About Madurai
India, with its traditional and diversified culture, stands unique in the south of Asia and attracts many visitors from abroad. Nearly 19 languages are spoken in India. Though Hinduism is the main religion, others like Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism, Christianity, Islam and Judaism are also practiced. India has the second largest population in the world, which recently crossed the 1 billion mark. There are numerous places of interest in India. India saturates the senses, from the tropical backwaters to the towering Himalayan peaks.

Tamil Nadu, situated in Southern India is the home of Dravidian art and culture, characterized by the amazingly ornate temples with their soaring towers known as gopurams. Chennai, (Madras) ‘The Gateway to the South’, is the state capital.

About Madurai

Madurai, probably over 2,500 years old, is the oldest city in Tamil Nadu. Its origin and name emerge from the myths of a lovely legend... In a forest, near a lotus pond, Indra, the King of Gods, worshipped Lord Siva. At this hallowed spot, the Pandiyan monarch, Kulasekhra, built a great temple for Goddess Meenakshi (the consort of Lord Shiva) and by clearing the forest, he created a lotus-shaped city around the temple. On the occasion of the city’s opening Lord Shiva is said to have danced in joy and the nectar, or madhura, from his fragrant hair showered down on the city. The city was henceforth known as ‘Madhurapuri’. Madhurapuri grew and prospered to become the capital of the Pandiyan Kingdom.

Madurai lies on the banks of the river Vaigai. The temple and the old city are on the southern bank, while modern Madurai with its textile mills; engineering and large university sprawl around.

Restaurants

Indian food is generally spicy. However, Continental and Chinese food are also available. Make it a point to specify if you would like your meal to be made less spicy. A wide variety of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian foods are available at most hotels.

Restaurants near the Aravind complex, Madurai

    -   Meenakshi Bhavan near the Anna bus stand (a few blocks from LAICO) offers a wide range of traditional South Indian vegetarian food
    -  Annapoorna Towers near LAICO serves good non-vegetarian and vegetarian dishes
    -  Fortune Pandyan’s ‘Orchid’ restaurant offers a delicious spread at its lunch and dinner buffets. It also has a kebab and barbeque counter. It also has a pastry shop during the day.
    -   Hotel Sangam: Besides its multi-cuisine restaurant, it has opened up ‘Athangudi’ which serves authentic South Indian dishes typical of the ‘Chettinad’ cuisine.
    -   Hot Breads near the KK Nagar Arch, offers baked foods, soups and a variety of more western style foods
    -  Café Coffee Day: Located opposite the Golcha Complex on “80 ft. road”, in Anna Nagar Coffee day serves fresh cappuccino and snacks and is open until 11 pm
    -  Cafe Floats and Blaack Forest near Big Cinema (KK Nagar) offer fresh and delicious pastries, drinks and sandwiches.
    -  Metropole, near the court, is a roof-top restaurant that offers multi-cuisine fine dining

Restaurants in Downtown Madurai
  • The Supreme Hotel, near the railway station, has a roof-top vegetarian restaurant that provides a good view of the temple.
  • The Park Plaza Hotel, near the railway station, also has a roof-top restaurant, and offers a non-vegetarian menu as well.
  • Bell Hotel, an out-door multi-cuisine non-vegetarian eatery located on Tamil Sangam road near Simmakal
  • A larger Bell Jumbo Hotel offers a wide range of multi-cuisine vegetarian and non-vegetarian food. It has a nice play area for children.
  • The Taj Garden Retreat, atop a hillock, offers a 5-star eating experience with a spectacular view of the entire Madurai city at night.
Shopping

Shopping in Madurai is a whole new experience. The streets around the Meenakshi Amman temple are packed with shops. Madurai markets, many of which are located on narrow streets, can be overwhelmingly noisy and crowded. Small shops selling the same wares are often grouped together in the same area. You will need to bargain in most smaller shops where there isn’t a fixed price. Books and cotton clothes are cheap. Madurai is also a good place for local crafts.

Clothes Shopping in Madurai
  • If you are looking for traditional Indian wear, the best-known outfit for women is the Sari. Churidars or Salwar Kameez are also elegant and comfortable to wear. Most Indian girls and younger women prefer wearing them.
  • Hajeemoosa is a trusted name for clothes. Besides men’s wear they also have an excellent collection of silk saris.
  • Next to the famous Meenakshi Temple is a bustling business centre that is housed in a quaint, ancient stone-pillared hall -‘the Puthu Mandapam’: This is a delight for most visitors. You can select from an assortment of silk and cotton material and have one of a dozen tailors to make your outfit. Both the material and the tailoring are inexpensive here.
Handicrafts Shopping in Madurai
  • Palma Corner, near the TTS Building at Arasaradi is a small shop that sells handicrafts produced by the locals. The rates are cheap and the proceeds go to supporting the local artisans.
  • The Kadhi Bhavan located on the Town Hall Road is an authorized sales depot for handicrafts as well as kadhi clothes. If you are purchasing antiques or crafts from the boutiques around the temple, be sure to bargain hard!
General Shopping in Madurai

You can purchase most things, from stationery to clothes, along the 80 ft Road in Anna Nagar. The new Milan’em Mall on the KK Nagar Main Road has a good supermarket. It also has a good food court.

Sightseeing in Madurai

 Meenakshi Amman Temple
The main attraction of Madurai is the Meenakshi Amman Temple, which is situated in the heart of the old town. It is a fine example of Dravidian architecture with gopurams covered from top to bottom with a breathless profusion of multi-coloured images of gods, goddesses, animals and mythical figures. It houses the large central ‘Tank of the Golden Lotus’. Its large towers and sunning architecture is not to be missed. It is the heart of the Old Madurai city. The city is said to be ruled by Lord Shiva and his consort Goddess Meenakshi, who are the main deities. If you bring a camera, you will need to purchase a camera pass. Some parts of the temple are for Hindus only – if in doubt, ask first. It is just a 15 minute autorickshaw ride travel from Aravind.