Madurai

Madurai is built around the Meenakshi Amman Temple, one of Tamil Nadu's great Dravidian temple complexes, its towering, sculpture-covered gopurams visible across the old city. It's one of South India's most striking single sights.

The temple is still a fully active place of worship, and the surrounding old city's markets and flower stalls give a strong sense of a South Indian temple town still living its traditional daily rhythm.

Highlights

• The Meenakshi Amman Temple's sculpted gopurams
• The temple's evening ceremony
• Madurai's flower and spice markets around the old city
• A genuinely active, living temple town atmosphere

Best Time to Visit

November to February for comfortable temperatures; Tamil Nadu's plains get very hot from March onward.

Getting There

Reached by flight or overnight train from Chennai, or combined by road with other Tamil Nadu sites.