Best Things To Do in Madurai, India

Are you looking for what to do in Madurai?

PLACES TO SEE

  • Meenakshi Amman Temple: Located along the banks of VaigaiRiver, the temple is the highlight of the city and welcomes pilgrims and devotees from all over the country.
  • ThirumalainNayakkarMahal: The Palace of ThirumalaiNayak who ruled Madurai between 1623 and 1659 is known for its stunning architecture.
  • KoodalAzhagar Temple: An ancient holy temple of Lord Vishnu known for its classic architecture and spiritual ambience.
  • Gandhi Memorial Museum: A museum which hold some of the best historic articles including the letter written by Gandhi to Adolf Hitler.

Nightlife: You can find a few bars and Pubs in the city but the nightlife in Madurai is more about shopping and visiting famous tourist attractions.

Shopping: Shopping remains the favorite evening activity for tourists. You can choose from buying traditional clothes, metal articles, and exquisite jewelry to simply enjoy window-shopping through the streets of Madurai. The famous SungidiSarees are a must-buy when you visit the city.

  • AvaniMula Street: A good place to buy jewelry and ornaments.
  • Pudumandapam: A 500 hundred year old place where you can buy locally made products like bronze articles, books, and handicrafts.
  • Co-optex Madurai Handloom Saris: Known for their handloom traditional wear, do stop by at the place to buy cotton and silk saris.
  • Selvi Book Shop: The book shop is known for its vast collection of books by foreign authors.

Below we have a list of things to do in Madurai and the places where you want to spend the best moments of your trip. At the same time, the city offers you the best neighborhoods to explore and new foods to try.

This list should help you in deciding and prioritizing what you should plan on your Madurai getaway. Find a mix of must-see tourist spots, underrated local hangouts, and maybe even a few new experiences you can try out.

Make the most of your trip to Madurai with confidence.

Tourist Attractions in Madurai

Here is the list of things to do in Madurai and tourist attractions in city.

  1. Meenakshi Amman Temple

    4.7 (1456 Votes)
    Meenakshi Amman Temple

    Religious Site, Temple

    Temple dedicate to an avatar of Goddess Parvati, the Meenakshi Temple comes with an interesting story. The princess Tadaatagai (avatar of Parvati) was born with three breasts and a voice from the heavens announced that the third breast would go away when she met her future husband. The princess was trained like any other royal blood and she soon captured most of the lands and the heavens with h...Read more
  2. Thirumalain Nayakar Mahal

    4.1 (1007 Votes)
    Thirumalain Nayakar Mahal

    Architecture

    Built in 1636 AD by KingThirumalaiNayak, the Thirumalain Nayakkar Mahal is one of the most visited places in the city by tourists and locals alike owing to its larger than life architecture, royal intricate design and a spell-binding light and sound show which makes the whole palace come to life. Take a walk along its beautiful corridors embraced by strong yet detailed pillars. Highlights inclu...Read more
  3. Gandhi Memorial Museum

    Museum, Historical Site

    A palace built in the 17th century was converted to a Museum and inaugurated by Jawaharlal Nehru in 1959 to hold all the precious belongings of M.K. Gandhi who was brutally assassinated with a gunshot after the Indian independence. The museum pays tribute to his endeavors and has a section of exhibits which show the freedom struggle of India. Highlights include: Over 100 articles belonging to ...Read more
  4. Koodal Azhagar Temple

    4.7 (532 Votes)
    Koodal Azhagar Temple

    Religious Site, Temple

    Yet another of Madurai’s famous temples, KoodalAzhagar Temple is dedicated to Vishnu (the Protector) and is one of his 108 abodes. The temple greets you at its gate with a colorful and intricate display of Gods and Goddesses and a pyramidal shape which is seen in most of the temples in the region. The temple is visited by locals for offering their respects to Vishnu while tourists will lo...Read more
  5. Alagar Koyil

    Religious Site, Temple, Architecture

    This depicts the legendary story of a sage (Suthapas) who ignored a Maharishi while he was taking a bath in the river and was cursed by the Maharishi to take the form of a Frog, forms the historic story of the temple. The Sage would only be free of the cruse after getting blessed by Lord Sundararajar (known as Kallazhakar).The sage offered his deepest prayers to the Lord which made the god asce...Read more
  6. Samanar Caves

    Cave

    Located 11 kilometers from Madurai, The Samanar hills are home to ancient Jain Carvings that date back to the 9th Century. The caves have two main sculptures- Settipodavu (Mahavira) and Pechipallam (Thirthankara). It was here that hundreds of Jain monks undertook ‘sallekena’ or ‘fast unto death’. The incident is mentioned in 2000-year-old Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions and Va...Read more
  7. Puthu Mandapam

    Shopping Center, Hall

    A ‘Mandapan’ or Hall near the Meenakshi Amman Temple, the place is a shopping street filled with some of the oldest shops in Madurai. The shops date back to around 1921 and are passed down from generation to generation. A walk here is a walk through history since the Mandapan itself holds some fascinating stories. The place was used for meetings by Indian freedom fighters during the...Read more
  8. Aayiram Kaal Mandapam

    4.7 (1238 Votes)
    Aayiram Kaal Mandapam

    Religious Site

    One of the most beautiful Manadapams or Halls in Madurai, the AayiramKaalMandapam is known as the 1000 pillar Hall (985 to be precise). The manadapam is located on the grounds of the Meenakshi Amman Temple. The hall is carved out of a single rock and the pillars all bear carvings depicting various God and Goddesses from Indian Mythology. The pillars are well maintained and give you a peek into ...Read more
  9. Thiruparankundram Murugan Temple

    Religious Site, Temple

    One of the most ancient (believed to be built before the 7thcentury) and lavishly carved temple in south India, the ThiruparankundramMurugan temple makes a first time visitor rather speechless just by its gigantic size. The colors that burst at the entrance gives a peek of what lies inside and the story behind the temple only adds more charm to the place. Mythology says this is where Lord Murug...Read more
  10. Gorippalayam Dargah

    Mosque, Religious Site

    TheGorippalayamDargah was built by King ThiruvalaiNayak and remains one of the most tranquil places to visit in Madurai. The Mosque has the tombs of two sultans from Yemen namely HazratKhaja Syed Sultan AlauddinBadusharazi and HazratKhaja Syed SulthanShamsuddin. Both the Sultans contributed towards the spread of Islam in the region. The GorippalayamDargah welcomes people from everywhere to expe...Read more
  11. Athisayam

    3.6 (479 Votes)
    Athisayam

    Park, Theme Park, Water Park, Entertainment

    Athisayam amusement theme park is located on a 20-acre area on the outskirts of Madurai. With it's 20 water rides and 40 games it offer an unforgettable experience to the entire family. The main Athisayam theme park rides can be divided into two categories: 1. Athisayam Water Rides There are a number of water rides in the park and each water ride has an age restriction. Courtalla...Read more
  12. Kazimar Big Mosque And Maqbara

    Mosque, Religious Site, Historical Site, Architecture

    Built in the 13th century, the Kazimar Big Mosque and Maqbara is the oldest mosque in the city and the first place of worship for Muslims. The Mosque was built by HazratKazi Syed Tajuddin- a blood descendant of Prophet Muhammad who came from Oman. HazratKaziAyedTajuddin received this land from the Pandyan King Kulasekara and constructed this Mosque. The Mosque has a Madrasah- which still teache...Read more
  13. Saint Mary's Cathedral

    4.5 (789 Votes)
    Saint Mary's Cathedral

    Religious Site, Tower, Architecture , Cathedral

    One of the oldest Roman Catholic churches in India, the Saint Mary’s Cathedral is known for its classic European architecture and Roman-styled bell tower. Founded in 1840, the church was rebuilt in the early 20th century. In 1969, the church was elevated to the status of Cathedral. Today, the place is one of the star attractions in the city and art, history, and architecture lovers admire...Read more
  14. Vaigai Dam

    4.2 (2655 Votes)
    Vaigai Dam

    Park, River, Picnic Spot

    The Vaigai Dam is located on Vaigai River and is a famous picnic spot for locals during rainy season. Located 60 kilometers from Madurai, the place has a beautiful park and also has a promenade making it a perfect location to walk around. If you are looking for a quaint spot in Madurai which is away form all the hustle-bustle of the city, be sure to visit the dam. The view of the city and the s...Read more
  15. Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam

    Lake, Festival

    An artificial water lake formed when the area was mined to build the ThiruvalaimNayyak Palace, VandiyoorMariammanTeppakulum shines its best during evenings- when the whole lake reflects the city. A sight to behold during festivals, the whole tank is perfect for a quiet evening stroll. The tank has a couple of granite steps which lead to the water- perfect for experiencing the vibe of the temple...Read more