A Three-Day Madurai to Nagercoil Adventure

  1. Day 1: Explore Madurai
    Driving Time: 2 hours 42 minutes (155.8 km)

    Madurai is home to the famous Meenakshi Temple, a Dravidian-style temple dedicated to Goddess Parvati. Start your first day with a visit to this temple, and then head to the Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal. Built-in 1636, the mahal has a sound and light show that depicts the story of the king and the palace. End your day with a stroll in the Gandhi Memorial Museum that houses memorabilia of the Indian independence struggle and Gandhi Ji's life.

  2. Day 2: Nature and Beaches
    Driving Time: 2 hours 52 minutes (137.2 km)

    Start your day with a visit to the Kanyakumari Beach, the southernmost tip of India, to witness the sunrise. Next, head to the Vivekananda Rock Memorial to get a glimpse of the coastline and the sea. After lunch, visit the Mathur Hanging Trough, a man-made aqueduct that is 115 feet high and 1,045 feet long. Finally, end your day trekking the Vattakottai Fort, built-in the 18th century and located on a beach, it offers stunning views of the ocean.

  3. Day 3: Nagercoil Town
    Driving Time: 30 minutes (18 km)

    Start your day with a visit to the Nagaraja Temple, dedicated to Lord Nagaraja, the king of snakes. Then, head to the Suchindram Thanumalayan Temple to witness the unique linking of the three Lords - Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma. After lunch, visit the Udayagiri Fort, located 14 km from the town, it is a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India. End your day with a visit to the Mathur Aqueduct, built-in 1966 to irrigate the plains of the Kuzhithurai belt.

Time and Cost Estimates

  • Meenakshi Temple (1-2 hours, Free)
  • Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal (1-2 hours, INR 25)
  • Gandhi Memorial Museum (1-2 hours, INR 10)
  • Kanyakumari Beach (1-2 hours, Free)
  • Vivekananda Rock Memorial (1-2 hours, INR 50)
  • Mathur Hanging Trough (1-2 hours, Free)
  • Vattakottai Fort (1-2 hours, Free)
  • Nagaraja Temple (1-2 hours, Free)
  • Suchindram Thanumalayan Temple (1-2 hours, INR 20)
  • Udayagiri Fort (1-2 hours, INR 15)
  • Mathur Aqueduct (1-2 hours, Free)
  • Total Estimated Costs: INR 120

Useful Tips

For those with more time, visit the Padmanabhapuram Palace in Kanyakumari or the Papanasam Beach in Varkala. For those with less time, skip the Mathur Hanging Trough and spend more time exploring Madurai or Nagercoil Town. Make sure to pack comfortable shoes as most of the places require walking and wear conservative clothing while visiting temples.

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