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No minimum number of attendeesNo minimum number of attendees is required for the tour
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Free booking and cancellationFree payment tour, no set price, booking and cancellation are free
Temple Evening Ceremony Tour
Hello! My name is Dhanabalan and I have been a tour guide in Madurai for the last Fourteen Years. I am specially passionate about the history of Madurai and different walks of life in the city I was born and raised in. I also enjoy meeting and learning from the people I meet whilst guiding. I pride myself on providing interesting and informative tours to my clients, and I really look forward to hearing from you and showing you the city. Do not hesitate to contact us if you would like to customize or personalize any tour. Please just ask, and we can create together the perfect trip for you combining any mixture of places in Madurai.
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
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Meeting point:24, S Chitrai St, Valaiyal Kadai, Mad...24, S Chitrai St, Valaiyal Kadai, Madurai Main, Madurai, Tamil Nadu 625001, India
Near A.V.Hr.Sec.Schooll,South Entrance of Meenakshi temple,Madurai.
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).