get there and around
Madurai is well connected all over India through Road, rail and by Air.
Rail
The railway station is one of the busiest in the country and has computerized reservation counters. Madurai division has repeatedly received the award for being the best-maintained station in the Southern Railway. The railway station code for Madurai junction is MDU. It is connected to most major Indian cities and towns.
Madurai Railway Division is the second largest revenue yielding division in Tamilnadu next only to Chennai.
As the TN's second largest City strucks daily with a single railway terminal unable to handle the heavy Passenger Crowds, Southern Railway has come-up with a plan of extension & modification of the City Junction. Works are going on in the same at fast pace.
Railways also planned to divide the passenger traffic at City Junction by creating one more state-of-art Railway terminal at North Madurai Koodal Nagar. The Project cost is more than Rs.100 Crores and the Works are going on for the same,now.
The Stations in Madurai railway are :
Madurai City Railway Junction Koodal Nagar Samayanallur Vadipatti East Madurai Tirupuvanam Tiruparankundram Tirumangalam Chekanoorani Usilampatti etc.
Road
Madurai has several major bus stands: Madurai Integrated Bus Terminus (MIBT) at Maattuthavani (North), Palanganatham (South), Arappalayam (West), Periyar (Central) and Anna Bus stand (East). From MIBT, many buses to locations all over the south India operate round the clock. From Arapalayam bus stand, buses to places of western Tamil Nadu like Theni, Coimbatore, Tirupur, Erode, Salem operate and Periyar bus stand is where only city buses and private buses to major cities operate. Anna bus stand and Palanganatham are not in operation currently.
Apart fom city buses, three-wheeled, black and yellow auto-rickshaws, referred to as autos, are available for travel with in the city. MIBT has pre-paid auto counter where commuters can pay fixed auto-fare depends on destination and hire.
Madurai is connected by the following major National Highways:
* NH 7 : (North-south Corridor Expressway) Bangalore – Salem – Dindigul – Madurai – Tirunelveli – Kanyakumari
* NH 45B : Trichy – Madurai – Thoothukudi
* NH 49 : Madurai – Rameswaram
* NH 49 Extn: Madurai – Theni – Bodi – Cochin
Bridges have been constructed across the Vaigai river to connect Madurai at various points. Flyovers have been constructed within the city to overcome traffic congestion. Four lane express highways to Chennai, Kanyakumari, Tuticorin and Bangalore make Madurai well-connected by road.
Air
Madurai Airport is 11 kilometers from the Madurai railway station, and it offers flights to major cities in southern and western India. Paramount Airways, Jet Air Ways, Kingfisher Airlines, Air India operates flights from and to Madurai. Flight services to Chennai, Bangalore, Mumbai are available at Madurai airport.
Madurai Airport is under a major expansion now with a state-of-art new Terminal of 17,560 Sq.ms space which is the second largest terminal in Tamilnadu next only to Chennai.
With a Good Domestic Network, New Low-Cost airlines like Air Dravida, Star Aviation,TransIndia Airlines etc proposed to Connect Madurai in new Domestic routes..
The terminal is all set to come for operation by Second Quarters of 2010..Many Foreign airlines approached AAI to start international services from Madurai.So,When the new terminal is open, many new international flights are expected to take-off from Madurai.
Madurai airport has handled 3 lacks passengers between the period Jan 2009 to Oct 2009
Madurai Airport is promising a Good-Future with the report of Pricewater CooperHouse Ltd.s research survey that It will become one of the busiest airports in South India once the international flights are allowed..It also added that the airport has a Golden chance for Heavy Cargo Traffic by the year 2012.
Madurai flourished till 10th century AD when it was captured by Cholas, the arch rivals of the Pandyas.[5] The glory of Madurai returned in a diminished form in the earlier part of this millennium as it later came under the rule of the Vijayanagar kingdom and Madurai was ruled by the Nayak Emperors, the foremost of whom was Tirumalai Nayakar
