| Madurai City Tour Guide - Tamil Nadu |
|
 |
Madurai Facts:
• Area 46.99 sq. km
• Population 9,40,989
• Altitude 101 metres above sea level
• Languages Tamil, English
• STD Code 0452
• Best time to visit October to March |
Madurai is called Athens of the East because of the way myth meets life here. Originally called Madhurapuram because honey (madhu) is said to have dripped off the locks of Shiva here, Madurai is now the second largest city in Tamil Nadu. Legends of warrior princesses, the gods falling in love and divine promises abound. Always an important city politically, it is now among the most important pilgrimages for Hindus. The chief attraction at Madurai is the imposing Meenakshi temple, which was built mainly by the Nayaks. Madurai was important to all the major south-Indian empires. From seesawing between the Cholas and the Pandyas, to being captured by Muslim invaders, and then being regained by the Vijayanagar kings to finally being taken by the Nayaks in 1565, Madurai has had a rich and exciting past. In 1781, Madurai passed into the hands of the East India Company.
History
Madurai was important to all the major south-Indian empires. From seesawing between the Cholas and the Pandyas, to being captured by Muslim invaders, and then being regained by the Vijayanagar kings to finally being taken by the Nayaks in 1565, Madurai has had a rich and exciting past. In 1781, Madurai passed into the hands of the East India Company. |
How to get there
Air
Madurai has a domestic teminus that has daily flights from Chennai, Bangalore, Tiruchirapalli and Mumbai (Bombay). The city centre is 12km from the airport. Taxis are exorbitant; alternatively take a bus, which plies once every hour.
Rail
Rail connections are available from Chennai (8 hrs) and Rameswaram (6 hrs.) The best journeys are those from Kerala, which take you over the Eastern Ghats.
Road
Madurai is very well connected by road. Rent a car or use your own to drive in. Private and State-run buses ply regularly from all major cities in Tamil Nadu.
Best time to visit
The summer months could be avoided though the temperature averages at only about 37° C. The winter months are cooler: max temp-29° C. The Float festival is on in January/February, the Annamalai Festival in August/September and the Chittirai Festival in April/May.
Dining Out
Dining can be an ambience rich affair. There are several rooftop restaurants on Town Hall Road and W. Perumal Maithy Road where you can sit back and relish the soft cool breeze and views of the temples as you dip into steaming sambar. All the usual suspects line up on the menus in Madurai: Chinese, ‘Continental’, south Indian and north Indian tandoori.
Shopping
Sari shops, tailor-stalls and handicraft stores vie with each other for the potential buyers’ attention. You can pick up smooth silks, woodcarvings, statuettes, and hand spun ‘khadi’ cottons from Madurai.
Tourist Offices
The Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC) office is near the main bus stand. 180-TB Complex, W. Veli Street: telephone- 734757. It is open Monday to Friday from 10 am to 5:30 pm and on Saturdays from 10 am to 12:30 pm.
|
|
.jpg)
