Warm hospitality, benevolent people, incredible food and unbelievably beautiful heritage temples abound in Madurai. A true jewel in Southern India’s crown and one of India’s oldest cities, Madurai embraces modernity, with a booming IT industry, yet continues to preserve its rich cultural past.
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Madurai
Local areas in Madurai
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Art and History
Madurai Tour Packages by Taj Holidays
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Brighten Up Your Home
Brighten Up Your Home
Step into Poompuhar Handicrafts Emporium, near the railway station, to buy all kinds of local handicrafts. Pick up unique wood or brass pieces or a rich Thanjavur painting to add character to your home.
Meenakshi Temple
Meenakshi Temple
This temple complex is considered to be the finest example of the Vijayanagar style of architecture, and was nominated as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Inside is the dazzling Thousand-Pillared Hall, the Golden Lotus Tank, a shrine to the Nandi bull and, of course, the main Shiva idol.
Go On a Shopping Spree
Go On a Shopping Spree
Madurai is a haven for shopaholics. It has a famous textile industry and a thriving handicrafts trade. Some gorgeous wood, brass and stone curios are available here. East Masi Street, South Avani Mool and Town Hall Road are popular shopping areas.
Snap Up A Sungudi
Snap Up A Sungudi
The pride of Madurai, the Sungudi sari uses the traditional tie-and-dye method on breathable cotton fabric, which is perfect for the city’s sweltering heat. Ranee Sarees has a collection of Sungudi saris in fabulous colours and designs.
Travel Back In Time
Travel Back In Time
An easy trek takes you to the breathtaking cave temples at Samanar Hills, inhabited by Tamil Jain monks two thousand years ago. The inscriptions on the cave walls indicate that hundreds of monks undertook a fast unto death here. The caves also hold several exceptional sculptures and carvings.
Thirumalai Nayak Palace
Thirumalai Nayak Palace
A tribute to the Nayaks, the Thirumalai Nayak Palace is a mix of architectural styles – Italian, Indo-Saracenic and Gothic, but only part of it remains today. There are conflicting explanations as to what led to the decline of this palace, but the beauty of what remains outshines what has been destroyed.
Buy interesting souvenirs
Buy interesting souvenirs
Gift your loved ones a replica of a bronze statue from the Chola period, or wood craft as seen in the temples around the city. At Poompuhar Handicrafts Emporium, you can also pick up mementos like papier-mâché dolls and objets d'art made of sandalwood.
Make A Trip To France
Make A Trip To France
The quiet, little-known village of Idaikattur, a short distance from Madurai, has an intriguing connection with France. It is home to a majestic church, built as a replica of the incredible Reims Cathedral in France. This one though smaller, is just as fascinating.
Be awestruck by the Meenakshi Temple
at MADURAI
Be awestruck by the Meenakshi Temple
Visit Madurai’s biggest attraction, the exquisite Meenakshi Temple, whose origins go back two thousand years. Gaze up at soaring towers, embellished with row upon row of demons and divine beings. Step inside and admire intricately-carved columns and reliefs, painted ceilings and the main Shiva idol.
The Gateway Hotel Pasumalai
Contact for more information :
The Gateway Hotel Pasumalai
Delve into the past
at MADURAI
Delve into the past
Learn about Mahatma Gandhi, right from his childhood days till his death at the Gandhi Memorial Museum. Within, there is an exhibit of his blood-stained dhoti, which he was wearing at the time of his assassination. The museum also showcases letters written by the Mahatma, including one to Adolf Hitler.
The Gateway Hotel Pasumalai
Contact for more information :
The Gateway Hotel Pasumalai
Meditate on a hilltop
Meditate on a hilltop
Take an easy hike up Samanar Hills, an important Jain site, where beautiful figures are carved into the hillside. Explore the caves and you’ll find graceful sculptures, and inscriptions on the walls telling you about the Jain monks who fasted unto death here.
Wander through the Thirumalai Nayak Palace
at MADURAI
Wander through the Thirumalai Nayak Palace
Marvel at the Thirumalai Nayak Palace, a curious mix of Indo-Sarcenic, Gothic and Italian architectural styles. Walk its high-arched corridors and run your hands along pillars that tell a thousand tales. Only one-fourth of the palace remains today, but it still testifies to its past grandeur.
The Gateway Hotel Pasumalai
Contact for more information :
The Gateway Hotel Pasumalai
Discover a French surprise in a little village
at MADURAI
Discover a French surprise in a little village
Drive to Idaikattur village near Madurai to find a marvellous Gothic church tucked away in a tiny lane. Be astounded by the architecture of this church, built as a (much smaller) replica of the Reims Cathedral in France. Gaze up at the vaulted roof and admire the lovely stained glass on the windows.
The Gateway Hotel Pasumalai
Contact for more information :
The Gateway Hotel Pasumalai
Get A Taste Of Madurai
Get A Taste Of Madurai
Madurai’s culinary offerings are renowned, and no visit to the city is complete without sampling its distinctive food. Sink your teeth into a steaming idiyappam – rice noodles eaten with sweetened coconut milk, or a kothu parotta – shredded paratha tossed in a tomato and spice mix
Shop for traditional saris
Shop for traditional saris
Madurai’s Sungudi saris, crafted by the Saurashtrian community living in the city, are popular across the state. Buy these handcrafted tie-and-dye saris, which take about ten to fifteen days to create. Ranee Sarees stocks a selection in varying colours and designs.
Gandhi Memorial Museum
Gandhi Memorial Museum
The Gandhi Memorial Museum is a vivid showcase of India’s struggle for independence, including a bloodstained piece of the dhoti Mahatma Gandhi was wearing when he was assassinated. Other exhibits include rare photographs from his childhood as well as other articles that he used in his lifetime.
Indulge in retail therapy
Indulge in retail therapy
Wander through East Masi Street, South Avani Moola and Town Hall Road, and you will unearth a treasure trove of things to take home. Buy rich textiles, creative handicrafts, interesting books and striking home-decor items. Apart from these, you can even buy gold jewellery here.
