Cabs
Madurai sightseeing by cab

Madurai in 1 day: what to see, in what order

Start at 07:30 for Thiruparankundram, then the Meenakshi Amman Temple from about 09:20, before it closes at 12:30. After that, the Nayak Palace and lunch, then the Teppakulam tank and the Gandhi Memorial Museum in the afternoon. It is about 29 km by cab, back by about 15:40, with the palace light and sound show in the evening.

5 places29 km by cabtimed against opening hours
Day 1

Thiruparankundram, Meenakshi and the palace

Thiruparankundram at about 07:50, before the crowds, then the Meenakshi Amman Temple from about 09:20 to 11:20. The Nayak Palace is a few minutes away, with lunch after it. In the afternoon, the Teppakulam tank and the Gandhi Memorial Museum, which opens again at 14:00. About 29 km by cab, back by about 15:40. The Gandhi Museum is closed on Fridays: on a Friday, spend longer at the temple instead.

07:30 to 15:365 places29 km by cab
  1. 1Thiruparankundram Murugan Temple
  2. 2Meenakshi Amman Temple
  3. 3Thirumalai Nayak Palace
  4. Lunch
  5. 4Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam
  6. 5Gandhi Memorial Museum
  7. Back
  1. Leave central Madurai
  2. 1

    Thiruparankundram Murugan Temple

    1 h 15 min here
    Thiruparankundram Murugan Temple
    Photo: Ssriram mt, CC BY-SA 4.0

    The first of the six holy homes of Murugan, cut into the foot of a rocky hill about 8 km south-west of the city. The inner shrines are carved out of the rock, and the story goes that Murugan married Deivanai here. Halls of carved pillars lead up to them in steps.

    TemplesAbout 05:30 to 13:00 and 16:00 to 21:00 every day; times change on festival days

    Tip: Go early, before the crowds and the heat. The hill above is a steep climb with a dargah on top; it is not in the plans.

  3. 2

    Meenakshi Amman Temple

    2 h here
    Meenakshi Amman Temple
    Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0

    The great temple of Madurai, to the goddess Meenakshi and Sundareswarar, a form of Shiva. Fourteen gateway towers covered in thousands of painted figures rise over the old city, the tallest about 52 m high. Inside are long pillared halls, the Golden Lotus tank and the Hall of a Thousand Pillars, which holds a small art museum. Thousands of people come to worship every day.

    TemplesOpen 05:00 to 12:30 and 16:00 to 22:00 every day (some listings say 21:30); times change on festival days. Free entry, with paid special darshan queues

    Tip: Leave your phone at the counters by the gates before going in: phones are not allowed inside. Dress with shoulders and knees covered. The streets right round the temple walls are crowded and mostly closed to cars, so the cab drops you a short walk away. Allow two hours, more on festival days.

  4. 3

    Thirumalai Nayak Palace

    1 h here
    Thirumalai Nayak Palace
    Photo: R.K.Lakshmi, CC BY-SA 4.0

    What is left of the palace King Thirumalai Nayak built in 1636. The great courtyard is ringed by round white pillars, each about 12 m tall, holding up arches and a high dome. Only about a quarter of the palace survives, but the scale is still striking. A small gallery shows sculpture and old objects from round Madurai.

    Palaces & museumsAbout 09:00 to 17:00 every day (one listing says closed Fridays). Small ticket, camera extra

    Tip: It is about 1 km from the temple, a few minutes by cab or auto. Come back after dark for the light and sound show in the same courtyard.

  5. Lunch, about 1 h. Your driver will know a place nearby. The times after this include it.
  6. 4

    Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam

    30 min here
    Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam
    Photo: Lombardelli, CC BY-SA 3.0

    A huge square temple tank in the east of the city, about 300 m on each side, with a small temple on an island in the middle. Built in the 1640s, it is linked to the Vaigai river by channels. It is often dry, but in late January or early February the float festival fills it, and the gods of the Meenakshi temple are taken round on a lit-up raft.

    TemplesThe tank can be seen all day; the Mariamman temple is open about 08:00 to 19:00?

    Tip: The best view is from the steps on the north side. Do not expect water most of the year.

  7. 5

    Gandhi Memorial Museum

    1 h 15 min here
    Closed on Fridays
    Gandhi Memorial Museum
    Photo: Info-farmer, CC0

    A museum of Gandhi's life and India's freedom struggle, in a 17th century palace of Queen Rani Mangammal. Its best-known object is the blood-stained cloth Gandhi wore when he was shot in 1948. Gandhi also decided to dress only in a simple loincloth while in Madurai in 1921, and the museum tells that story.

    Palaces & museumsOpen 10:00 to 13:00 and 14:00 to 17:45; closed Fridays. Free, camera fee

    Tip: Closed on Fridays and from 13:00 to 14:00. The Government Museum is in the same grounds if you have time.

  8. Back at central Madurai

Drive times come from road routing without traffic. The old city round the Meenakshi temple is slow and crowded, and the streets right by the temple walls are mostly closed to cars. Allow more time than the map shows, especially in the evening and on festival days. Opening hours marked ? are not yet confirmed, so check them before you go.

Book a cab for this day

Call or message a local Madurai operator with this plan. Tell them your hotel and dates, and they send a price for the car and driver.

1 × full day, 8 h / 80 kmSedan, SUV or InnovaPrice from the operator

Opening times for this plan

The hours we planned around. Check before you go on a public holiday.

PlaceOpenBest timeVisit
Thiruparankundram Murugan TempleAbout 05:30 to 13:00 and 16:00 to 21:00 every day; times change on festival daysEarly morning.1 h 15 min
Meenakshi Amman Temple05:00 to 12:30 and 16:00 to 22:00 every day (some listings say 21:30); times change on festival days. Free entry, with paid special darshan queuesEarly morning, or after 16:00 for the evening ceremonies.2 h
Thirumalai Nayak PalaceAbout 09:00 to 17:00 every day (one listing says closed Fridays). Small ticket, camera extraLate morning, when sun comes in through the arches.1 h
Vandiyur Mariamman TeppakulamThe tank can be seen all day; the Mariamman temple is open about 08:00 to 19:00?Any time in daylight; late afternoon is cooler.30 min
Gandhi Memorial Museum10:00 to 13:00 and 14:00 to 17:45; closed Fridays. Free, camera feeAfternoon, after lunch.1 h 15 min

More or less time in Madurai?

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Madurai in 2 days

Thiruparankundram, Meenakshi and the palace · Alagar Kovil, Pazhamudircholai and Keeladi

See the 2-day plan →
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Madurai in 3 days

The old city temples and palace · Thiruparankundram, Samanar Hills and Keeladi · Alagar Kovil, Pazhamudircholai and Yanaimalai

See the 3-day plan →

All 13 places in Madurai

Every sight with what to see, opening times and how long to stay.

See all places →

Questions people ask

Can you see Madurai in one day?

Yes, the main sights in the city. It is a day of about 8 hours with 29 km of driving. Alagar Kovil and Keeladi need a second day.

Why not the Meenakshi temple in the afternoon?

It closes from 12:30 to 16:00, like most temples here. The plan reaches it by about 09:20 and keeps the palace and the museum, which stay open, for after lunch.

What if my day is a Friday?

The Gandhi Memorial Museum is closed on Fridays. Skip it and spend longer at the Meenakshi temple. One listing says the Nayak Palace also closes on Fridays, so check before you go.