MGST TN PKG 04

Arrival at Madurai airport OR railway station. Our driver will meet you and proceed to your hotel in Madurai. On arrival at check-in at your hotel. If time permits then proceed for Madurai sightseeing or else day at your leisure. Overnight stay at Madurai hotel.

About Madurai: Madurai is the third-largest city in Tamil Nadu. The recorded history of the city goes back to the 3rd century BCE. Madurai is an important industrial and educational hub in South Tamil Nadu. It was in Madurai, in 1921, that Mahatma Gandhi, pre-eminent leader of Indian nationalism in British-ruled India, first adopted the loin cloth as his mode of dress after seeing agricultural labourers wearing it.

Madurai places of visit: 

• Arulmigu Kallalagar Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Built by the Pandyan Kings. Jatavarman Sundara Pandyan (1251-1270 AD) has beautified the 'vimana' with gold plates. (9 AM to 6 PM)
• Gandhi Memorial Museum constructed by Nayak Queen Rani in the earlier 1700 AD. (10 AM to 1 PM & 2 PM to 5 PM)
• Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam is built in the memory of Lord Vigneshwara. Float festival is conducted in Jan/Feb in the tank in a colourful way. (8 AM to 6 PM)
• Thirumalai Nayakkar Palace is a palace complex constructed in the Indo-Saracen style by Thirumalai Nayak in 1636. The palace was designed by an Italian architect. (9 AM to 1 PM & 2 PM to 5 PM, Light show at 6.45 PM & 8.15 PM)
• Meenakshi Amman Temple dedicated to Goddess Parvati and Lord Siva, the temple is considered an architectural marvel. 
• It was shortlisted as one of the top 30 nominees for New Seven Wonders of the World. (6 AM to 12:30 PM & 4 PM to 7 PM)
• Koodal Alagar Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu, this temple is believed to be older than the Meenakshi temple. (6 AM to 12 PM and 4 PM to 7 PM)
• Thiruparankundram Murugan Temple is renowned for its 8th-century rock-cut cave temple dedicated to Lord Murugan (Subrahmanya). 
• Considered as the first and foremost temple of Lord Muruga. One of the legends says that it is at this place that the Lord Muruga defeated the demon Surapadman and got married to Deivayani, daughter of the king of heaven, Indra and worshipped Lord Shiva. (6 AM to 1 PM & 4 to 7 PM)

After breakfast, checkout from the hotel and proceed to Rameswaram. On arrival, check-in at your hotel. If time permits then proceed for Rameswaram sightseeing or else day at your leisure. Overnight stay at Rameswaram hotel. 

About Rameswaram: Located on Pamban Island separated from mainland India by the Pamban channel and is about 40 KM from Sri Lanka. Pamban Island, also known as Rameswaram Island, is connected to mainland India by the Pamban Bridge. It is said that this is the place from where the Hindu god Rama built a bridge across the sea to Lanka to rescue his wife Sita from her abductor Ravana. 

Rameswaram is considered to be one of the holiest places in India to Hindus. Tourism and fishery employ the majority of the workforce in Rameswaram.

Rameswaram places of visit: 

• Dhanushkod Beach situated at the eastern end of the island is named after Rama's bow. The boulders around the sea between Srilanka and this place known as Adam's bridge are believed to be used by Hanuman to reach across Srilanka. 
• A major portion Dhanushkodi was washed away during the 1964 cyclone. The Government declared the town as a Ghost town and unfit for living after the storm. (with extra cost)
• Kothandaramaswamy Temple: According to legend, Vibhishana the brother of Ravana met and joined hands with him at this spot. 
• There are paintings in this temple depicting this story. The idols of Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana can be seen along with Vibhishana & Hanuman. A major portion was washed away during the 1964 cyclone, except for this temple.
• Panchamukhi Hanuman Temple or the five-faced Hanuman Temple is dedicated to Lord Hanuman. Another major attraction of this temple is the ‘floating stones’. These floating stones were used for building the floating bridge named Sethu Bandhanam, from Rameswaram to Lanka. (6 AM to 7 PM)
• Arulmigu Ramanathaswamy Temple dedicated to Lord Siva is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas situated in different parts of India (6 AM to 12 PM & 3 PM to 7 PM) 
• Agnitheertham is said to be the place where Rama worshipped Lord Shiva to wash off his sins of killing Ravana
• Ram Zarurkka Temple is the highest point on the island. There is a two-storied Mandapam, where Rama's feet (Padam) is found as an imprint on a chakra.
• Pamban Bridge opened in 1914, connects Rameswaram Island with the mainland. It is the longest sea bridge in India and its length is nearly 2.2 KM.
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