[Asia Travel] India: Madurai

Madurai is a major city in southern India and is known as a megacity with a population of over 1 million people. It has a background of being the capital of the Pandia dynasty and is very famous as a tourist destination because of its many historical buildings. The city is also the center of commerce in South India and is a city with a fairly large economy.

place

Madurai is a city located in the South of India.

history

Madurai was already a famous city since ancient times. The city was originally developed as it was the capital of the Pandian dynasty, which existed before Christ. In the modern era, the city developed significantly, and around the 16th century, the Meenakshi Temple was built by the Nayaka dynasty, making it a city visited by many tourists and pilgrims. Today the city is a famous tourist destination.

climate

Madurai belongs to the savannah climate. It is divided into a dry season and a rainy season, and the average maximum temperature exceeds 40°C. Temperatures range from 10°C to 42°C throughout the year.

language

Hindi is the official language in India. English is also widely used. Local languages are also often used.

security

Madurai is basically a safe town. It has become a famous tourist destination, and there are more pickpockets targeting tourists, so be careful.

industry

Madurai has a thriving tourism industry due to its many historical monuments dating back to ancient times. It is the most famous historical spot in South India.

Race

India is inhabited by Dravidians, Aryans, Tibetans and others.

religion

There are many religions in India, but Hindus are the most popular. Others include Muslims, Christians, Sikhs and Jains.

currency

Indian Rupee is used in India.

Sightseeing Spot 1 : Meenakshi Temple

The temple is the most popular tourist attraction in Madurai. There are 12 colorful gate towers majestically lined up on the premises. The appearance of a tremendous number of Hindu gods lined up is like a work of art.

Sightseeing Spot 2 : Gandhi Memorial Museum

Museum of Indian hero Gandhi. You can learn not only about Gandhi’s portrait and his movement trajectory, but also about India’s history and colonial period.

Sightseeing Spot 3 : Thirumalai Nayak Palace

It was built in 1636 by King Tirumalai Yanaka, a structure built in the 17th century. The architectural style is a mixture of Dravidian and Islamic styles.

Sightseeing Spot 4 : Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam

It is a large pond with a length of nearly 300m. At its center is the granite mandapam, which enshrines an idol of Lord Vigneswara, another name for Ganesha.

Sightseeing Spot 5 : Puthu Mandapam

A shopping street lined with local shops. There are 150 shops in the arcade street, and it is crowded with people from South India. It’s a place where there are always a lot of people, so you might get tired.

Sightseeing Spot 6 : Athisayam Water Park

Madurai’s premier water theme park. There are large-scale water slides, etc. and it is very popular with locals. Madurai is hot all year round, so many people come here.

Sightseeing Spot 7 : Idaikattur Church

A bit far from the city center, this church features a white and red exterior and was built in 1894. It is a church that has different characteristics from other temples.

Hotel

Madurai has a wide range of accommodation options. The nearest airport is Madurai Airport. You can book flights and accommodation from the link below. Other languages are also supported.