Madurai Hotels

Madurai in the state of Tamil Nadu in India mostly attracts visitors interested in its extensive historical and cultural attractions. The Meenakshi Sundareswarar Templeis a popular site to visit in the city. Dedicated to the Lord Shiva and his consort Meenakshi, this enormous temple is complex and intricate. You could spend days exploring all of its features, although some areas are off-limits to tourists. The Koodal Azhagar Temple, dedicated to Lord Vishni, is worth visiting for the décor and history. Another magnificent ancient temple is Thiruparankundram, which features chambers for most of the Hindu deities and has been mentioned in sacred texts from the 6th century.

There are many shrines in Madurai built for Islamic saints, and amongst these sites are the Thiruparankundram and Goripalayam Dargah. Along with sacred sites, Madurai has many fascinating historical landmarks such as the Thirumalai Nayak Palace ruins, built in the 17th century. This site hosts a bilingual sound and light show in the evenings, and there is a museum on the grounds as well. Those who are interested in the life of famous freedom fighter Mahatma Ghandi will definitely want to see the exhibits at the Gandhi Museum in Madurai.

When to Go

Madurai is very hot with little variation in temperature from season to season. The high temperatures on average are 35-37°C (95-99°F), but there are times it can reach almost 40°C (104°F). April through July are the hottest months in Madurai, whilst November though January are the coolest with highs in the 31-32°C (88-90°F) range and lows around 20-21°C (68-70°F). Madurai's monsoon season is from October through December, when there is a significant amount of rainfall. October is the wettest month, with an average of 18 cm (7.1 inches), but September and November can have as much as 11-14 cm (4.3-5.5 inches) as well. During the rest of the year, there is about 4-5 cm (1.6-2 inches) of rain per month except for January through March, which is the driest period with 2 cm (0.8 inches) of rain or less.

• Northeast monsoon season from October-December

• Highs 35-37°C (95-99°F); lows 20-21°C (68-70°F)

• Annual rainfall about 85 cm (33 inches)

Getting There

Madurai has its own regional airport that services Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu. It is located 15 km (9.3 miles) from National Highway 47, and you can easily hire a taxi to get to town. You can also take the train to Madurai from cities like Chennai, Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai. Trains are the most used mode of transportation into the city, so there are frequent routes offered to many destinations. The ride to Chennai is around eight to10 hours by rail. You can get to Madurai by car or bus using National Highways 7, 45B, and 49. The drive from Bangalore or Chennai will take as long as 10 hours, as you will likely encounter construction work along the highways. The bus routes are extensive throughout Tamil Nadu.

• By air: Madurai regional airport

• By rail: Frequent routes to major cities in Tamil Nadu

• By car/bus: National Highways 7, 45B, 49

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