Madurai Residency

I checked in late at night after a flight from Bhubaneswar via Hyderabad and Chennai. (Whew!)

The room was run-down; there was no real shower (much less a tub); I fought off mosquitoes; and the TV didn't work. The 24-hour restaurant was closed; in the morning it offered a pathetic breakfast.

Though I had paid for four (4) nights, I went looking for another hotel the next morning. By noon I was out of the Madurai Residency, never to return.

Directions: Lonely Planet identifies the hotel as being on "Market St." It's not: it's on Marret, a dirty, narrow, and crowded thoroughfare.

This is a mid-range hotel close to the train station and within easy and colorful walking distance of the Meenakshi Temple. The room was basic, a bit run down, and swarming with mosquitoes. (The good news is there was a guy with a tennis-racquet-looking-thing who came in and zapped very nearly all of them, and we were provided a plug-in repellant for the rest.) The rooftop restaurant was very nice – relaxed atmosphere with good service and good food, and a moonlight view of the temple complex. Included breakfast was nothing special, but adequate. The travel desk was helpful when someone was there. Internet time was on the expensive side, and there was only one station.

Overall “m’eh,” but the location was good, the manager was obviously making an effort to improve things, and service was more responsive than I’d expect in a mid-range place.

Hotels can be easily located near railway station in Madurai. Just a street off from the crowded market are lane full of hotels ranging from really cheap and awful to high priced AC hotels.

For low budget, you can get a descnet room with bathroom for Rs.160 double room. AC rooms can be double or triple the cost. Check the rate and room and decide for yourself.

Directions: Near Madurai Junction toward Meenakshi temple.