Africa
Americas
Asia
Europe
Oceania
Holidays to Europe (105 available)
Albania(2)
Austria(13)
Baltic States(3)
Belgium(3)
Croatia(6)
Cyprus(1)
Czech Republic(9)
Denmark(2)
England(10)
Finland(2)
France(17)
Germany(12)
Greece(11)
Hungary(10)
Iceland(6)
Ireland(7)
Italy(18)
Montenegro(1)
Netherlands(3)
Northern Ireland(2)
Norway(7)
Portugal(14)
Scotland(4)
Slovakia(4)
Spain(13)
Sweden(1)
Switzerland(4)
Book your trip
Get expert advice and book your trip with ease.
Book with an expert:
1-888-488-0592
Need assistance with your trip?
Visit our Help Center
What to see in India
Madurai
Tourist attractions Madurai
Step back in time in amazing Madurai, sat on the banks of the mythic Vagai River. This South Indian city, located in the state of Tamil Nadu, is famed for its fourteen gateway towers, or gopurams, which dominate the skyline with their towering, statue-laden facades, marking the ancient entrances to the Meenakshi Temple, the center of the old city. Both the past and present stand proudly in the Madurai skyline as a fusion of ancient an modern architecture.
A holiday to Madurai offers travelers an authentic experience of South Indian culture, but if you are lucky enough to travel to Madurai during the annual Chirhirai Festival, you’ll be in for a treat! Millions of devotees descend on the city to celebrate the Hindu festival at the Meenakshi Temple. You can expect to see a sea of marigold garlands, smell delicious aromas of local food and watch the locals wearing colorful clothing in a dizzying palette of colors.
Above all else, Madurai is a city of culture, with a history which dates back over 2 millennia. The feeling of walking through the well-preserved old city and watching pilgrims perform clockwise navigations of the central mandala-shaped road, en-mass, is incomparable. Traditions and spirituality are at the forefront of everyday life here, making a tour of Madurai an eye-opening and soul-stirring experience.
Highlights of Madurai
Most travelers on a tour of South India visit Madurai for it’s Meenakshi Temple, home to the famous gate towers that punctuate the city’s skyline. This Hindu temple is dedicated to the gods Parvati and Shiva and sits on the south bank of the Vaigai River. As it is a major center of pilgrimage for Hindu’s around the country, it’s impossible to ignore the spiritual atmosphere of the place.
Ancient Tamil literature from the 6th-century contained mentions of Meenakshi Temple, so you can only imagine how many believers have passed through the fourteen gates to make their offerings over the centuries. Be sure to examine the beautiful temple murals, which depict mythological stories, or take the time for quiet contemplation by the sacred water tank in the center of the complex.
However you choose to enjoy your time at Meenakshi Temple, it is surely one of the most important things to see in Madurai. For something a little more contemporary, but still exquisitely beautiful, head to the Thirumalai Nayak Palace, for a look at 17th-century Indian architecture. Your imagination will run wild as you pass through the historic courtyards and colonnaded corridors of the palace, once the height of luxury during the years of the Nayaka dynasty. Another of the must-see sights in Madurai is the Gandhi Memorial Museum, one of five built around the country following the assassination of India’s most loved activist. Under the domed-roof of this white building, you can journey through the life of Gandhi and examine artifacts that tell the story of his eternal dedication to India.
OUR BEST TRIPS TO MADURAI
YOU ALSO LIKE
Bhutan
2 Trips
India
14 Trips
Maldives
7 Trips
Nepal
5 Trips
Saudi Arabia
1 Trips
Sri Lanka
5 Trips
Turkey
13 Trips
United Arab Emirates
11 Trips
Jordan
10 Trips
Israel
Notify me when available
Armenia
Notify me when available
Uzbekistan
1 Trips
Oman
1 Trips
Lebanon
Notify me when available
Kazakhstan
Notify me when available
Kyrgyzstan
Notify me when available
Qatar
Notify me when available
Bahrein
Notify me when available
Cambodia
4 Trips
Thailand
11 Trips
Vietnam
8 Trips
Myanmar
Notify me when available
Indonesia
6 Trips
Malaysia
2 Trips
Philippines
5 Trips
Singapore
3 Trips
Laos
Notify me when available
China
5 Trips
Japan
10 Trips
Hong Kong
6 Trips
South Korea
5 Trips
Tibet
Notify me when available
Mongolia
Notify me when available
Taiwan
Notify me when available
Tourist attractions india
Abhaneri
Agra
Alleppey
Amritsar
Bandhavgarh National Park
Bikaner
Chennai
Delhi
Fatehpur Sikri
Fuerte de Agra
Fuerte de Amber
Goa
Jaipur
Jaisalmer
Jantar Mantar
Jodhpur
Kajuraho
Kanchipuram
Kanha National Park
Kerala
Kochi
Kumarakom
Madurai
Mahabalipuram
Mandawa
Palacio de Jaipur
Pench National Park
Periyar National Park
Pondicherry
Rajasthan Desert
Ranthambore
Rishikesh
Taj Mahal
Thanjavur
Udaipur
Varanasi
Points of interests
- Trips to Abhaneri
- Trips to Agra
- Trips to Alleppey
- Trips to Amritsar
- Trips to Bikaner
- Trips to Chennai
- Trips to Delhi
- Trips to Fatehpur Sikri
- Trips to Fuerte de Agra
- Trips to Fuerte de Amber
- Trips to Goa
- Trips to Jaipur
- Trips to Jaisalmer
- Trips to Jantar Mantar
- Trips to Jodhpur
- Trips to Kajuraho
- Trips to Kerala
- Trips to Kochi
- Trips to Madurai
- Trips to Mahabalipuram
- Trips to Mandawa
- Trips to Palacio de Jaipur
- Trips to Periyar National Park
- Trips to Pondicherry
- Trips to Rajasthan Desert
- Trips to Ranthambore
- Trips to Rishikesh
- Trips to Taj Mahal
- Trips to Thanjavur
- Trips to Varanasi
Other Points of interests
- Trips to Abu Dhabi
- Trips to Al Hofuf
- Trips to Al Ula
- Trips to Al-Hasa
- Trips to Ankara
- Trips to Antalya
- Trips to Anuradhapura
- Trips to Arabian Desert
- Trips to Beruwala
- Trips to Bodrum
- Trips to Çanakkale
- Trips to Cappadocia
- Trips to Chitwan
- Trips to Colombo
- Trips to Dambulla Caves
- Trips to Dammam
- Trips to Dhiffushi
- Trips to Dubai
- Trips to Éfeso
- Trips to Ella
- Trips to Everest
- Trips to Galle
- Trips to Ha'il
- Trips to Hegra
- Trips to Huraa Island
- Trips to Istanbul
- Trips to Izmir
- Trips to Janakpur
- Trips to Jeddah
- Trips to Jubbah
- Trips to Kandy
- Trips to Kathmandu
- Trips to Kaymakli Underground City
- Trips to Koggala
- Trips to Konya
- Trips to Kusadasi
- Trips to Lumbini
- Trips to Maafushi
- Trips to Madain Saleh
- Trips to Madinah
- Trips to Malé
- Trips to Matale
- Trips to Nagarkot
- Trips to Negombo
- Trips to Nuwara Eliya
- Trips to Pamukkale
- Trips to Paro
- Trips to Patan
- Trips to Pinnawala
- Trips to Pokhara
- Trips to Punakha
- Trips to Riyadh
- Trips to Seeduwa
- Trips to Sigiriya
- Trips to Tabuk
- Trips to Thimphu
- Trips to Tiger's Nest
- Trips to Troy
- Trips to Welligama
- Trips to Yala National Park
Countries Nearby
- Armenia Trips
- Bahrein Trips
- Bhutan Trips
- Cambodia Trips
- China Trips
- Hong Kong Trips
- India Trips
- Indonesia Trips
- Israel Trips
- Japan Trips
- Jordan Trips
- Kazakhstan Trips
- Kyrgyzstan Trips
- Laos Trips
- Lebanon Trips
- Malaysia Trips
- Maldives Trips
- Mongolia Trips
- Myanmar Trips
- Nepal Trips
- Oman Trips
- Philippines Trips
- Qatar Trips
- Saudi Arabia Trips
- Singapore Trips
- South Korea Trips
- Sri Lanka Trips
- Taiwan Trips
- Thailand Trips
- Tibet Trips
- Turkey Trips
- United Arab Emirates Trips
- Uzbekistan Trips
- Vietnam Trips
Trip Styles
- Family Dubai Trips
- Solo Tours in China Trips
- China Cultural Tours Trips
- Family India Trips
- India Solo Travel Offers Trips
- India Nature Vacation Packages Trips
- Solo Trips to Indonesia Trips
- Indonesia Couples Tour Packages Trips
- Indonesia Nature Vacation Packages Trips
- Family Japan Trips
- Japan Solo Travel Packages Trips
- Japan Cultural Tours Trips
- Solo Adventures in Jordan Trips
- Thailand Nature Packages Trips
- Family Thailand Trips
- Thailand Tours for Couples Trips
- Thailand Solo Tours with Exoticca Trips
- Turkey Cultural Tours Trips
- Turkey: A Romantic Haven for Couples Trips
- Vietnam Solo Travel Packages Trips
- Vietnam Nature Vacation Packages Trips
- Vietnam Cultural Tours Trips
Susbscribe to our newsletter and join Exoticca GO
The best travel deals
Exclusive promotions
Expert travel tips