This section is dedicated to take away all your "I wish someone had told me that before I went!" experiences. This way, you can spend less time settling in, and more time making new friends in your chosen hostel. We share our insider knowledge of tips, tricks and important things to look out for in Madurai.
Madurai is a large city in southern India. While for the locals it is best known as a major educational hub with some impressive schools, there are quite a number of things to do during your stay here. You most likely will not need more than a day at best. At the top of the list for Indian history is the Gandhi Memorial Museum, which gives quite a good overview of India's history with the British, dating quite a way back. It sets the scene for the amazing work of Gandhi and his efforts in uniting a people to fight back and gain independence for their country. The museum is free and open between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. -- though do be warned that they take an hour in the middle of the day for lunch where they close up everything.
Madurai also has some stunning temples in the area that you can go and see. One not to be missed is the Meenakshi Amman Temple, which is quite different to many of the temples in the area. The Thirumalai Nayak Palace is also worth a quick visit as well.
The city is quite large and things can be quite spread out. It is worth bargaining with a rickshaw driver to wait for you at each attraction for the day and negotiate a price. Your Madurai hostel staff should be able to help you with this and give you an idea on price. As a major city, you will also find access to pretty much anything you need here and there is a train station that travels on to quite a few different destinations.
Written by local enthusiast for Madurai hostels
Globetrotter