Cultural immersion in Madurai
Temples, bazaars & local way of life
Experience cultural immersion in Madurai with its 2500 year old heritage at Meenakshi Temple, architectural marvel of Thirumalai Nayakar Palace, the charm of a Potters village, Gandhi museum and a local bazaar walk with a sip of Jigarthanda, the local cold beverage!
Meenakshi Temple
Madurai Meenakshi Temple is one of the largest Temples of the World and an Architectural marvel. Over the last 2500 years Madurai Meenakshi Temple has been the lifeline of the City of Madurai. Madurai Meenakshi Temple has played a crucial role in promoting Tamil Art, Music, Dance & Culture. In fact, Madurai Meenakshi Temple is supposed to have been the host of the third assembly of Tamil Sangam, the ancient Literature Meet. As many as 30000 sculptures can be found in the Madurai Meenakshi temple.
Thirumalai Nayak Mahal
We visit the magnificent Thirumalai Nayak Palace. This was build by the Nayak Kings in 1636. The building we see today was the main Palace where the King lived. The original Palace Complex was four times bigger than the present structure and had a royal residence, theatre, shrine, apartments, armoury, palanquin place, royal bandstand, quarters, ponds and gardens. Its architecture inspired a whole genre of Indo-Saracenic style of buildings during British India.
Gandhi Museum
Gandhi Museum is located the old palace of Rani Mangammal. The museum brings alive the freedom struggle during this Madurai city tour. The Gandhian movement is well depicted as a picture gallery. Madurai was chosen for this museum as Gandhiji took important decisions during his visits to Madurai. in 1921 he decided to give up his rich dressing pattern when he was visiting Madurai. The doors of Meenakshi Amman temple were thrown open to Harijans in Madurai and the battle against untouchability had a win. Gandhiji visited the temple in 1946 along with the Harijans and that was a defining moment in this struggle.
Potters Village
Vilachery is a potters village near Madurai. Over 200 families live here and most are into pottery. They make dolls for scores of festivals round the year. The paper mache dolls made here adorn South Indian homes during the 9 day festival of Navratri
Banana Market
Madurai has a famous wholesale market for bananas. We will walk past many different varieties of Bananas. The tour ends with a sip of Jigarthanda , the most famous local cold beverage of Madurai!
Guided Tour
Madurai city tour is a guided tour where a cultural evangelist will provide the cultural context during our visit to temples. Our cultural evangelists unpack authentic India for better comprehension and appreciation of the cultural and heritage of the ancient Indian civilization.
Private Tour
A private tour ensures that we are able to focus all our attention on you and adjust the pace of the tour according to your interests. Pick and drop from your hotel in an airconditioned vehicle is included in the Madurai tour.
Strenghening local community
Our company is helping the local community by training & employing local guides. There is a community of small businesses who are part of the temple eco system. We help this community by procuring flowers, coconuts and other temple wares which play a part in the tour experience. This initiative is to ensure travel dollars stay where they are spent.
Tripadvisor Reviews
Pricing chart
- Pick & drop
- Travel by Innova
- Guide
- Entrance charges
- South Indian Vegetarian meals as lunch
- Pick & drop
- Travel by sedan
- Guide
- Entrance charges
- South Indian Vegetarian meals as lunch
- Pick & drop
- Travel by sedan
- Guide
- Entrance charges
- South Indian Vegetarian meals as lunch
Trip Itinerary
Experience cultural immersion in the Madurai city tour.
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