Gorgeous Temples and monuments in this southern Indian town is sure to set a flame in your heart.

Madurai is famous for its Jasmine flowers and the fact it has been continuously inhabited.  As such it is the oldest city in Tamil Nadu and one of the largest.

One of South India’s Best Temple Towns, it is said that the Pandyan King Kulasekarar built a great temple here and then created a lotus shaped city around the temple. The day the city was to be named, the city was showered with the divine nectar from Lord Shiva’s locks as he blessed the land and its people and since then the city has been known as Madhurapuri. 

Madurai tourism

Madurai is affectionately known as the “Athens of the east” as temples and monuments abound in great numbers here.  Madurai’s Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple is one of the greatest architectural marvels of India, and arguably in the world.  Admittedly Temples in Madurai attract quite a bit of tourists attention.  One was voted into 26^th place for the new 7 wonders of the world, and Meenashi Temple attracts 6000 tourists a day with revenue of about 60 million rupees per year.

Madurai has a firm standing on its tradition and history it is home to many artists and poets, and houses a brilliant array of both contemporary and classical writings. Madurai has had the prestige of being the seat of the Tamil Academy in the past.  It is no wonder the city has attracted such attention; it has been a center for learning and pilgrimages for centuries.

Hot and Dry-Madurai’s Climate

Madurai’s climate is hot and dry, this is main reason why for so many Madurai may be slightly harder to enjoy completely.  So for this reason it is best to visit Madurai during its winter months of October through to march.  Due to its central southern position Madurai misses out on much of the cooling effects of the sea and can be a trifle stifling in the summer.  Ultimately Madurai does enjoy plenty of visitor’s right through the year.

Madurai’s food stalls

One of the things that must be tried while you are your tour to India is of course the food.  Not 24 hours 7 days a week but there should be a healthy respect for the food of India, and the food of Madurai’s food stalls is no exception.  Many people stick to what they think is safe in India, for fear of unhygienic practises or just the fear of trying something new.  However the Madurai food stalls break the mould, they are both tasty meals, and serve them rather hygienically as an “added” bonus.  Shopping at food stalls means getting a real view of Madurai’s food, trying things as they were meant to be made and how they are meant to be served.  There is for instance no better way to eat Halwa than off a banana leaf, even though there are plastic wrapped options available elsewhere.  But it’s not all that available here in Madurai by any means.  Thennang kuruthu, jigger thanda, and parotta kadais plus all of its variations can all be found here and are all worth a try.