PLACES AROUND MADURAI

Vaigai Dam

            It is 70km from Madurai on the way to Thekkadi. It is a good picnic spot. The Dam is beautifully illuminated on every sunday evening. All kinds of exotic flowers and plants are filled by man made gardens on one side of the Dam.Natural beauty of the hills border the river on the other side.

Suruli Waterfalls

          It is 120 km from Madurai on the way to Thekkadi(Periyar Wildlife Sancturary). This is also a good picnic spot.

Thekkadi

          It is 137km from Madurai located in Kerala State on the border of Tamilnadu state. It had established in 1934.It extends over 775 sq kms. It has India's Southern Most Tiger Reserve. The Lake in Thekkadi is 26sq km and it is at an elevation of 820m.A dam called Periyar was built in 1895. Boats are available on hire. It is excellent place to see wild elephants,bison, sambhar, barking deer,will boar.The seaon to visit Thekkadi is between September and May.The National Park in Thekkadi has facilities for camping.

 

Kodaikanal

        Kodaikanal is 120kms from Madurai. It is a hill station .It has wooded slops, mighty rocks, waterfalls and a beautiful lake. It is famous for hill plantains, fruit and plums. The Kurinji flower which blossoms once in 12 years is the pride of Kodaikanal.It has blossomed in 1992 last time.

         The lake in Kodaikanan is star shaped and surrounded by green mountains. It has boat house which offers many water related activities.

          There is a observatory which is called Solar Physical Observatory is situated on the top of the hill. It was built in 1898.

          The temple called Kurinju Andavar Temple is situated about 3kms from the lake. This temple is dedicated to Lord Muruga. Palani hills and Vaigai Dam are seen from this temple.The entire Vaigai Dam can be seen from one view called Green Valley View which is 5.5kms from the Lake.

          Coakers' walk goes along the southern side of Kodai. Breathtaking views of plains can be seen on the way of this walk.

          A museum called shenbaganur museum is dedicated to the flora and fauna of hills. It has more than 300 species and is above 5.6kms from the lake.

           A fall called Siver Cascade which is located on the Ghat road.

          Kakkai is famous camping site the main activity in this place is treking . It is about 20 kilometers from Kodaikonal.

Kanyakumari

          Kanyakumari is the southern most tip of Indian Sub Continent. This place is surrounded by three oceans ,Bay of Bengal in east,Arabian Sea in west,Indian Ocean in south. It has beautiful beaches with different colors of sand.The beautiful views of sunrise and sunset can be seen from the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea.

         There is a Memorial dedicated to Swami Vivekanda who sat in long and deep meditation .This was built was 1970.A Statue of Vivekanda has also been installed in this memorial. This memorial is located in one rock away from mainland.Ferry Services are available to go to this memorial.

         The temple,Kanyakumari Temple dedicated to the Virgin Goddess 'Sri Kanyakumari'.This temple is a symbol of unity and sanctity.Legend says,This Goddess is one of the incarnations of Parvathi.The Diamond nose ring which is worn by God in this temple is famous for its sparkling. It is supposed to be visible from distance.

         A memorial has been built near the temple( Kanyakumari ) for Gandhi, the father of the Nation. Gandhi's ashes kept in an Urn before Immension. The memorial is designed in such a way that the Sun Rays fall on the Urn which was kept only on 2nd October,his birthday.

         The temple Guganathaswamy Temple is situated near to Kanyakumari Railway Station.This temple has more than 1000 years old history and is believed that the temple was built by Raja Raja Cholan.

Courtallam

        Courtallam is about 150kms from Madurai. It is a summer resort. Waterfaills are main attraction of Courtallam. The water in these falls is coming through forests of herbs which have medicinal properties. Courtallam has following falls

  • Main Falls ( Peraruvi)
  • Small Falls (Chitraruvi)
  • Shenbagadevi  falls   - It is not safe to take bath here
  • Honey Falls(Thenaruvi) - It is tedious to reach
  • Five Falls (Aindharuvi)
  • Tiger Falls(Puli Aruvi)
  • Old Falls (Pazhaya Courtallaruvi)
  • New Falls(Puthu Aruvi)
  • Fruit Garden Falls(Pazhathotta Aruvi)

          There is a temple called Kutralanathar Temple Which is near to the Main water Falls and it is dedicated to Lord Siva.

Rameswaram

          The holly city Rameswaram is situated about 164 kilometers south-east of Madurai. It is an island paradise of golden sand . The entire island is idle for picnickers and excursionists.

          Legend says Raman, the hero of the epic , the Ramayana is asked to have worshipped Lord Siva to free himself from the sin of having killed Ravanan, king of Lanka.

         There are two temples called Ramanathaswamy Temple and KothandaRamaswamy temple . Ramanathaswamy temle is on the eastern side of island, close to sea. It is known for corridors with pillars having beautiful scluptures which are longes in India. It is 197 meters long East West and 133 meters in length in  South North.  The temple has big tower which is 38.4 meters in height. The temple is 264 meters in length and 200 meters in breadth.   Konthandaswamy temple is another famous temple about 3 kilometers from extreme tip of the island. Legend says Vibshisan the brother of Ravana surrendered to Rama at this place. The idols of Rama, Sita, Lakshman, Hanuman and Vibishan are here.

Agni Thertam,  a calm bay is sacred to Hindus who belive that a bath in this holy water washes away the sins.,  The southern most tip of the island Dhanuskodi was completed washed away by the 1964 cyclone.  The water around the islands abound not only in fish but also in corel reef.

Trichy 

The city is surrounded by the rock fort, on the top of the rock , a fort and a temple are built. After crossing 434 rock cut steps , there is a temple called Mathrubhutewarar temple which is dedicated to lord Siva. There is another temple called Ucchi Pilliar temple which is dedicated to lord Ganesh and located at the top of the rock., The entire city can be seen from this place. 

Srirangam temple and Sri Jambukeswarar temple are famous in Trichy,.

Palani

Palani is about 123 Kilometers from Madurai and it is dedicated to Shri Dhandayuthapani (Lord Muruga). It is one of the six abodes of Lord Muruga which is located at the top of the hill.

Tirunelveli

Tirunelveli has 2000 years old history. Pandya kingdom had this city as capital for some time. Places like  Krishnapuram, Tenkasi,Sankarankoil, Kattabomman memorial fort , Ottapidaram , Kalugumalai,vettangudi bird sanctuary,Kumbakkarai waterfalls are worth visiting places around Tirunelveli

Srivilliputhur

It is 74 kilometers from Madurai. There is big temple dedicated to Sri Andal and Perialwar in this place. It was built by Nayak kings. The stone and ceiling of this temple have many beautiful miniature figures. The tower of this temple is 60 meters high one of the talles in sourth India.

Virudhunagar

It is a very big town being the home of mechants. Grocery trade takes first place in this town. Many milling and small industires have come up in recent years. This place has the famous name as birth place of the congress leader Mr. Kamaraj.

Arruppukottai

It is 20 kilometers from Virudhunagar and is famous for weaving and grocery trading.

Sivakasi

It is also called miniature Japan because of having many match and fireworks factories. It is also famous for its printing work.

Rajapalayam

It is near Srivillilputhur. It is famous for teak and agricultural products.