Tourism in & around madurai A Mini-travel guide for tourists Have a list of tourist places in and around Madurai, nearby Madurai and the famous dishes you must try in Madurai.

1. An Initiative from :
©- Reserved for AAM

2. Tourist Spots in Madurai City
• Meenakshi Amman Temple
• Tirumalai Nayak Palace
• Mariamman Teppakulam
• Koodal Azhagar Perumal temple
• Gandhi Museum
• St.Mary’s Church
• Kazeemar Mosque
• Tiruparankundram Murugan temple
• Thenparankundram Rock-cave temple
& ECO Park
• Vandiyur lake & Skating ground,

3. Meenakshi Amman Temple

4. To do - Meenakshi Amman Temple
1. Goddess Meenakshi Sundareswarar
2. Thousand-Pillars Hall
3. Golden Lotus at the temple tank
4. Pancha Sabhai
5. Temple architecture – Prakarams & Porticos
6. Shopping around the temple
7. Try Famous Mutton Briyani & Mutton Chukka for Lunch at Amsavalli
hotel near Nelpettai.
Festival : - Annual 10 day Festival of Meenakshi Tirukalyanam during April-May.

5. Thirumalai Nayak Palace

6. To do – Tirumalai Nayak Palace
1. Grandest Palace architecture
2. Courtyard
3. Palace Museum
4. Huge Pillars
5. Sound & Light Show at :
- 18:45 to 19:35 in Tamil
- 20:00 to 20:50 in English
6. St.Mary’s Church – at walkable distance
7. Try Jigarthanda – a famous Madurai drink at a corner
shop “Famous Jigarthanda” near Vilakuthoon.

7. Koodal Azhagar Perumal temple &
Yaanaimalai

8. Tiruparankundram

9. St.Mary’s Church

10. Kazeemar Mosque

11. To do at Madurai
1. Koodal-Azhagar temple
2. Kaazeemar Mosque
3. Tiruparankundram Temple
4. Tiruparankundram Trekking – Kasiviswanathar temple
5. Thenparankundram Rock-cut Cave temple & ECO park
6. Gandhi Museum & ECO park
7. Vandiyur Lake at evening – View point for Yaanaimalai
8. Mariamman Teppakulam at evening – Try famous Butter Bun
9. Try famous Karidosa for dinner at Simmakal Konar kadai

12. Gandhi Museum

13. Mariamman Teppakulam

14. Vandiyur lake

15. Tourist Spots around Madurai
• Sirumalai Hills
• Kudlaadampatti water Falls – 32 Kms
from Madurai
• Athisayam Water Theme Park (Pvt)
• Annai Velankanni Shrine – Vadipatti
• Keezhakuyilkudi Samanar Caves &
temple
• Vaigai dam & Park

16. Tourist Spots around Madurai
• Ramakrishna Mutt
• Naganakulam Boating – Madurai
Boat Club
• Hawa Valley
• Kadambavanam Ethnic Resorts (Pvt)
• Surya Nagar Temple (Pvt)
• Azhagar-Koil & Pazhamuthircholai

17. Tourist Spots around Madurai
• Yaanaimalai Samanar caves
• Thirumoghur temple
• Viraganoor Dam & Park
• Madappuram Kali temple
• Pudukottai Thondaimaan Palace – 45 Kms
• Pillayarpatti Vinayagar temple – 60 Kms
• “Kanadukathan” Chettinad Palace – 70 Kms
• Sivagangai Palace/Memorial – 40 Kms

18. Pillayarpatti – Sivaganga – Pudukottai

19. Athisayam Water Theme Park (Pvt)

20. Annai Velankanni Shrine – Vadipatti
Kudlaadampatti water Falls

21. Sirumalai Hills

22. Keezhakuyilkudi Samanar Caves &
temple

23. Azhagar-Koil – Ramakrishna Mutt
& Chettinad Palace

24. Vaigai dam

25. Tourist Spots nearby Madurai
• KODAIKANAL – 110 Kms from MDU (or) 2-hrs Drive.
• RAMESWARAM – 140 Kms from MDU
• SURULI FALLS & THEKKADY - 140 Kms from MDU
• KUMBAKARAI FALLS - 90 Kms from MDU
• COURTAALAM FALLS – 120 Kms from MDU
• MEGHAMALAI – 100 Kms from MDU

26. KODAIKANAL

27. To do - Kodaikanal
1. Kodaikanal Lake & Boating, Cycling, Horse-riding
2. Bryant Park
3. Coaker’s Walk
4. Bear-Shola Falls
5. Green-valley View & Pine Forests
6. Kodaikanal Solar Observatory
7. Pillar rocks
8. Silver Cascade Falls
9. Guna Caves & Dolphin Nose
10. Kurinji Andavar Murugan Temple & La Salette Church
11. Berijam Lake
12. Shopping – Chocolate & Plum fruits

28. From Madurai to Kodaikanal
• Just 120 Kms from Madurai.
• Travel Options :
1. Own Vehicle - 2 hours drive from Madurai.
2. Buses available from Madurai Arapalayam Bus terminus
3. Daily trips by Madurai Travel agencies : - Costs Rs.300-
500/ head including Lunch, depending on the vehicle. Choice
of same day return (or) stay at Kodaikanal is left to tourists.

29. RAMESWARAM – 140 Kms from MDU

30. To do - RAMESWARAM
1. Ramanathaswamy temple
2. Ramar Patham – View point for Island aerial view.
3. Dhanushkodi beach
4. Pamban Bridge – View point for Beauty of Blue Sea
5. Ariyaman beach – Parasailing, Water-Scooter rides
6. Shopping at Rameswaram – Marine Craft Products
7. Devipattinam – Navagraha temple

31. From Madurai to Rameswaram
• Just 140 Kms from Madurai.
• Travel Options :
1. Own Vehicle - 2.5 hours drive from Madurai.
2. Buses available from Madurai Integrated Bus terminus
3. Four daily Direct trains available b/w Madurai &
Rameswaram
4. Daily trips by Madurai Travel agencies : - Costs Rs.300-
500/ head including Lunch, depending on the vehicle. Choice
of same day return (or) stay at Islands is left to tourists.

32. SURULI FALLS & THEKKADY - 140 Kms from
MDU

33. To do – SURULI & THEKKADY
1. Suruli waterfalls
2. Scenic beauty of Cumbum valley & Grape plantations
3. Thekkady Boating – View point for Periyar Wildlives
4. Mullaiperiyar Dam
5. Murikkady
6. Chellar Kovil
7. Anakkara – Spice plantations
8. Plantation resorts
9. Mangala devi temple

34. From Madurai to Thekkady
• Just 140 Kms from Madurai.
• Travel Options :
1. Own Vehicle - 2 hours drive from Madurai.
2. Buses available from Madurai Arapalayam Bus terminus
3. Daily trips by Madurai Travel agencies : - Costs Rs.300-
500/ head including Lunch, depending on the vehicle. Choice
of same day return (or) stay at Thekkady (Kumuli) is left to
tourists.

35. COURTAALAM FALLS – 120 Kms from
MDU

36. To do - COURTALLAM
1. Main Falls
2. Small Falls
3. VIP Falls
4. Tiger Falls
5. Five Falls
6. Old Courtallam Falls
7. Shenbagadevi Falls
8. Honey Falls
9. Milk Falls
10. Snake Park & Aquarium
Season : August to December

37. From Madurai to Courtallam
• Just 120 Kms from Madurai.
• Travel Options :
1. Own Vehicle - 2 hours drive from Madurai.
2. Buses available from Madurai Integrated Bus terminus
3. Two daily Direct trains b/w Madurai & Tenkasi
available (Courtallam is 5 kms from Tenkasi).
4. Daily trips by Madurai Travel agencies : - Costs Rs.300-
500/ head including Lunch, depending on the vehicle.

38. MEGHAMALAI – 100 Kms from
MDU

39. To do - Meghamalai
1. Meghamalai Falls (or) Cloud-land Falls
2. Meghamalai Wildlife Sanctuary
3. Highwavys – View point for Varusanadu aerial view
4. Meghamalai Tea & Coffee Estates
5. Iravangalar Dam
6. Meghamalai Lake & Boating
7. Manalar Scenic view

40. From Madurai to Meghamalai
 Just 100 Kms from Madurai, if via Kandamanur
 Just 125 Kms from Madurai, if via Chinnamanur
Travel Options :
 Own Vehicle – 2 hours drive
 No direct bus from Madurai. From Madurai Arapalayam Bus
terminus, One has to go Madurai – Theni – Megamalai.
Accomodation :
Private Cottages, Govt. Bungalow and Panchayat Guest Houses
are available.

41. Must Try dishes in Madurai - NV

42. Must Try dishes in Madurai - Veg

43. All About Madurai
• All About Madurai (AAM) is an Enthusiastic Online Community for Madurai, managed by the
members with passion to develop our city on the global standards.
• AAM looks at preserving our own heritage of Madurai, besides improving the City to global
standards as Madurai being visited by Citizens of numerous nations throughout the year.
• We, being the gateway for the entire Southern Tamilnadu and a Centric place for all South TN
tourist spots with an International airport, hold the responsibility to create a neat Image for
Madurai so that It will reflect in the growth of our region.
• AAM is in touch with the local administrators and Elected representatives, suggest them the
needs & solutions to accomplish our mission. Numerous Petitions, Memorandum,
Complaints had been made by AAM for the development of Madurai to our administrators so
far. You can also join us at :
• http://www.facebook.com/groups/allaboutmadurai/

44. Plan Madurai, It’s our Pleasure to Welcome you !!