Madurai Travel Itinerary for 3 days

1. Day 1: Explore Madurai City
   Estimated Time: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
   Estimated Distance: 10 km

   Start your day by visiting the Meenakshi Amman Temple, which is the main attraction of Madurai. The temple has four entryways, towers, and two sanctums. There are various shrines, halls, and water tanks inside the temple. In the afternoon, visit the Gandhi Memorial Museum which houses an impressive collection of artifacts, pictures, and letters relating to Gandhi’s life and India’s independence. An art and craft center is also present in the museum complex. Complete the day of sightseeing with a visit to Samaya Puram which has a large park with beautiful gardens, a lake, restaurants, and an amusement park.

2. Day 2: Early morning and Temple Tour
   Estimated Time: 7:00 AM - 4:00 PM
   Estimated Distance: 25 km

   Begin the day with a visit to Thirupparamkunram Murugan Temple, which is one of the six abodes of Lord Murugan and witnesses a huge number of devotees. Next, visit the Alagar Kovil Temple which lies just a few kilometers from Madurai and is one of the important pilgrimage sites of the Vaishnavites. The temple complex is on a hill, and you need to climb a few steps to reach the temple. By evening, start your journey to Kodaikanal for an overnight stay or head back to your hotel in Madurai.

3. Day 3: Visit Kodaikanal
   Estimated Time: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
   Estimated Distance: 115 km

   Take a day trip to Kodaikanal, a picturesque hill station in Tamil Nadu. It's a three-hour drive from Madurai. Kodaikanal is also called the "Princess of Hill Stations." Begin the day with a visit to the Bryant Park which has a fantastic array of flowers, cacti and plants. Next, head to the Coakers Walk, which is a man-made walking plaza built on the mountains that offer spectacular views of the valleys around. Visit the Kodai Lake, hike through the picturesque Bear Shola Falls, and wrap up your tour with a visit to the Pillar Rocks.

Time and Costs Estimates

• Meenakshi Amman Temple (2 hours, Free Entry)
• Gandhi Memorial Museum (1 hour, INR 20)
• Samaya Puram (2 hours, INR 20)
• Thirupparamkunram Murugan Temple (2 hours, Free Entry)
• Alagar Kovil Temple (1 hour, Free Entry)
• Bryant Park (1 hour, INR 20)
• Coakers Walk (1 hour, INR 20)
• Kodai Lake (1 hour, INR 10)
• Bear Shola Falls (1 hour, INR 10)
• Pillar Rocks (30 mins, INR 10)
Total Estimated Costs: INR 130

Useful Tips

If you have one more day, you can include a visit to the Kalamegam Shiva Temple, Thirumalai Nayak Palace, or a day trip to Rameshwaram, which is four hours from Madurai.

For nature lovers, a visit to the Munnar Hills, which is six hours from Madurai, can be an alternative to Kodaikanal. The hill station offers a beautiful view of tea plantations.

If you have less time, skip Kodaikanal altogether and explore Madurai on a more leisurely pace.