Private Cultural Day Tour of Madurai
Madurai, India
Trip Type: Private Sightseeing Tours
Duration: 6 hours
Experience the culture of Madurai with a 6-hour private guided tour of its ancient temples. Spend approximately 45 minutes visiting each of the Dravidian temples built by the Pandyan and Madurai Nayak kings, earning the city its nickname Koil Maanagar, which means Temple City. Discover why Madurai, also called the City of Junctions or Koodal Nagaram, is one of India's most outstanding Hindu pilgrimage centers.
More About This Activity All Private Sightseeing Tours →
Experience the culture of Madurai with a 6-hour private guided tour of its ancient temples. Spend approximately 45 minutes visiting each of the Dravidian temples built by the Pandyan and Madurai Nayak kings, earning the city its nickname Koil Maanagar, which means Temple City. Discover why Madurai, also called the City of Junctions or Koodal Nagaram, is one of India's most outstanding Hindu pilgrimage centers.Meet your guide at your Madurai hotel, railway station or the airport. Begin your private tour by spending some time visiting Meenakshi Temple, one of the most famous landmarks of the temple city. Meenakshi Temple is dedicated to the goddess Meenakshi (considered a form of Parvati) and is complete with a sanctum for her consort, Sundareshwarar (or Siva). The complex itself is a splendid example of the south Indian Dravida architectural style. Four immense gopurams or temple towers crown the gateways at each cardinal direction, easily visible from a distance. Each tower is encrusted with more than a thousand brilliantly painted sculptures depicting an assortment of mythological and auspicious themes. It is traditional to enter through the south gopuram and, unusually, worship the Goddess before her consort.
Next, proceed to Thiruparankundram Temple, one of the six blessed abodes of the Arupadai Veedu group of shrines dedicated to Lord Muruga, which is located on a hillock approximately 5 miles (8 km) from Madurai. Lord Muruga is a Hindu god also known by various names like Karthilkeya, Arumuga, Shanmuga, Guhan, Skanda, Subramanya and Kumara. References to this ancient temple are available in scriptures from 6th century AD (Paripadal). The interior of Thiruparankundram Temple is a huge rectangular chamber carved out of the hill, with side chambers housing various deities of Hindu religion approachable via narrow passages.
Continue your journey to Alagar Temple, a temple located about 12 miles (20 km) away from the city in the hills of the village of Alagarkoil that is dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu. At the top of the hill is a natural stream from where the water is carried fresh daily by the temple priest for the Lord. Learn about the famous Chittrai Festival which is celebrated annually in Madurai during the first Tamil month of Chitirai (April). The festival celebrates and commemorates the wedding of Goddess Meenakshi and Sundareswarar (Lord Shiva).
Next, visit Pazhamudhir Solai, an important Temple for Lord Karthikeya located near Alagar Koil in the hills of the Solai jungle. Pazhamudhir Solai is another one of the six temples dedicated to Lord Muruga. Spend some time visiting this very large and beautiful temple before continuing the tour to visit Thirumalai Nayak Palace. There were originally two parts: Swargavilasa, or the heavenly pavilion, was meant for the King's harem and housing the darbar court, and the Ranka Vilasa, which was for his brother. Entry to the roof is permanently prohibited. Finally, spend 15 to 25 minutes visiting the Gandhi Museum before returning to your departure point at the conclusion of the tour in the early evening.
Next, proceed to Thiruparankundram Temple, one of the six blessed abodes of the Arupadai Veedu group of shrines dedicated to Lord Muruga, which is located on a hillock approximately 5 miles (8 km) from Madurai. Lord Muruga is a Hindu god also known by various names like Karthilkeya, Arumuga, Shanmuga, Guhan, Skanda, Subramanya and Kumara. References to this ancient temple are available in scriptures from 6th century AD (Paripadal). The interior of Thiruparankundram Temple is a huge rectangular chamber carved out of the hill, with side chambers housing various deities of Hindu religion approachable via narrow passages.
Continue your journey to Alagar Temple, a temple located about 12 miles (20 km) away from the city in the hills of the village of Alagarkoil that is dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu. At the top of the hill is a natural stream from where the water is carried fresh daily by the temple priest for the Lord. Learn about the famous Chittrai Festival which is celebrated annually in Madurai during the first Tamil month of Chitirai (April). The festival celebrates and commemorates the wedding of Goddess Meenakshi and Sundareswarar (Lord Shiva).
Next, visit Pazhamudhir Solai, an important Temple for Lord Karthikeya located near Alagar Koil in the hills of the Solai jungle. Pazhamudhir Solai is another one of the six temples dedicated to Lord Muruga. Spend some time visiting this very large and beautiful temple before continuing the tour to visit Thirumalai Nayak Palace. There were originally two parts: Swargavilasa, or the heavenly pavilion, was meant for the King's harem and housing the darbar court, and the Ranka Vilasa, which was for his brother. Entry to the roof is permanently prohibited. Finally, spend 15 to 25 minutes visiting the Gandhi Museum before returning to your departure point at the conclusion of the tour in the early evening.
« Go Back