spring, between March to May. The temperatures ascend from cold to hot but in a very comforting and pleasant manner. You wouldn't feel the excess heat or humidity on your face. The parks and streets perk up with blossoming flowers and leaves, that further adds to the aesthetic beauty of Raleigh. Festivals such as Brewgaloo, Artsplosure - The Raleigh Art Festival and Raleigh Rock' n' Roll Marathon & Half Marathon also take place during this time of the year. It would be quite fun to indulge in a marathon or just cheer for the participants. The hotel prices are also not too steep or unaffordable. You will easily be able to make reservations for rooms in Raleigh during spring. In fact, you can book your hotels and flights to Raleigh and gain some lovely online deals too. Summers in Raleigh are not as pleasant as they come with humidity. You will feel the pesky sweat and oiliness on your skin. Plus, the heat would make it difficult to venture out for touristy activities.

Places to visit in Raleigh

Raleigh is a haven for art and science. If you are interested in the two subjects, you will have a good time visiting the North Carolina Museum of Art and North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. To get a peek at the history of North Carolina, you should further continue your museum excursion by visiting the North Carolina Museum of History. The city's government structure, also known as the North Carolina State Capitol, is also a good place to visit. The structure is inspired by Greek architecture and reflects a white building with tall pillars. The tour within the capitol will give you a peek at some of the pasts of the state of North Carolina. Marbles Kids Museum is another fun place which was built to enhance the thinking of a growing child. Basically, it is a perfect recreational centre for kids during the trip.

Things to do in Raleigh

Neuse River Trail is a cool neighbourhood where you can rent a bike and explore the trails. The path is actually white and follows the trails of the Neuse River. The place is beautiful as the trail paints a perfect picture for photography. To further continue with this kind of environment, you can also visit the William B. Umstead State Park. Sprawled across over 5,579 acres with wooden trails and lakes flowing, the park is definitely the kind to excite you. You would have a good time riding the bicycle in the trails or opting for a hike. Meanwhile, the place also has opportunities to take up paddle-boating and canoeing. It won't cost you an excessive amount to take up this activity. Pullen Park is highly known for being the first-ever public park built in the state and is recognised to be the fifth oldest amusement park in the United States. The amusement park's entry is very cheap, and the recreational activities are quite engaging. You can also indulge in their food culture. The city has a plethora of restaurants and food establishments that would take you through quite the gastronomical experience.

Food and Restaurants in Raleigh

Raleigh is inching closer towards being a foodie's haven with a growing and flourishing food culture. Much of the credit to this positive change in the city goes to celebrity chef Ashley Christensen. Over the years, she has managed to establish five restaurants and change the face of the culinary world that Raleigh has been acquainted with. Much recently, the city managed to get validation for their culinary excellence by becoming American's favourite cities for barbecue food. Famous publications such as Travel and Leisure and Forbes have credited Raleigh for being one of the best cities to venture into a food expedition. The city has brought forth a slew of restaurants and food establishments that have helped them add a feather to their hat. Ashley's Joule Coffee has also been recognised to be the best in the city. North Carolina's fame in the culinary world stands with their exquisite take on barbequed meat. To get hold of the juicy and smokey meat, you should head to Clyde's Cooper. It is a local favourite and has found fame for its cooking style.

Another famous food establishment that raves barbeque delights that North Carolina is known for is The Pit. The location of this establishment is just as intriguing as the food that they have to offer. From baby back ribs to fried chicken, you will get to explore a slew of barbequed meat with tasty sides. The city has a plethora of international cuisine too that are definitely worth checking out. From Sono's Japanese delicacies to Cheetie Kumar's Garland, these places bring together some extravagant flavours and cooking style to marvel their customers. You should check out Gravy, known for its authentic Italian-American fusion with their signature gravy being the big seller. You should also explore the menu at Jose and Sons, who bring forth their Mexican heritage to add more spice and grills to the platter. While you're stuffing yourself with delicious food, don't forget down some chilled craft beer too. Raleigh Brewing Company or Crak Arm Brewing are two places which serve some impeccable flavoured craft beer that you will certainly enjoy.

How to reach Raleigh (Transportation)

Travelling to Raleigh would mean to invest a lot of time as it takes close to 24 hours to reach the city. The flight connectivity to Raleigh from India is not good but thanks to connecting flights from various airlines, the journey is possible. British Airways, United Airlines and Air Canada are the three airlines that have only layovers and no changing flights business to Raleigh. In fact, British Airways can reach you to Raleigh in close to 24 hours. There is one layover at London's Heathrow Airport. As for United Airlines and Air Canada, where there are no connecting flights that you would have to take, there are lengthy layovers. In fact, you will also require a transit visa if you are travelling from these airlines. The airlines have layovers in European cities such as Frankfurt and Munich, aside from their domestic cities Toronto and Newark as well. The duration though is quite similar to the one offered by British Airways. These are the most popular routes to reach Raleigh from Indian cities. Mumbai and Delhi offer the best airline connectivity to reach Raleigh.

Other airlines such as Air France, Japan Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Delta Air Lines, Finnair, Qatar Airways, American Airlines, Gulf Air, All Nippon Airways, Lufthansa, to name a few, also have flights to Raleigh. They use other international routes to reach Raleigh that mostly consist of a layover at their cities such as Frankfurt, Paris, Tokyo, Newark, Hong Kong, to name a few. The flight tickets to Raleigh are rather expensive. A round-trip would cost you a staggering amount. However, if you have some miles in your kitty, this would be a good time to make more or use the ones you have been saving up. You can opt to book flight tickets to Raleigh in advance to get hold of cheap prices. While you are booking your flight tickets, it is recommended that you also book your hotels in Raleigh. Combining the two expenses would give you some great online deals to Raleigh. Besides, it would be convenient to spend on flight and hotel bookings well in advance to avoid excess expenditure during the trip.

  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.