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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
Guru:
Dhanabalan Perumal
Registered on September 17, 2019
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.
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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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View on mapMeeting 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).
Tour opinions
kanika
08 Aug 2023
Verified booking
Travelled in couple -
Aug 2023
Dhana really is the best guide I have ever had . He is a wealth of information and enthusiasm and tailored the tours to suit myself and my daughter . Nothing was rushed and he let us take our time
He also arranged a rickshaw tour around the back streets of Madurai and the outskirts to see how people really live .
He helped us find a local massage therapist and gave us advice in restaurants
He went out of his way to help us both during our tours and in between . Definitely book hun
Thank you Dhana
Nella
27 Nov 2022
Verified booking
Travelled in couple -
Nov 2022
Me and my friend really enjoyed the Temple Evening Ceremony Tour with Dhanabalan. He explained a lot about the cultural and spiritual meanings of the temple. Dhanabalan made sure that we had a good view of the ceremony inside the temple. It was very interesting and fun to do, a must during travel in Madurai!
Mona
13 Dec 2019
Meenakshi temple was always a dream for me and I was able to fulfill it today. But this visit to the temple would not have been as fulfilling and informative had I not signed up for the free walking tour with Dhanabalan!!!
Mr Dhanabalan took me and my husband for a evening ritual tour at the temple. We were simply amazed by his knowledge of even the minutest details. We were also impressed by his eagerness to explain any doubts we had. He was super informative and extremely humble. He went out of his way to ensure we got to see the ceremony from the most vintage point and I can't thank him enough for going above and beyond his job requirements to make sure we go back with the best experience .
Thank you from the bottom of my heart Dhanabalan. I will surely recommend anyone reading this review to do temple tour only with Dhanabalan.
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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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