Region: Tamil Nadu · India
Where to stay in Madurai
Madurai is a city in Tamil Nadu, India, home to about 1,561,000 people.
- Nearest airport
- IXM10 km · Madurai Airport
- Currency
- INRIndian rupee
- Time zone
- Asia/Kolkata
- Plugs
- C, D · 230 V
- Emergency
- 100
- Language
- English, Hindi
About
About Madurai
Madurai is a major city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the cultural capital of Tamil Nadu and the administrative headquarters of Madurai district, which is governed by the Madurai Municipal Corporation established on 1 November 1866.
Madurai is one of the oldest cities of India and was ruled by Pandya kings over most of its history. The city is famous for is rich heritage and promoting Tamil language through "Sangams". The city has been in existence since about 4th century BC and is mentioned in ancient texts of Greeks, Romans and Arabs. The Meenakshi Amman temple situated in the heart of the city is famous, and there are a number of temples in and around the city. The "Maha Kumbabhishekam" of the temple was performed in April 2009 after the renovation (re-painting) work on the gopurams (towers) of the temple.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Which part of Madurai to stay in
There are many hotels around railway station, particularly on the streets coming off West Tower St as you walk away from the station and towards the temple. The more luxurious ones are situated a little further from the station.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Where the places to stay in Madurai are
65 places to stay in this guide with known coordinates, grouped by straight-line distance from the city centre (the point Wikidata gives for Madurai), nearest first. Distance on foot or by road is longer.
13 places
- OYO 19959 Hotel Radhakrishna · 0.4 km
- Capital O 15767 MR International · 0.4 km
- OYO 17156 Sri Jayaram Stays · 0.6 km
- OYO 1794 Hotel Heritage Residency · 0.6 km
- Collection O 24579 Hotel Padmam Town Hall Rd · 0.7 km
- Hotel Padmam · 0.7 km
- OYO 1442 Moskva Hotel · 0.7 km
- SPOT ON 40775 Hotel Sethu Tower Lodge · 0.7 km
- OYO 14759 Hotel President · 0.7 km
- OYO 4501 Hotel Keerthi · 0.7 km
- Treebo Berrys Boutique · 0.7 km
- OYO 16691 Hotel Chakkaravarthi · 0.8 km
- Royal Court · 0.8 km
10 places
- OYO 70481 Akshaya Residency · 1.5 km
- OYO 1637 Hotel Star Residency · 2.2 km
- JC Residency Madurai · 2.5 km
- Collection O 46007 Vishaal Hotel Gokhale Rd · 2.7 km
- Hotel Germanus · 2.9 km
- OYO 24749 Jaideep Service Apartment · 2.9 km
- Hotel Ramtel Inn · 2.9 km
- OYO 14815 Anu Residency · 2.9 km
- Collection O 76500 Pkn Regency · 3.0 km
- Fortune Pandiyan Hotel · 3.0 km
37 places
- OYO 24617 Urban Spice Service Apartment · 3.2 km
- Regency Madurai by GRT Hotels · 3.2 km
- OYO 14715 Serene Inn · 3.2 km
- OYO Flagship 16345 Pkn Residency · 3.2 km
- Courtyard by Marriott Madurai · 3.2 km
- OYO 36626 Eden Residency · 3.2 km
- Collection O 75719 Chakkra Residency · 3.3 km
- Hotel CR Grande · 3.3 km
- OYO Flagship 81402 Legrace Residency · 3.6 km
- OYO 62852 Olympic Club House · 3.9 km
- Heritage Madurai · 4.0 km
- OYO Flagship 77391 Akil Plaza · 4.0 km
- OYO 15257 Ananda Inn · 4.1 km
- OYO Flagship 45862 Sundaravalli Garden Service Apartments · 4.1 km
- The Gateway Hotel Pasumalai · 4.4 km
- OYO 1747 near Meenakshi Temple · 4.5 km
- OYO 82034 Lakshmi Palace · 4.7 km
- OYO Flagship 74893 Hotel Lakshmi Residency · 4.8 km
- SPOT ON 80048 Anantha Residency · 5.1 km
- OYO 35618 Grace Residency · 5.2 km
And 17 more, further out.
5 places
- OYO 19110 Annapoorna Residency · 15.5 km
- OYO 61704 Sri Kamatchi Hotel · 15.8 km
- OYO Flagship 83041 Green Park Residency · 22.6 km
- OYO Flagship 76138 K7 Lodge · 24.5 km
- OYO 15850 K S Residency · 24.8 km
Where to stay
Hotels in Madurai
65 hotels within 25 km of the centre, as recorded in Wikidata; the 40 best known are shown, by the number of Wikipedia editions that cover them. Each name links to its encyclopedia article where there is one.
When to go
The best time to visit Madurai
Madurai has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. April is the warmest month, with average highs of 35 °C; October is the wettest, with about 206 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Madurai travel calendar 2027: every day with public and school holidays, sunrise and sunset and the typical high and low (also as JSON).
Public holidays in India, 2026
Shops and offices may close on these dates.
Getting there
Getting to Madurai: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Madurai Airport (IXM), about 9.9 km from the city centre in a straight line; Tiruchirappalli International Airport (TRZ, 114 km) is also within reach.
Getting around
Getting around the city will be mostly by bus. The buses required to get around will all mostly be available in Periyar bus stand and you can also get an auto rickshaw (you should know to negotiate and bargain the cost of the ride) or a cab or rent a car. Local buses are run by the government and are safe to use. Travelling them is different as you get to see a lot of city while you are in the bus. However, they will be crowded during morning hours and evening hours as they will be crowded by the office-goers. Bus services are available even late at night, though the frequency is less.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Madurai
Eat
The cuisine of Madurai inherits the true taste of Tamils. If you are a lover of non-vegetarian food, restaurants like Kumar Mess and Amma Mess are a must try. A handful of dished are exclusive to Madurai, such as Paruthi Paal, Jigarthanda, Panangkarkandu Paal and chettinadu varieties like Appam (goes well with Mutton Paya), and Kuzhi Paniyaram. There are a lot of restaurants but any guy from college knows how to have the best dinner at one of the "evening mutton stalls" for a pittance. The strong aroma of eye watering dishes is not for the faint-hearted. The next morning you will be reminded of your spicy escapades into culinary discovery.
Drink
Try the tender coconut drink. The tender coconut drink is sold by roadside sellers on their tricycles parked under the shade of a tree. Tea shops are always around the corner. Madurai is famous for its unique drink "Jigarthanda". Try having Jigarthanda from the "Famous Jigarthanda" store in the Vilakkuthoon ( This shop is on the way from Meenakshi Temple to Thirumalai Nayak Palace, (to be precise, famous jigarthanda, No.94, East Marret Street). Alcohol is served in up-market hotels and it is advised to avoid other places for a drink.
Stay safe
Madurai is a relatively safe place and the city stays awake through night to do business. But, there is no such nightlife in Madurai and it is better not to wander or shop during night time. There have been incidences of violence in the past, though it is extremely rare to affect the common man. Be aware of touts and pick-pockets, and do not hesitate to contact local police in case of trouble. Emergency contact numbers are displayed at many prominent places in the city. Also, Madurai is a politically active area for many parties, so it is not unusual to face traffic diversions, shop shutdowns etc. in case of an occasion.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Madurai: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Madurai?
Madurai has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. April is the warmest month, with average highs of 35 °C; October is the wettest, with about 206 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Madurai?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Madurai Airport (IXM), about 9.9 km from the city centre in a straight line; Tiruchirappalli International Airport (TRZ, 114 km) is also within reach.
What currency is used in Madurai?
Indian rupee (INR).
Nearby
Destinations near Madurai
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; public holidays from python-holidays (MIT); places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.