Lakes, Temples, Museums, Culture on Road trips from Kollam to Madurai

Kollam, the cashew house of India, is blessed by the proximity to the Ashtamudi Lake that endows it with a charming backwater experience and also a unique ecosystem that is typical of a wetland. The enchanting beauty of this small town is indescribable in words. From lovely beaches to ravishingly beautiful backwaters and lots of greenery, you’ll find everything at Kollam. But if you still aren’t satisfied with this enticing place, then you can always explore the next equally astounding destination nearby, Madurai. 

Southern part of India is a delightful package of lakes, temples, culture, and monuments. So basically, when you are travelling from Kollam in Kerala to Madurai in Tamil Nadu, you get to view a fascinating topography. That is why, it’s highly recommended to travel through roads and on a car to explore these areas so that you don’t miss the charming natural beauty that would be your travel companion all the way.  

Top things to keep in mind when travelling from Kollam to Madurai.

• Best time to visit Madurai — The best time to travel from Kollam to Madurai is definitely during the winters or monsoons. During both these times, the weather is truly pleasant and cool, and the aura is amazingly beautiful.
• Distance between Kollam to Madurai— 256 kilometres. 
• Things to do in Madurai — You have lots of things to do in Madurai like exploring heritage sites, religious places, beaches, and even enjoy the natural surroundings.
• Best route to take for Kollam to Madurai travel —You can opt for either the Kollam to Coimbatore to Madurai route, or travel from Kollam to Calicut and then reach Madurai.

12 Important stopovers between Kollam and Madurai —

• Coimbatore
• Calicut
• Meenakshi Temple
• Thirumalai Nayak Temple
• Thirumalai Nayakar Mahal
• Meghamalai
• Gandhi Museum
• Vaigai Dam
• Alagar Koil
• Samanar Hills
• Koodal Azhagar Temple
• Mariamman Teppakulam

You can stop at some destinations between your Kollam to Madurai journey either to freshen up a bit or simply to explore these places as well.

1. Coimbatore

Coimbatore is a very enticing and magnificent town coming in your way and is rightly called the Manchester of the South. From fabulous industries to breath-taking natural beauty and even some heritage sites, you’ll find everything here.

2. Calicut

Calicut has some really ravishing water bodies and beaches that refresh your soul completely.  Some leisurely time spent around the sea would definitely do a lot of good for your body and mind.

Get an all rounder travel experience as you travel from Kollam to Madurai!

Just as a complete meal comprises starters, mains, salad, drinks and desserts, a complete journey should have all the factors in it like historical importance, natural surroundings, cultural view, local lifestyle exploration etc. And you can experience all these only by taking road trips from Kollam to Madurai.  Read about the places that let you enjoy those in this town. 

3. Meenakshi Temple

The very first thing to check in Madurai is the Meenakshi temple which has the history of being on this land since centuries. You won’t believe the large area (approximately 15 acres) of the entire temple which consists of thousands of pillars and 14 towers in all. Amidst the rush of couples gathering at the corridors of this temple to get married, your visit would be totally awesome.

4. Thirumalai Nayak Temple

The Thirumalai Nayak Temple is also one of the famous tourist attractions of Madurai. Built in the 16th century, this temple is a beautiful blend of Italian, Islamic, and Dravidian architectures which makes it all the more alluring. Visit this temple to get a glimpse of the rich cultural history and appreciate the best historical remnants of the country. 

5. Thirumalai Nayakar Mahal

The Thirumalai Nayakar Mahal is also one of the best places to visit in Madurai. From the exclusive architecture to the vast area, everything makes this palace (which also has several temples in it) an awesome place.

6. Meghamalai

You wouldn’t be travelling from Kollam to Madurai on a road trip if it weren’t for the lush and magical natural beauty of Meghamalai. From the ravishing hills to the blissful green surroundings and the water bodies all around, this place is the nearest you can experience paradise on earth.

7. Gandhi Museum

Madurai gives you a fantastic chance to peep in the past of this city and the country as well. Just visit the Gandhi Museum to view some of the best archeological and historical items preserved here since centuries.

8. Vaigai Dam

The best man-made dam standing proudly in Madurai is a refreshing site to visit with your family. Enjoy a day’s picnic with your family at this location to make the most of your trip from Kollam to Madurai.

9. Alagar Koil

Get ready to be perplexed by the exquisite architecture of the very famous Alagar Koil. It is a ravishing temple with some astounding features of archaeological splendour of yesterday. You will be surprised to see fantastic carvings that would make your jaws drop.

10. Samanar Hills

The Samanar Hills in themselves are magnificent sites to capture in your camera. But apart from this, these Hills have some really exclusive caves which were home to the Buddhist monks some years back. That is why you will see some fine carvings on these caves which are beautiful. 

11. Koodal Azhagar Temple

This temple stands large and proud at a very prominent area of Madurai. Apart from its religious importance which connects it to Lord Vishnu, you will find the architecture and built of this temple very noteworthy.

12. Mariamman Teppakulam

This temple is a prominent religious centre of the Hindus. Apart from that, you will find a large water body here which is the largest tank of Tamil Nadu. Visit to view this tank and the temple with so many devotees crowding it. 

Since you are taking a self drive from Revv to travel all the way here, you won’t find it difficult to drive to all these locations. But you can still check more – say, the Pazhamudir Solai which is a beautiful temple of wood and marble, St. Mary’s Cathedral which is a very important Church, and Vandiyur Mariamman Teppakulam which is another charming temple with water tank near it. But do remember to take only a sanitised car rental from Revv in Kollam so that your trip is perfectly comfortable and safe.