Places to visit in Madurai

South Gopuram of the Meenakshi Amman Temple

Wikimedia Commons

Located on the banks of Vaigai river, Madurai is a major tourist destination in Tamil Nadu. It is built around the famous Meenakshi Amman Temple. It is known as the "Athens of the East". This ancient city has been a major settlement for over two millennia.

Madurai is a blend of the ancient and modern. It is well-known for its historical monuments and for its automobile, rubber, chemical and granite manufacturing units.

History

People have been living in Madurai since 3rd century BCE. Its history dates back to the Sangam period of the pre-Christian era. It was the capital of the Pandyan Kingdom.

Legend has it that Madurai was a forest known as Kadambavanam. Once a merchant passing through the forest saw Indran, the king of gods worshipping a Swayambhulingam under a Kadam tree. He reported what he saw to King Kulsekarer Pandayan.

The king cleared the forest and built a beautiful temple, which is today known as the Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarer Temple, around the holy Lingam. Later on he built a beautiful lotus-shaped city surrounding the temple. This city is Madurai. The city flourished in 10th century CE.

Later, the city came under the rule of the Delhi Sultanate, but the Madurai Sultanate was run as an independent kingdom. In 1378 CE, the Vijayanagara empire annexed the city.

In 1559 CE, Madurai gained independence from the Vijayanagara empire and was ruled by the Nayaks. Later on, it was captured by Chanda Sahib Arcot Nawab and Muhammed Yusuf Khan. In 1801, the British East India Company took over the region.

During the freedom struggle, Gandhiji first adopted the loin cloth as his attire in Madurai.

How to reach Madurai?

Even Madurai has an international airport, it is not a major airport. It handles around 850,000 passengers annually. This busy city is well-connected by road and rail. Madurai Junction is the main railway station in Madurai, which has seven railway stations. Four highways pass through the city. Madurai has three bus stations.

Hotels in Madurai

5 Star Hotel	4 Star Hotel	3 Star Hotel	2 Star Hotel	1 Star Hotel
Heritage Madurai	The Gateway Hotel Pasumalai Madurai	Star Residency	Madurai Residency	Hotel Templecity Dreamz Inn
	Poppys Hotel	Hotel Royal Court	Hotel Park Plaza
	Hotel The Nook	The SPK Hotel	Hotel Kathir Palace

Places to visit in Madurai

More than 9 million people visit Madurai every year. Here are some popular tourist attractions in Madurai.

Meenakshi Amman Temple

This historic Hindu temple is dedicated to goddess Parvati, who is also known as Meenakshi, and Lord Sundareswarar (another name of Lord Shiva). The temple complex, which covers around 45 acres, has 12 gopurams(towers). All towers are sculptured and painted.

The Aayiram Kaal Mandapam (which means a hall of 1000 pillars), which is a part of this temple, is a unique monument that was built in the year 1579. The actual thousand pillars are no longer accessible to the general public because they have deteriorated over the centuries.

Meenakshi Amman Temple Timings

Pooja Name	Time
Thiruvanandal Pooja	05.00 am – 06.00 am
Vizha Pooja	06.30 am – 07.15 am
Kalasandhi Pooja	06.30 am – 07.15 am
Thrikalasandhi Pooja	10.30 am – 11.15 am
Uchikkala Pooja (Noon Pooja)	10.30 am – 11.15 am
Maalai Pooja	04.30 pm – 05.15 pm
Ardhajama Pooja (Night Pooja)	07.30 pm – 08.15 pm
Palliarai Pooja	09.30 pm – 10.00 pm

Meenakshi Temple Architecture

• Madurai Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple Architecture

Gandhi Memorial Museum

Gandhi Memorial Museum is one of the five Gandhi Sangrahalayas in India. The building that houses the museum was constructed in 1670 during the reign of the Nayak Dynasty. Here you will find a visual biography of Mahatma Gandhi, illustrations that depict the history of the freedom movement, some of his personal belongings, handicrafts and much more.

Wikimedia Commons | Source

Trivia

The museum has a part of the blood-stained garment worn by Mahatma Gandhi when he was assassinated by Nathuram Godse in 1948.

Gandhi Museum Madurai Timings

Opening	Closing
10.00 am	1.00 pm
2.00 pm	5.45 pm

Madurai Gandhi Museum Images

Kallazhagar Temple

Located in Alagar Koyil, around 21 kilometers from Madurai, this Vishnu temple is in Dravidian architecture. The temple is in a picturesque locale and is surrounded by two forts.

Kallazhagar Temple Timings

Vishva Rupam	6.00 am
Pongal Kalam	7.00 am
Ucchikkalam	12.00 pm
Sayarakchai	5.00 pm
Nithiyana Santhanam	6.30 pm
Sampakkalam	8.00 pm

Pazhamudircholai Murugan Temple

Located on a hilltop around 25 kilometers from Madurai, this temple is also known as the Solamalai Murugan Temple. It is believed to be the last of the six abodes of Lord Muruga. This temple is surrounded by dense forests. It is the only temple among the Aaru Padai Veedu (means six warhouses) temples, where Lord Muruga can be found along with both his consorts Valli and Deivanai.

Pazhamudircholai Murugan Temple Timing

Open between 5.30 am and 1.00 pm, and between

4.00 pm and 9.00 pm, on all days of the week.

Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal

This 17^th-century place was built by Thirumalai Nayak, a king of Madurai's Nayaka dynasty, with the help of an Italian architect. It is a blend of Dravidian and Islamic styles of architecture. It houses an auditorium, royal residence, rooms, sanctuary, palanquin place, armory, royal bandstand, garden and pool. The original palace complex was four times bigger than the present structure.

Trivia

Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal was the living palace of the Nayak kings of Tamil Nadu.

Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal Timings

General visit: 9.00 am to 5.00 pm.

Lunch Break: 01.00 pm to 01.30 pm.

Sound & Light Show: 6.45 pm to 7.35 pm in English;

8.00 pm to 8.50 pm in Tamil.

Climate

Climate	Tropical
Köppen and Geiger classification	Aw
Average annual temperature	28.8 °C
Average rainfall	840 mm
Driest month	February
Wettest month	October

10 Famous People from Madurai

Rani Mangammal	Popular administrator of the 17th century
Bodhisena	Buddhist scholar and monk
Ganapathy Baskaran	Theoretical physicist
Anita Ratnam	Indian classical and contemporary dancer.
Sundar Pichai	CEO of Google Inc.
M.V. Muthuramalingam	Founder & Chairman of Velammal Educational Trust
Chitra Bharucha	Former Vice Chairman of the BBC Trust
Narayanan Krishnan	Chef-turned-social worker
S. Venkatesan	Writer
T. M. Soundararajan	Singer

Madurai Tourism

• https://www.holidify.com/places/madurai/sightseeing-and-things-to-do.html

Mysore points of interest

Mysuru Is an Enchanting City

Located in southwest part of Karnataka, a state in India, Mysuru (which was Mysore till November 1, 2014) is one of the most enchanting cities in India. It is not only a clean city but also one of the well-planned cities in India. It is the most popular tourist destination in Karnataka.

How to Reach Mysuru

Kempegowda International Airport (170 km from Mysuru) is the nearest major airport to Mysuru. Flights are available from this airport to Musuru. Mysuru has a railway station, the Mysore Junction, and bus stops. Buses and trains are available from cities and towns in the region to Mysuru. Helicopter charter services are available Bengaluru, Mangaluru and Hubballi to Mysuru.

Places of Interest in Mysuru

Here are top places to visit in Mysuru.

Mysuru Palace

Located at the heart of the city, this historical palace is one of the most visited monuments in India. It is the official residence of the Wodeyars who ruled Mysuru from 1399 to 1950.

Mysuru Palace Is Also Known As Amba Vilas Palace

Also known as Amba Vilas palace, Mysore palace is built in Indo-Saracenic style. It houses two durbar halls and incorporates many courtyards, gardens, and buildings.

The palace is easily reachable by cab, city bus and auto rickshaw. It is around one kilometer from KSRTC bus stand; three kilometers from railway station and 10 kilometers from airport.

Mysore Palace Timings

The palace is open between 10.00 am and 5.30 pm.

Mysuru Palace

Source

Zoo

Popularly known as Mysore zoo, Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens covers an area of 157 acres. It houses a wide range of species; currently there are around 1450 animals belonging to 170 species.

Here you will find native and exotic animal species in natural settings. When you visit here, you can expect to see gorilla, chimpanzee, zebra, giraffe, African rhinos, tapir, marmoset, lemur, baboon, emu, etc.

Mysore Zoo Images

Chamundi Hills

The average elevation of Chamundi Hills is 1,000 meters. Chamundi is the tutelary deity of the Mysore Maharajas and the presiding deity of Mysore. Sri Chamundeswari Temple is located on top of the hill. Huge statues of Mahishasura and Nandi are other attractions in the hills.

Temple on Chamundi Hills

Jaganmohan Palace

Built in 1861, this beautiful palace was one of the residences of the Wodeyars. Today it is an art gallery that displays a rich collection of painting by various artists, including the celebrated Raja Ravi Varma.

Jaganmohan Palace

Wikimedia Commons | Source

Jaganmohan Palace Timings

08.00 am to 17.30 pm

Mysore Sand Sculpture Museum

This beautiful museum houses many intricate sand sculptures; around 150 of them in 16 themes. It is the first sand sculpture museum in India. You will find a huge 15 feet tall statue of Lord Ganesha at the entrance to this unique museum.

Mysore Sand Sculpture Museum Entry Fees

Adults	₹40
Children	₹20

Brindavan Gardens

Located adjoining to the Krishna Raja Sagara (KRS) dam, this beautiful garden is a celebrated beauty spot in India.

It is one of the best terrace gardens in the world. It is well-known for its flower beds, fountains, lush green lawns, terraces, trees, sparterres, running and cascading water channels, water chutes and shrubs.

On an average, around 10,000 tourists visit this garden every day. The numbers see an increase during Dasara.

Brindavan Gardens Timings

Opening	Closing
6.30 am	9.00 pm

Mini Vidhana Soudha

Located in Nazarbad, this beautiful building stands on a 2 acre plot. It has a cellar, meant exclusively for parking.

It houses the Taluk Office, offices of the Sub-Registrar, Taluk Panchayat, Assistant Director of Land Records, Assistant Director of Agriculture, State Bank of India and many other departments.

GRS Fantasy Park

Located just outside Mysuru city, this national award winning amusement park is well-known for its slides, rides, multiple playgrounds & an old-fashioned carousel. “Real value for money...MUST visit in Mysore,” said one visitor.

Karanji Lake

Surrounded by a nature park, Karanji Lake has India's largest walk-through aviary. You will see many birds while boating in this lake. It is an ideal location to relax and to rejuvenate yourself, and to bond with your loved ones.

Melody World Wax Museum

The theme of the museum is music. This fascinating tourist attraction has various musical instruments in interesting settings; it is replete with life size wax statues of musicians playing the musical instruments. The 90-year-old museum building is a heritage building of Mysuru.

Planet Earth Aquarium

Located behind Infosys in Old KRS Road, this large public aquarium and farm houses freshwater fish and saltwater fish. There are around 100 Aquariums with about 150 varieties of fishes.

Railway Museum

Located in Yadavagiri, this museum displays vintage locomotives. It was set up in 1979 by the Indian Railways. It is a good place to know about the journey of railways in India.

Folk Lore Museum

Folk Lore Museum is located in Manasa Gangothiri, it is a part of the Mysore University. Here you will find folk art and crafts from all over the state of Karnataka.

Jan Brouwer's Chamber Music

The Dutch anthropologist Jan Brouwer has made Mysore his home. Since 1996 he has been organising chamber music in his carefully designed home in Kuvempunagar.

Starting from a modest group of seven enthusiasts, his mailing list has grown to over 450.

He seeks a modest contribution to sustain this activity. You can spend a memorable evening listening to outstanding musicians from India and across the world at his acoustical music room adorned with artwork.

Listening to a live performance with an opportunity to interact with the performers as part of a small intimate audience is really special.

Other Things to Do

Learning meditation at SRCM Heartfulness Meditation Center, rejuvenating at Om Ayurveda & Yoga Centre (OAYC), watching a cultural program at Jaganmohana Palace, enjoying local cuisine at Sandya's Home, visiting traditional fruit and vegetable market at Devraj Market, shopping at Kaveri or Ramsons or JSS urban haat, doing a heritage walk and taking a guided cycle tour of the city are other fun things that you can do in Mysuru.

Climate

Mysuru's climate is categorised as Aw in the Köppen climate classification. The city has a tropical savanna climate. Summer (March to June), monsoon (July to November) and winter (December to February) are the main seasons.

Mysuru's average annual rainfall is 804.2 mm. The city was hottest (39.4 °C) on April 4 1917 and coldest (7.7 °C) on January 16 2012. Plan your visit to Mysuru between the months of June and October.

Hotels in Mysuru

5-Star Hotel	4-Star Hotel	3-Star Hotel	2-Star Hotel
The Quorum Hotel	Radisson Blu Plaza	Ginger Hotel	Hotel Maurya Residency
Grand Mercure Mysuru	Country Inn & Suites	United-21 Hotel	Aishwarya Suites
	Fortune JP Palace	Hotel Crystal Paark Inn	Suvarna Residency

5 Top Fine Dining Restaurants in Mysote

Sl No	Restaurant
1	Mosaic - The Global Cuisine Restaurant
2	Infinit Lounge Bar & Fine Dining
3	La Uppu
4	Spring
5	Shikari, Royal Orchid Metropole

Transportation

Bus service connects tourist attractions and residential areas in Mysuru. You can explore the city using cab services offered by app-based cab services like Ola and Uber. Auto rickshaw is another option. Before boarding an auto rickshaw insist on meter usage. Use prepaid auto rickshaw counters if they are available.

Stay Safe

Mysuru is predominantly a safe city, barring few incidents of chain snatching and purse snatching. Avoid strolling around lonely places during night hours. Do not hesitate to seek help from police; you can reach them by dialing 100 on your phone. Mysorians are generally hospitable, friendly, peace loving and willing to help.

Famous People in Mysuru

Yoga teacher K Pattabhi Jois, who developed the vinyāsa style of yoga; and fiction writer Anasuya Shankar (Triveni), are among famous people who lived in Mysuru. Well-known writer R. K. Narayan, the creator of Malgudi, lived in Mysuru.