Madurai before the Kumbabhishekam: A local’s guide

Ahead of the Meenakshi temple’s 2026 kumbabhishekam, take a deeper dive into Madurai’s food, crafts and history — discover the Saurashtrian heritage of its hand-made sungudi, the jasmine markets of Mattuthavani and Villapuram, the origins of jigarthanda, the evening buzz of Teppakulam, Nayak-era landmarks and some of the city’s best vadas.