India Guide
Tamil Nadu
Arrival
Madurai's small domestic airport ( 
0452/269 0433), 12km south of the centre, is served by flights to and from Chennai, Mumbai and Bengaluru (Bangalore). Theoretically, you should be able to get information at the Government of Tamil Nadu tourist information centre booth by the exit, but it's not always open to meet flights. There's also a bookshop and a branch of Indian Bank. Taxis charge fixed rates of around Rs200 for journeys to within the city. City Bus #10A leaves frequently from near the exit and will drop you at Periyar Bus Stand in town.
Arriving in Madurai by bus, you come in at one of two stands. The Central Bus Stand is 7km from the centre on the east side of the river: it's connected to the centre by, among others, the dedicated city buses #700 and #75. Central is the arrival point of all services except those from towns in the west, including Kodaikanal and Coimbatore, and Kerala, which terminate at the Arapalayam Bus Stand in the northwest, about 2km from the railway station. In the centre, only local city buses operate from either STC Bus Stand, or Periyar stand next door. Both are on West Veli Street in the west of the old city, and are very close to the railway station and most accommodation. In the main hall of the railway station itself you'll find a very helpful branch of the Tourism Department information centre (daily 6.30am–8.30pm). The reservations office is in a new building to the left of the main hall. There's a small veg canteen on Platform 1, and a pre-paid auto-rickshaw and taxi booth outside the main entrance, open to coincide with train arrivals.