Madurai, one of the country’s oldest inhabited cities, houses the essence of Tamil Nadu in its beautiful and grand temples, which are among the country’s most awe-inspiring architectural works. Madurai is the ideal site to visit if you want to go on a religious pilgrimage.
Numerous temples are well-known enough to attract visitors from all around the world. One of the main reasons we planned a family trip to Madurai was to see the ultimate heritage.
Because of the city’s popularity, it’s simple to rent a car from the nearest metro city to travel to Madurai. With the hassle-free service for car rental in Chennai, sit back to witness this amazing paradox unfold in front of your eyes. Before preparing for the vacation, we kept numerous things in mind!
How do you get to Madurai?
- By air
Madurai airport is only 10 kilometers from the city center and is well connected to all major Indian towns. Chennai is the closest international airport. Daily flights are available from Chennai, Trichy, Bengaluru, and Coimbatore.
- By train
Madurai is a seven-hour train ride from Chennai, with trains running every day. The Vaigai Express, a super-fast day train between Chennai Egmore and Madurai, is the quickest train on the route.
- By road
Madurai is well connected to the rest of India’s southern states. The city is 6 kilometers away from the bus terminal. You can book both AC and non-AC buses, depending on your needs.
Temples of Madurai and Rameshwaram
During our stay in Madurai, we made sure to see the famous temples. We then drove down to Rameshwaram to witness the magnificent temple of the town. These tourist attractions are a must-see for everyone visiting.
- Meenakshi Amman Temple: The Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai, which is over 2500 years old, is dedicated to Lord Shiva and Goddess Meenakshi, an incarnation of Goddess Parvati. The shrine’s 14 high towers, or Gopurams, are its most outstanding feature with elaborate carvings.
- Azhagar Kovil: Azhagar Kovil, also known as Alagar Koil, is located at the foot of the Alagar Hills, a few kilometers from Madurai. The temple is bordered by the ruins of an ancient fort, which add to the area’s stunning natural beauty.
- Koodal Azhagar Temple: Koodal Azhagar Temple is one of the city’s oldest and most popular temples, dedicated to Lord Vishnu in the form of Sri Koodal Azhagar.
- Thiruparankundram Murugan Temple: This temple is India’s six temples devoted to Lord Murugan, Lord Shiva’s son.
- Ramanathaswamy Temple: The temple is a well-known Hindu shrine devoted to Shiva. The temple is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga temples, where Shiva is worshipped as a Jyotirlinga, which means “light pillar.”
- Panchmukhi Hanuman Temple: At a distance of two kilometers from Ramanathaswamy Temple is the Panchmukhi Hanuman Temple. The temple’s location is considered a very sacred temple and is well-known due to its mythological significance.
Enjoy the picturesque roads on your one-day trip to Rameshwaram from Madurai. The state of Tamil Nadu will enchant you with its religious connections, from Meenakshi Amman Temple to Rameshwaram’s Ramanathaswamy Temple.
The distance between Madurai and Rameshwaram is approximately 173 kilometers. The ideal approach to plan this journey is to book a taxi to and fro. The taxi fare from Madurai to Rameshwaram is reasonable and hassle-free.