Madurai, INDIA
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One of the oldest cities in India, Madurai has roots that go deep into the past as far as the 3rd-century BC. Trade links across geographies like Ceylon (Sri Lanka), Singapore and Malaysia, intermingling with Romans, Greeks and Arabs and influx of silk artisans and merchants from Saurashtra (Gujarat) have created a culture cauldron in Madurai over several centuries. The culinary heritage of Madurai is the result of these myriad influences and especially mirrors the fiery flavours of age-old Chettinad cuisine. Discover the delectable dishes of the region in this fascinating city walk.
The Temple City of Madurai is known for its religious fervour but also has another equally popular tag. As the food capital of the state of Tamil Nadu, the city offers endless gustatory delights. Let the multi-layered tastes of Madurai’s cuisine blow you away, while you try to decipher how it has evolved with the influence of several cultures, including Chettinad ( a region in Southern India) and Sri Lanka.
Contrary to popular belief, Madurai is not just a destination for vegetarians. There is a mind-boggling array of dishes to appeal to non-vegetarians as well. While on a food trail in the city, you will come across some of the locally loved foods that are on every foodie’s list. Some of the classics include Idlis (steamed lentil dumplings), Idiappams (string hoppers), egg-rolled Kothu Parotta (flatbread torn into pieces with egg and spices tossed in), Kari Dosai (with layers of egg and mutton), Kola Urundai (spicy meatball), prawn biryani and spicy curries. Every other shop advertises a favourite sweet drink called Jigarthanda, made of milk, ice cream and fruit gum. The temptations are never-ending and gluttony is inevitable.
Interestingly, most eating joints in the city remain open through the night till the early hours of the morning, giving it the label of ‘Thoonga Nagaram’ (City that never sleeps). The food trail is an ideal opportunity to listen to tales about Madurai’s food heritage and the eating habits of the residents.
Transport: Private Car 
Activity level: Easy
Accessible to wheel chair: Yes 
Kid friendly: Yes 
Languages: English and Local Language 
Inclusions: Bottle Water, Refreshments 
Exclusions: Personal Expenses and Souvenir. 
Gratuities: Not included in tour cost;payable at guest's discretion 
Meet up location: Hotel Pick Up 
End of tour location: Hotel Drop Off Duration: Half Day Price: upto 2 adults ₹7800 | Price upto 2 adults | : ₹7,800 |
| Children | : Complimentary for children below 10 years |
25% of the total cost will be charged, if cancelled 15 to 10 days prior to the tour date.
50% of the total cost will be charged, if cancelled 9 to 5 days prior to the tour date.
No refund if cancelled less than 5 days prior to the tour date.
For group size more than 4 adults, write to us at info@footprintholidays.com
We can arrange other language speaking guides based on your request and availability
The tour can be customised to suit your needs like change of time, change of pick-up point, etc. You can write to us to info@footprintholidays.com customise your tour as per your preferences.
I will begin by saying that I had a FANTASTIC time in India. It was one of the best trips I've ever taken and I'm truly looking forward to hopefully having you book other trips for me in India.
I must say everything was planned to perfection. Each guide in every city was knowledgeable; especially the guide you arranged for us in Udaipur. We really enjoyed getting to know our guides Musheer and Kishore. We experienced the real India and appreciated the detailed itinerary your team created for us. The hotels were fantastic! In every hotel, the chef paid us a visit to make sure that we had meals suitable for us. We also enjoyed all the extra shopping excursions that were suggested.
The trip was a mega success and your team did a great job. Thanks to Footprint for everything. The entire family had a great time! The exclusive kalaripayattu demonstration was absolutely engaging and we loved every bit of the special private stand-up by Alex Babu (of Alex in Wonderland fame).
Thank you for a great trip! We especially enjoyed driving through the desertland into Jaisalmer; we also thoroughly enjoyed Bikaner, its Havelis and the Fort. Catching the daily life in Mumbai was a unique and eye-opening experience! All the hotels chosen are excellent with wonderful staff. Thank you!
Thank you for a wonderful trip to Kerala. We loved the village life walk and Fort Cochin walk. The backwater cruise in a traditional country boat was an incredible experience. A meal with the local family, living on an island in the backwaters, offered us an excellent opportunity to interact, learn and share. We loved every minute of our holiday! Thanks!
As a solo traveller, I felt safe and was exceptionally well taken care of. The cooking class in Jaipur was extremely enjoyable. The food, chef, and his wife were all exceptional and made for a lovely evening. Also, our expectations were definitely exceeded at a private residence, spending time with the elephants and lunching. Thanks!!
I loved India and thank you very much for arranging everything. It was a fabulous trip. Big kudos to you and your team. The tour guides and drivers were excellent. I loved the artisan walk, discovering the artistic treasures of Udaipur, meeting local potters and painters.
Thanks for arranging everything to precision – it was super smooth and we had a very good darshan!
Thanks for organising a great trip to Lucknow and Varanasi. The hotels at both the places were excellent; we had a great guide in Varanasi who went beyond the designated tour route and showed us around. The food tour in Lucknow was amazing and re-discovering the Awadhi Cuisine was a great experience – the kebabs were out of the world!
It was a terrific experience to spot the King of the jungle in all their glory at Gir. We had a very good experience overall.
It was a perfect leisure getaway – thanks for organising this! We loved the French Connection Trail; the guide took us through the French quarter sharing some incredible stories from the colonisation. We enjoyed the hotel and the service!