Places to Visit near Madurai

Known For : Green Valley View (Suicide Point) Kodaikanal Lake Bear Shola Falls

Located in the state of Tamil Nadu, Kodaikanal is one of the most famous honeymoon destinations in India. When you think of Kodaikanal, you think of a wonderful climate, cliffs covered in mist, cloud-capped mountains and beautiful lakes and valleys, and once you visit this hill station, you will find that every bit of what you have imagined it to be is true. Nestled amidst the rolling slopes of the Palani Hills in Tamil Nadu, Kodaikanal means the gift of the forests.

Distance from Madurai: 116 km

Best Time: September to May

35 Kodaikanal Attractions

Known For : Munnar Tea Plantations Atukkad Waterfalls Rose Garden Munnar

The idyllic hill station Munnar - famous for its tea estates, exotic lush greenery and craggy peaks, is located in the Western Ghats, in the state of Kerala. It serves as the commercial centre for some of the world’s largest tea estates. In addition, Munnar has many protected areas which are home to endemic and highly endangered species like the Nilgiri Thar and the Neelakurinji.

Distance from Madurai: 153 km

Best Time: September to May

48 Munnar Attractions

Known For : Periyar National Park Periyar Tiger Trail Bamboo Rafting

Home to the country's largest Tiger Reserve- Periyar, Thekkady is a great way to enjoy a jungle vacation. Periyar National Park, being a major attraction, is one place where you can enjoy bamboo rafting in the catchment area of Mullaiperiyar Dam, hiking, and in the midst of the wilderness, shopping!

Distance from Madurai: 138 km

Best Time: Throughout the year

17 Thekkady Attractions

Known For : Brahadeshwara Temple Gangaikonda Cholapuram Shiva Ganga Garden

Also known as Tanjore or the city of temples, Thanjavur has a lot of cultural value and is known for its famous Tanjore paintings, antiques and handicrafts, textiles and saris , its Carnatic music and musical instruments and of course the temples.

Distance from Madurai: 188 km

Best Time: October to March

11 Thanjevur Attractions

Known For : Dhanushkodi Beach Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park Adam's Bridge

Dhanushkodi is a small, sparsely populated beach town on the coast of Tamil Nadu. In the 1964, Dhanushkodi was hit by one of the worst storms India has ever seen. Ever since then, Tamil Nadu has rebuilt this town to become one of the most unique and unusual beach towns of India.

Distance from Madurai: 180 km

Best Time: October to February

6 Dhanushkodi Attractions

Known For : Hill View Park Kulamavu Dam Idukki Arch Dam

With remains of Chera dynasty, Vembolinad Kingdom, and European plantations in the later years, this rugged hill resort is best known for its wildlife sanctuaries, beautiful bungalows, tea factories, rubber plantations and forests.

Distance from Madurai: 139 km

Best Time: Throughout the year

37 Idukki Attractions

Known For : Rameshwaram Temple Dhanushkodi Temple and Beach Jatayu Tirtham

Rameshwaram is one of the holiest places in India and is located on a beautiful island. It is separated by a small Pamban channel from Sri Lanka. According to the Hindu mythology, this is the place where Lord Rama created a bridge across the sea to Sri Lanka.

Distance from Madurai: 172 km

Best Time: Throughout the year

22 Rameswaram Attractions

Known For : Stay in Houseboat Marari Beach Alappuzha Beach

Extremely famous for its beautiful backwaters, the city of Alleppey in Kerala is also known for its beaches, temples and traditional boat races. This popular tourist destination also has some very well reputed Ayurvedic spas and wellness centres.

Distance from Madurai: 262 km

Best Time: June to March

34 Alleppey Attractions

Known For : Ulipooni Wildlife Sanctuary Vagamon Meadows Pine Hill

1100 meters above sea, far way from the loud city culture, lush greenery and serenity to gift every visitor, Vagamon could be your quiet offbeat hill station in Kerala away from maddening tourist crowds.

Distance from Madurai: 183 km

Best Time: Throughout the year

17 Vagamon Attractions

Known For : Kalakkad Wildlife Sanctuary Kalugumalai Tuticorin Port

Coming across a city like Tuticorin is not common. It is a beach town, also one of the busiest ports, has a wildlife sanctuary, houses numerous temples and churches and tens of other monumental sites. If this does not make it to you radar, then nothing else would.

Distance from Madurai: 150 km

Best Time: October to March

14 Tuticorin Attractions

Known For : Vellayani Lake, Kovalam Water Sports in Kovalam Lighthouse Beach

An idyllic village along the coastlines of the Arabian Sea, Kovalam is most famous for its three pristine beaches with shallow waters and low tidal waves where one can go surfing, wooden and motorboat riding.The beach town of Kovalam has three famous beaches - Lighthouse beach, Samudra beach and Hawah beach, which together form its majestic rocky crescent. Kovalam essentially means a ‘grove of coconut trees’ and the little town is filled with these palms.

Distance from Madurai: 305 km

Best Time: September to March

24 Kovalam Attractions

Known For : Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary Bhoothathankettu Dam

Located near Kothamangalam in Ernakulam on the northern bank of the Periyar River, this bird sanctuary is also called Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary and is famous for its rich and varied birdlife. It is the first Bird Sanctuary in Kerala that was surveyed by Dr Salim Ali (the birdman of India), who also called it the richest habitat he has ever seen.

Distance from Madurai: 210 km

Best Time: Throughout the year

2 Thattekad Attractions

Known For : Nilgiri Mountain Railway Ooty Lake Emerald Lake, Ooty

The Blue Mountains have always been shrouded in mysticism, and Ooty is no exception to that. For every mountain lover, the very idea of travelling to the city known as the Queen of the Hills holds an allure like no other. Once regarded as the summer headquarters of the East India Company (and for a very good reason), Ooty, also known as Udagamandalam, is a hill station in Tamil Nadu which serves as a very popular tourist destination for anyone looking for a picturesque place to relax and unwind.

Distance from Madurai: 303 km

Best Time: Throughout the year

43 Ooty Attractions

Known For : Paradise Beach, Pondicherry Aurobindo Ashram Auroville

Pondicherry, also known as Puducherry and commonly referred as just Pondy, is one of the seven Union Territories of India. is often famously referred to as the French Riviera of the East, and it is indeed one of the most charming and mesmerising places to visit in South India. Located in the state of Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry is a little town tucked away on the south-east coastline of India, and it is a destination that promises travellers sanctity and serenity, in the real sense of the terms.

Distance from Madurai: 333 km

Best Time: October to March

48 Pondicherry Attractions

Known For : Grampi Thrissanku Hills Peeru Hills

Blessed with lots of green cover, beautiful rolling hills, wandering streams and gurgling waterfalls; Peermede is a small bewitching hill station of Kerala, pure and pristine. Perched at an altitude of 915 m above the sea level, the town has many hidden treasure troves waiting to be uncovered.

Distance from Madurai: 169 km

Best Time: April to June, September to November

8 Peermede Attractions

Known For : Sim's Park Dolphin's Nose Ketti Valley

One of the three beautiful Nilgiri hill stations, Coonoor is the second largest hill station of the Western Ghats. It is situated at an altitude of 1930 meters and just 19 km from Ooty. With slopes of tea plantations, dotted with many attractions and blessed with chilly weather throughout the year, this place is a perfect summer retreat from Madurai.

Best Time: October to March

17 Coonoor Attractions

Known For : Mannavanur

Dindigul is a historic city and administrative centre for Dindigul District, Tamil Nadu. Situated between the Palani hills and Sirumalai hills' foothills, this city is not particularly known for its terrain. Its history & culture has found reverence, having been home to an ancient settlement. It was also the headquarters of the British Army at one point.

1 Dindigul Attractions

Situated at 1500m above sea level in the Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu, Valparai is an offbeat yet tranquil hill station in the Anamalai Hills. Its alluring picturesque sights entice tourists from all over the country making it one of the sought-after destinations to visit from Madurai.

Known For : Agaya Gangai Waterfalls Arappaleeswarar Temple Siddhar Caves

With an ominous name which means ‘Mountain of Death’, Kolli Hills or Kolli Malai are a mountain range located in the Namakkal district of Tamil Nadu. It is relatively untouched by commercial tourism and therefore has retained most of its natural magnificence. The mountains are famous for their natural and the Arappaleshwar Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. 

4 Kolli Hills Attractions

Known For : Backwaters in Kozhikode Kozhippara Falls Thusharagiri Waterfall

Formerly known as Calicut, Kozhikode is located in Kerala. Basking in the idyllic setting of the serene Arabian Sea on the west and the proud peaks of the Wayanad hills on the east, this district with the serene beaches, lush green countryside, historic sites, all combine to make Kozhikode a popular place to visit near Madurai.

Best Time: October to March

44 Kozhikode Attractions