Meenakshi Amman
Temple – Connectivity
Meenakshi temple is 10 km from Madurai Mattuthavani bus
stand and 4 km far from Arappalayam bus stand. Madurai is well connected
to rest of India by excellent means of transport.
Main modes of transport for travellers are by air and by
train.
By air
Madurai has an International / Domestic airport with
fairly good facilities. The flights connect mainly to Chennai (Madras), but there are few direct flights to
other major Indian cities.
The airport is about 15 km from the city center off
National Highway 47. It is best to hire a taxi from the airport from the
counter in the arrival lounge or arrange for someone to meet you at the
airport. For those who prefer to use public transport, you should take bus
number 10A, which runs from the airport to the Periyar bus stand.
Direct International flights are available from Colombo,
Sri Lanka and Dubai.
By Train
Trains are the major mode of entry into the city. The
railway station is centrally located and many facilities are accessible from
there. Madurai is well connected by trains to many parts of India like Chennai, Bangalore, Mumbai (Bombay), and Delhi.
A train journey from Chennai takes 8 to 10 hours and is
the preferred railhead. Train tickets can be booked from Indian Railways'
reservation centers or online from IRCTC.
If you book through a travel agent, please book through
authorized agents only.
By Road
Madurai is situated on National Highways NH-7, NH-45B, and
NH-49. Almost all of them are presently being upgraded to multi-lane ways as
part of National highway development program. Travel from Chennai and Bangalore
will take approximately 8-10 hours.
The city is well connected by buses to all major cities
in Tamil Nadu via state government operated and private buses. Buses also ply
from important cities in the neighboring states of Kerala (Ernakulam, Trivandrum)
and Karnataka (Bangalore, Mysore). There are lots of ordinary buses and many
luxury ones too.
Madurai has several bus stands. Most inter-state and
overnight buses terminate at Mattuthavani Bus stand. Private buses are found
closer to the city center near Periyar bus stand. Ticketing and reservation
facilities are available at the bus-stands.
By Sea
Madurai is situated inland, and the Vaigai River which
runs through the city is mostly dry. However, the nearest ports for entry are Chennai (450 km) and Tuticorin (160 km).
Local Transport
Local transport is by means of bus, taxi or
auto-rickshaw. Being a small city there are no metro or local train facilities,
though there are passenger trains connecting nearby places.
By Bus:
Local buses are run by the government and are safe to
use. Travelling them is extremely cheap, and quite an experience in itself.
However, they will be crowded during peak hours. There are also specific
services available at night, though the charges are double. Please carry coins
to buy tickets. The boards in buses are displayed only in Tamil, so please ask
the conductor regarding the destination and route.
Madurai has 4 main bus-stands.
Periyar
Bus Stand - Exclusive local bus terminal, about 5
minutes walk from railway station. Commonly referred as "Periyar".
Buses to Mattuthavani Bus Terminus leave from here.
Complex
Bus Stand - Right opposite to Periyar bus stand, where
we can find buses to the Airport (all Airlines offices are situated there), and
to Tiruparankundram (Rock Temple). Private inter-city buses depart from here.
Arappalayam
Bus Stand - Some local buses and those bound
west/northwest towards Theni, Dindigul, Coimbatore, Palani, Kodaikanal, Salem, Erode, Batlagundu or Vaththalakundu, Periyakulam, Thekkady
& Munnar depart from here.
Mattuthavani
Integrated Bus Terminus - Simply called Mattuthavani is located in the
outskirts about 10 km from Periyar bus stand. This is the location for long
distance government buses and other places. Private buses also stop here.
All bus-stands are interconnected by buses or you can
hire an auto.
By Car:
It is as difficult to drive in certain cities of India
like any other big city in the world, as traffic can be high. However, taxis
are abundant and you can book one from your hotel. One can move around by car
in Madurai. There are many car rental companies and private taxis available.
Most hotels also offer cab services.
By Auto
Rickshaws:
The Auto Rickshaws are not metered, which means you need
to negotiate your fare before commencing your travel. The rule of thumb rate is
Rs10 per km of travel during day time and Rs 15 per km during night. They are
usually safe to hire from central, well lit locations like the railway station.
It is likely for auto rickshaw drivers to quote exorbitant rates to Foreigners.