We meet you at Madurai airport or railway station. After breakfast, see the giant pillars of Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal and the Gandhi Memorial Museum, then spend the evening in the Meenakshi temple. Stay late for the night ceremony if you like.
- 9:00 AM
Pickup at Madurai airport or railway station
Your driver meets you when you land or arrive. Times below assume a 9:00 AM pickup. If yours is later, we move the day to fit.
- 9:45 AM
Breakfast in Madurai
Soft idli with chutneys, ghee podi dosa and filter coffee. Your bags stay safely in the car. Pay as you eat.
- 10 min · 3 km
- 11:00 AM1
Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal
1 h 15 min hereThe 1636 palace of King Thirumalai Nayak, with giant white pillars and painted domes. Open 9 AM to 5 PM. Entry ticket included.
- 7 min · 2 km
- 12:30 PM
Lunch in Madurai
A Tamil meals plate on a banana leaf, or mutton chukka if you eat meat. Pay as you eat.
- 9 min · 4 km
- 2:15 PM2
Gandhi Memorial Museum
1 h 15 min hereInside the old Tamukkam Palace. Open 10 AM to 1 PM and 2 PM to 5:45 PM, entry free. After this your driver can drop you at the hotel to rest before the temple.
- 10 min · 3 km
- 5:00 PM3
Meenakshi Amman Temple
2 h 30 min hereOpen about 5 AM to 12:30 PM and 4 PM to 9:30 PM. General entry is free, we include the special darshan ticket. Phones and cameras are not allowed: leave them in the car or at the phone counter. Men in dhoti or full trousers with a shirt, women in saree, salwar or long skirt. No shorts.
- 5 min · 2 km
- 7:45 PM
Dinner near the Meenakshi temple
The streets around the temple are full of idli shops and messes. Finish with a cold jigarthanda. Pay as you eat.
- 9:30 PM
Palliyarai pooja
Optional · Free to watchThe temple's last ceremony of the day, when Lord Sundareswarar is carried to Meenakshi's chamber with music. Free to watch. Tell your driver if you want to stay.
- 10:15 PM
Check in at your hotel
If you skip the night ceremony, your driver drops you at the hotel by about 8:45 PM.
