Best Budget Stays in Madurai

Meenakshi Amman Temple, also known as the Meenakshi-Sundershwara Temple, is a famous tourist attraction in Madurai and is one of the oldest temples in India. This temple holds great importance to the Indian people due to its mythological and historical significance. It is believed to be the site where Lord Shiva married Goddess Parvati (Meenakshi), in the form of Sundareswarar (meaning the handsome one). The temple is known for its astonishing architecture and is thronged by thousands of devotees every single day. The marvellous architecture of the temple surely makes it one of the Wonder of India. The Thirukalyanam Festival, which is quite famous in South India is celebrated over a span of 10 days and attracts over a million devotees. Temple visiting time: 5:00 am to 12:30 pm and 4:00 pm to 10:00 pmTime spent in temple: 1 - 2 hoursBest time to visit: Early morning or evening, for the aartiBest months to visit: October to March Things to remember: As it is a place of worship, visitors should dress respectfully and conservatively

Meghamalai, locally known as the ‘High Wavy Mountains’, is a picturesque mountain range and amongst the most beautiful places to visit in Madurai. Nestled amidst lush and fragrant tea, cinnamon, pepper, and cardamom plantations and dotted with green meadows, waterfalls, and wildflower patches, this is the perfect place to escape into the remarkable raw beauty of nature. Meghamalai has beautiful and rugged nature trails that take one deep into the forests at the local wildlife sanctuary that house hundreds of species of exotic birds like spotted doves, blue robins, and the Great Indian hornbill. Some parts of the forests also provide habitat to leopards, Indian gaurs, elephants, and tigers.  Don’t miss to see the beautiful Suruli and Meghamalai waterfalls and visit dams like Manalar, Thekkady, Vanniar, etc. that are stunningly lush enclaves of nature. There are ancient temples like the hilltop Murugan and Mangala Devi Temples that are not only visited by thousands to pray but are also great viewpoints for people to soak in panoramic views of the place. 

One of the most popular tourist places in Madurai, the Thirumalai Nayak Palace was originally the residence of the then king Thirumalai Nayak. This palace is a testimony to the perfect blend of Dravidian and Islamic style of architecture. Erected in the year 1635, the palace was a magnificent vision by the king for his royal stay. If you’re a history lover and appreciate the marvels of architecture then this is the place to be. The light and sound show here, every evening, makes the visit even more memorable. Visiting time of the palace: 9:00 am to 5:00 pmTime spent in the palace: About 2 hours to explore all the accessible areasEntry fee: Rs 5 for children                Rs 10 for adults                Rs 50 for foreign nationalsBest time to visit: Mid-afternoon to explore all the accessible areas of the palace and catch the light and sound show.