Pandya Nadu · Eastern Coastal Plains
How to reach
By air
- Madurai International Airport (IXM) — The region's gateway, with Gulf and Sri Lanka service; about 12 km south of the city.
- Tiruchirappalli International Airport (TRZ) — About two hours north; often cheaper and better connected internationally.
By rail
- Madurai Junction (MDU) — A major junction on the Chennai–Kanyakumari and Madurai–Rameswaram routes, walking distance from the temple.
- Dindigul Junction (DG) — For the Palani hills and the Kodaikanal approach.
- Kodai Road (KQN) — The railhead for Kodaikanal, about 80 km from the town by a road that climbs the whole way.
- Virudhunagar Junction (VPT) — For Sivakasi, Sattur and the karisal belt.
- Palani (PLNI) — For the Murugan temple and the hill banana country.
By road
NH 44 — the north–south trunk through Dindigul and Madurai towards KanyakumariNH 85 — Madurai to Theni, Cumbum and the Kumily pass into KeralaNH 38 — Madurai east towards Ramanathapuram and RameswaramNH 785 — Madurai to Aruppukottai and the Virudhunagar drylandThe Ghat roads to Kodaikanal from Batlagundu, Palani and Vathalagundu, each with a different gradient
By water
None navigable — the Vaigai does not reach the sea
Getting around
Madurai is compact enough to walk around the temple and take autos beyond it; city buses cover the ring roads. Kodaikanal is best reached by bus or car from Kodai Road, Dindigul or Palani, and is walkable once there. Alanganallur, Usilampatti and Sholavandan are all short bus rides from Madurai's Mattuthavani terminus.
How to reach Pandya Nadu by air, rail, road and water, and how to get around once there. (7)