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Temple Evening Ceremony Tour

Duration: 1h and 15min
Languages: English
Registered on September 17, 2019

Hello! My name is Dhanabalan and I have been a tour guide in Madurai for the last 11 years. I am especially passionate about the history of Madurai and the different walks of life in this city where I was born and raised. I also enjoy meeting and learning from the people I meet while guiding. I pride myself on offering interesting and informative tours to my clients, and I really look forward to showing you around the city. Don't hesitate to contact us if you want to customize any tour. Please just ask, and together we can create the perfect trip for you with combination of places in Madurai.

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  • No minimum number of attendees
    No minimum number of attendees is required for the tour
  • Free booking and cancellation
    Free payment tour, no set price, booking and cancellation are free

Tour description

As the evening draws, the extraordinary ‘Going to Bed Ceremony’ at Sri Meenakshi Temple rises. Each night, the image of Shiva is carried from his shrine to join his consort Parvati, in another part of the temple.  This ceremony can be chaotic and noisy, but this is not to be missed if you are traveling to Madurai. Each morning, the image of Shiva is returned to his own place of rest. We will start at the east entrance of the temple, and we will witness the traditional Aarti ceremony that is performed every evening at dusk. The experience wonderfully highlights local culture and religion, in an effort by the participants to find peace. Note: *Non-Hindus are not allowed to enter the Temple’s main sanctum area, but they can witness the ceremony from outside. *The beginning time of the ceremony is not precise. It depends on the number of people, temple festivals and the movements of Hindu's astrological constellations.

Dress Code:
* Full pants and shirt with sleeves is required. People wearing Half pants/ sleeveless shirts are not allowed inside the temple.
* Cigarettes, lighters, match boxes, tobacco, chewing gum, cosmetic items are not allowed to take into the temple. Water bottle, purse and small hand bag are allowed to take into the temple.
* Photography/videography is prohibited inside the temple premises.

Exclusions:
* Entrance fee for the Temple
* Tipping for the guide


Any Questions/Assistance:

Please fill this form and send to us and I will reply within Four Hours!

https://surveyheart.com/form/641d3da03444cb080e450b7d


Thank you!

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Highlights

What will we visit on this tour?

  • Meeting point:
    S Chitrai St, Valaiyal Kadai, Madurai...
    S Chitrai St, Valaiyal Kadai, Madurai Main, Madurai, Tamil Nadu 625001, India
    View on map

    SPS TIFFINS, (Near South Entrance of Meenakshi Temple) S Chitrai St, Valaiyal Kadai, Madurai Main, Madurai, Tamil Nadu 625001 Map : https://maps.app.goo.gl/tBMn3dcLQUgEet47A

  • 1
    Outside visit
    Amman Sannathi
  • 2
    Outside visit
    Swamy Sannathi Lane
  • 3
    Outside visit
    Golden Lotus Pond
  • 4
    Outside visit
    Pudhu Mandapam
  • 5
    Outside visit
    Meenakshi Amman Temple

How much does this tour cost?

Free tours do not have a set price, instead, each person gives the guru at the end of the tour the amount that he or she considers appropriate (these usually range from €10 to $50 depending on satisfaction with the tour).

Tour opinions

10 ratings
5.0
By category
Professionalism
5.0
Fun
4.75
Expression
4.75
Quality
4.71
Route
5.0
Generic
5 stars
10
4 stars
0
3 stars
0
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1 star
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Ninon 19 Apr 2024

Verified booking
Travelled in group - Apr 2024
Dit is een top guru gids. We hielden van zijn passie en kennis waarmee hij 3 Belgische toeristen meedroeg in het verhaal van deze ceremonie van 'het naar bed brengen van de goden' tijdens het bezoek aan de Meenakschi tempel in Madurai. Hij contacteerde ons ook om de afspraak praktische vast te leggen en begeleide ons vanaf het hotel en weer terug. Moe maar voldaan, deze uitstap is zeker een aanrader. Grtz 3 toeristen van België
Ria 28 Oct 2023
Sydney

Verified booking
Travelled alone - Oct 2023
The evening ceremony tour was an incredible experience! Dhanabalan explained everything that was happening and made sure I was always in the right place to see everything that was happening. I highly recommend taking the tour with him so you can really get the most out of this amazing event.
Sara 18 Oct 2023
Lido di Jesolo

Verified booking
Travelled alone - Oct 2023
One of the thing you must do in Madurai! Dhanabalan knows very well the temple and can explain a lot about the Tamil culture and religion. Very worthy experience
Jeremy 17 Oct 2023

Verified booking
Travelled in couple - Oct 2023
La visite avec Dhanabalan était très intéressante et nous avons appris énormément de choses. Il a répondu à l'ensemble de nos questions et a pris le temps pour que tout le monde comprenne les explications.
Sneha 10 Oct 2023
Pune

Verified booking
Travelled in couple - Sep 2023
The experience was very enriching. Got very good information from the guide.
Show 10 reviews

Who is this tour for?

Accessibility
Non suitable for people with reduced mobility.
Groups
Does not accept large group reservations.
Pets
Not suitable for pets.

What should you know?

Minimum of attendees
There is no minimum number of people required for the tour.
Additional costs:
The tour requires the payment of entrance fees or additional expenses.
Free cancellation
If you will not be able to attend the tour, please cancel your booking, otherwise the guide will be waiting for you.
Payment methods
Only cash payment is accepted.
When do you want to go?
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