Places to visit near Madurai

Known For : Green Valley View (Suicide Point) Kodai 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 stands at an altitude of 7200 feet above sea level and has a cool, pleasant climate all year round. Kodaikanal means the gift of the forests.

Distance From Madurai: 116.2 km via Laws Ghat Road

Best Time: September to May

Known For : Echo Point, Munnar Photo Point Atukkad Waterfalls

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: 153.4 km via NH85

Best Time: September to May

View packages starting from ₹ 4,498

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.

Distance From Madurai: 139.2 km via NH85 and NH183

Best Time: Throughout the year

View packages starting from ₹ 7,464

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: 189.3 km via NH38

Best Time: October to March

View packages starting from ₹ 8,000

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: 191.8 km via NH87 and Kochi - Madurai - Dhanushkodi Road

Best Time: October to February

View hotels starting from ₹ 800

Known For : Gavi Hill View Park Kulamavu 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: 158.6 km via NH85

Best Time: Throughout the year

View packages starting from ₹ 6,000

Known For : Rameshwaram Temple Dhanushkodi Temple and Beach Glass Boat Ride at Pamban Bridge

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: 172.5 km via NH87

Best Time: Throughout the year

View packages starting from ₹ 11,200

Known For : Houseboats Alappuzha Beach Alleppey Backwaters

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: 275.8 km via NH85 and NH183

Best Time: June to March

View packages starting from ₹ 7,500

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: 184.2 km  via NH85 and NH183

Best Time: Throughout the year

View packages starting from ₹ 2,986

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: 150.1 km via NH38

Best Time: October to March

View hotels starting from ₹ 750

Known For : Water Sports in Kovalam Lighthouse Beach Hawah 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: 438.8 km via NH38 and Chennai - Theni Highway

Best Time: September to March

View packages starting from ₹ 7,500

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.

Distance From Madurai: 217.8 km via NH85

Best Time: Throughout the year

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. Ooty is nestled amidst the Nilgiri hills at an altitude of 2,240 meters above sea level and enjoys a favourable climate all year round.

Distance From Madurai: 304.2 km via NH44

Best Time: Throughout the year

Known For : Paradise Beach, Pondicherry Aurobindo Ashram Cafes in Pondicherry

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: 333.9 km via NH38

Best Time: October to March

View packages starting from ₹ 6,768

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: 164.2 km via NH85 and NH183

Best Time: April to June, September to November