3-Day Itinerary for Madurai, Rameshwaram, Thanjavur in May 2024 - Family Friendly

1. Day 1: Madurai
   Start your day at the Sri Meenakshi Amman Temple (9:00 AM - 12:30 PM, 4:00 PM - 7:30 PM), one of the largest and most iconic temples in South India. Next, head to the Thirumalai Nayakkar Palace (9:00 AM - 5:00 PM), a beautiful palace known for its unique and impressive architecture. In the evening, visit the Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam (9:00 AM - 6:00 PM), a man-made pond with a temple in the centre.

   Estimated time: Full Day
   Estimated distance: 106 km (66 miles)

2. Day 2: Rameshwaram
   Begin your day at the Ramanathaswamy Temple (5:00 AM - 1:00 PM, 3:00 PM - 9:00 PM), one of the 12 Jyotirlinga temples of Lord Shiva. Afterward, visit the Agneeshwarar Temple (6:00 AM - 12:00 PM, 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM) and Gandhamadhana Parvatham (6:00 AM - 6:00 PM) - a famous sunset point.

   Estimated time: Full Day
   Estimated distance: 170 km (105 miles)

3. Day 3: Thanjavur
   Begin your day at the Brihadeeswarar Temple (6:00 AM - 12:30 PM, 4:00 PM - 8:30 PM), a UNESCO world heritage site and a brilliant example of Dravidian architecture. Next, visit the Thanjavur Royal Palace and Art Gallery (9:00 AM - 5:30 PM) to learn about the history of the palace and enjoy the art collection. Finally, visit the Saraswathi Mahal Library (9:00 AM - 1:00 PM, 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM), one of the oldest libraries in Asia known for its rare collection of books and palm-leaf manuscripts.

   Estimated time: Full Day
   Estimated distance: 55 km (34 miles)

Time and Costs Estimates

• Sri Meenakshi Amman Temple (2-3 hours, Free)
• Thirumalai Nayakkar Palace (1-2 hours, INR 25)
• Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam (1-2 hours, Free)
• Ramanathaswamy Temple (2-3 hours, Free)
• Agneeshwarar Temple (1-2 hours, Free)
• Gandhamadhana Parvatham (1-2 hours, Free)
• Brihadeeswarar Temple (2-3 hours, INR 50)
• Thanjavur Royal Palace and Art Gallery (1-2 hours, INR 50)
• Saraswathi Mahal Library (1-2 hours, INR 10)
Total Estimated Costs: INR 135 per person

Useful Tips

If you have more time, you can visit the nearby city of Kanyakumari, famous for its beautiful sunrises and sunsets and Vivekananda Memorial. If you have less time, you can skip the Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam in Madurai or the Saraswathi Mahal Library in Thanjavur. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes as there will be a lot of walking and bring an umbrella or sunscreen, as May is usually hot and sunny.