Madurai Tour Packages

Get to know more about Madurai before booking your tour packages

Located on the banks of the Vaigai River, Madurai is the cultural capital of Tamil Nadu. It is often referred to as the “Athens of the East” by many due to its rich and vast history that goes back more than 2 millennia. The oldest mention of Madurai dates back 3^rd century BC, when Megasthenes, a Greek ambassador visited the Mauryan Empire. Madurai is sometimes also referred to as Thoonga Nagaram, which means “the city which never sleeps.” Madurai has seen the rise and fall of many dynasties that have ruled it. The list includes Madurai Sultanate, Cholas, Pandyas, Vijayanagar Empire, Madurai Nayaks, and the Carnatic Kingdom. And this is in addition to the British East India Company and the British Raj in the 19^th and 20^th century. The city gets its name from a 2^nd Tamil-Brahmi inscription Matiray. It’s an old Tamil word that means “walled city.” Over the 2 millennia, has been referred to by many names. Koodal, Naanmadakoodal, Thirualavar, and even Madhura, are some of the names. But what the city is truly known for is its cultural history. So when you’re booking a Madurai tour package for yourself or your family, there are certain places that you must visit. Although Madurai will make you feel welcomed and you will never want to leave, there are certain places that you must see in the limited time for which you are visiting the city. Here is a list of the places that should be in your Madurai sightseeing package.

Places to Visit in Madurai

• Meenakshi Amman Temple

Meenakshi Amman Temple is the highlight of Madurai. You cannot book a Madurai holiday package and not have Meenakshi Amman Temple in it. It’s a historic temple located on the southern bank of River Vaigai. Built between 1623 and 1655, its unmatched architecture is globally renowned. The temple is named after Mata Parvati, Lord Shiva’s wife, whose other name is Meenakshi. It’s a one-of-a-kind temple because Mata Paravati is not the only god worshipped here, but Lord Shiva too. But, it’s the point of attraction for global and local tourists is its detailed architecture and intricate pieces of art in walls and pillars. The temple complex is made in compliance with the Shilpa Shastra. It has 14 gateway towers known as Gopugrams, each enormous and overwhelming. More than a thousand people visit the temple every day. If you have time to visit Madurai even for one day, look up the Madurai one-day tour price and visit the Meenakshi Amman Temple.

• Kallazhagar Temple

Another majestic place that must be included in your Madurai trip package is the Kallazhagar temple of Alagar Koyil.  It is an elegantly beautiful temple befitting the god worshipped there: Lord Vishnu. It’s said to be the resting place of Vishnu, and several disciples of Lord Vishnu, local and global, visit the temple frequently. Also known by name of Azhagarkovil, it is situated on the Alagar Hills. The temple surrounded by granite walls and it has a seven-tier Rajgopuram (gateway tower). It’s made in the Dravidian style of architecture. A temple tour in Kallazhagar Temple and you will see some rare sculptures from Vijayanagar Empire similar to the ones found in Jalakandeswarar Temple (Vellore), Krishnapuram Venkatachalapathy Temple (Krishnapuram), Srivilliputhur Divya Desam (Virudhunagar), and Soundararajaperumal Temple (Thadikombu). Many traditions of the Thenkalai Sect are followed here, but the priests also perform poojas on a daily basis of other Hindu festivals. In your Madurai vacation, this stays as one of the places you must visit.

• Samanar Hills

Also known by the names of Melmalai, Amanarmalai, and Samanar Malai, it’s a rocky stretch 10 kms from the city of Madurai. Stretched 3 kms east to west, hills and hillocks of Samanar house various Hindu and Jain temples. These temples are as old as the 2^nd century BC and as modern as the 12^th century AD. One of its popular monuments is Settipodavu, which is a 10^th century Jain cave. It’s the most visited place in Samanar Hills because of its easy accessibility, as it’s not very far from the base. Here you can see the carving of Mahavira at the mouth of the cave. There are several reliefs build near the ceiling of the cave once you step inside. Another marvellous thing is the carving of Ambika Devi in the posture of Devi Durga. Other oft-visited sites at Samanar Hills is Pechchipallam, another Jain monument with reliefs of Parsvanath, Bahubali, and Tirthankaras. This place is almost always included in any travel package to Madurai because it is a hike as well as a place of worship. Here, you can enjoy a relaxing hike and marvel at the great architecture from history.

• Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal

The mahal gets its name from King Tirumalai, a king of Madurai’s Nayakkar dynasty who built this palace for himself. He ruled Madurai from 1623 to 1659. The mahal boasts of an architecture that is a fusion of Rajput and Italian architecture. The complex which once formed the Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal was 4 times as large as what it is now. At present, you can only visit the main palace where the King stayed. This must also be in your Madurai package because it’s only 2 kms from the Meenakshi Amman Temple. Once, it was considered one of the wonders of South India. 

Best Time to Visit Madurai

Because of the hot and dry climate of Madurai throughout the year, it is recommended to visit the city between October and March, when the peak of summer has died out. Madurai has a lot of places you will explore by walking, and the last thing you would want is a heatstroke. To best explore the city, you can book a Madurai trip package at an affordable cost. Choose a package in which the itinerary lets you explore the best of Madurai.