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Maestro Jrnys

MasterChef Aruna's Madurai and Chettinad

A Culinary Trail

TRIP DATES

20 Dec 24 - 23 Dec 24

PRICE PER PERSON

$ 583

Overview Stay Itinerary FAQs

MasterChef Aruna's Madurai and Chettinad: A Culinary Trail

TRIP DATES

20 Dec 24-23 Dec 24

PRICE PER PERSON

$ 583

About this Jrny

Welcome to Tamil Nadu, the land of ancient temples, vibrant festivals, and irresistible food. Here to guide you on this culinary and cultural journey of exploration is Tamil Nadu’s own Aruna Vijay. Aruna is best known for her unique takes on vegetarian South Indian cuisine and leads this trip to reveal the secrets of vegetarian dishes in Madurai and Chettinad — way beyond dosas and idlis.

The adventure begins in Madurai, aka Thoonga Nagaram — the city that never sleeps. Madurai served as the capital city during the reign of the Pandyas and the city’s cultural heritage reflects its rich past. Although this is primarily a culinary trial, a trip to Madurai is incomplete without a visit to the iconic Meenakshi temple, a masterpiece of Dravidian architecture, and the Thirumalai Nayak Mahal.

Madurai’s cuisine is categorised by its bold flavours and unique spice blends, with influences from its Pandava heritage and past trade partners, the Saurashtrians. Paruthi paal, bun parotta, idiyappam, the deliciousness is endless. Madurai’s street food deserves a special mention. Aval kozhukattai, nanari sarbath, and the signature jigarthanda are sold on the streets, well into the night.

From here, we move to Karaikudi, the culinary capital of Chettinad cuisine. Chettinad cuisine is named after the region in Tamil Nadu it emerged from, in the community of the Nattukotai Chettiars, who were primarily vegetarian. Chettinad food started off as vegetarian but now includes a multitude of seafood and meat dishes. Featuring tomato and tamarind based tangy gravies, freshly ground masalas, and the secret ingredient of kalpasi, the food here always leaves us wanting more.

Join us on this journey through Madurai and Karaikudi, feasting on mouth watering delicacies and experiencing the awe-inspiring, vibrant heritage.

Highlights

Welcome dinner at the home of a Madurai local for a home cooked feast
Guided visits to the iconic Meenakshi Sundareswarar temple and Thirumalai Nayak Mahal
Street food tour of Madurai’s best snacks
Learn how Madurai’s signature textiles are made by Saurashtra weavers
Cooking class for authentic Chettinad food
Lunches at locals’ homes for traditional meals

Overview

Dates

20/12/24 - 23/12/24

Suggested Ages

Any

Duration

4 Days

Activity level

Moderate

Price per person

$ 583

Travel Style

comfort

Maximum Group size

Any

Itinerary

Fri 20 Dec

Arrive in Madurai

Sat 21 Dec

A day in Madurai

Sun 22 Dec

Madurai to Karaikudi

Mon 23 Dec

Karaikudi to Madurai & departure

Stay

CHECK IN 20 Dec

2 N

CHECK OUT 22 Dec

Grand Madurai by GRT Hotels

Madurai

CHECK IN 22 Dec

1 N

CHECK OUT 23 Dec

The Bangala

Chettinad

Your Daily Itinerary

Fri 20 Dec

Arrive in Madurai

Welcome to Madurai! Join us for a welcome briefing to meet Aruna and your fellow travellers. We will meet at the hotel lobby at 5pm. The evening is for unwinding and getting to know your travel companions. For dinner, you will head to the home of a Madurai local for a delectable meal of traditional dishes, a fitting introduction to the foods of Tamil Nadu.

Meals included: Dinner

Activities

Welcome briefing

17:00 - 18:30

Meet your Maestro MasterChef Aruna and your fellow travellers and engage in icebreaker activities to get to know each other well.

Welcome dinner in Madurai

19:30 - 21:30

Celebrate the beginning of this culinary adventure with a delicious welcome dinner at the home of a Madurai local.

Sat 21 Dec

A day in Madurai

Begin your day with an early morning visit to the majestic Meenakshi temple to take in the ancient Dravidian architecture and intricate sculptures. Next up, breakfast at a local restaurant to taste the flavours of Madurai for the most important meal of the day. Madurai idlis are famous for their fluffiness and should not be missed! After breakfast, you will head to the Thirumalai Nayakkar palace, a testament to the city’s royal history. Next is a visit to watch Madurai’s famous sungudis being woven. The Madurai Sungudi is a fabric native to the city, traditionally produced by the Saurashtrians who migrated here in the 17th century. Take a break for a soul-warming lunch, hosted at another local home and cooked with love. In the evening, you will explore the streets and markets of Madurai with Aruna for a tour of local eateries serving the most delicious street food and local desserts. Make sure you don’t miss the jigarthanda!

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Activities

Meenakshi temple visit

06:30 - 08:00

Take an early morning trip to the majestic Meenakshi temple for a taste of Dravidian architecture.

Local breakfast

08:00 - 09:30

Visit a local restaurant for a typical Madurai breakfast, recharge for the day ahead.

Thirumalai Nayakkar Palace visit

09:30 - 11:00

Explore the Thirumalai Nayakkar palace, a testament to Madurai’s royal Nayaka heritage.

Saurashtra weavers visit

11:00 - 12:30

Stop by to watch how Madurai’s famous textiles are handcrafted by Saurashtra weavers and do a spot of shopping.

Lunch at local home

12:30 - 14:00

Head to a Madurai local’s home for a delicious, home cooked lunch after a morning of sightseeing,

Madurai street food tour

18:30 - 20:30

Time for the main event, the street food of Madurai. Visit local eateries and markets, sampling all the deliciousness the city has to offer.

Sun 22 Dec

Madurai to Karaikudi

Begin your day bright and early with a visit to Madurai’s bustling vegetable market, admiring the variety of local produce and enthusiastic vendors. Gear up for the day with another delightful local breakfast, making sure to eat everything you couldn’t taste yesterday. Post breakfast, it’s time to head to Karaikudi. Sit back and enjoy the lush countryside whilst getting glimpses of rural life in Tamil Nadu. In Karaikudi, first on the agenda is lunch. You will be hosted at a local resident’s home for a lunch starring traditional Chettinad flavours. Eat like the locals and learn about their food culture. The afternoon is for a laid back experience, a bullock cart ride through the rustic landscapes of Karaikudi for some of that yesteryear charm. End the day with a cooking class led by Aruna at the Bangala homestay, where you’ll learn the secrets behind vegetarian Chettinad cuisine and how to replicate them at home. Feast on your creations for a sumptuous dinner amidst the warm ambience of this charming heritage home.

Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

Activities

Madurai market visit & breakfast

08:00 - 09:30

Stroll through the bustling vegetable market of Madurai and enjoy a local breakfast to start the day.

Madurai to Karaikudi

09:30 - 12:30

The drive from Madurai to Karaikudi takes around 2 hours. Sit back, relax and enjoy the countryscapes.

Lunch at local residence

12:30 - 14:00

Sit down for a delicious home cooked lunch, championing the flavours of Chettinad cooking.

Bullock cart ride through Karaikudi

14:00 - 15:30

Explore Karaikudi via traditional transport, experiencing some yesteryear charm.

Cooking class & dinner

18:00 - 21:00

Participate in a hands-on cooking class, learning how to replicate Chettinad’s bold flavours before savouring your creations for dinner.

Mon 23 Dec

Karaikudi to Madurai & departure

After a satisfying breakfast, bid farewell to Karaikudi as you journey back to Madurai, where your exploration began. Arriving in Madurai, you'll be seamlessly dropped off at the airport or railway station, concluding your memorable trip with ease and convenience.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Karaikudi to Madurai & departure - Day 4 image

Activities

Breakfast & transfer to Madurai

08:00 - 12:00

Enjoy a final breakfast in Karaikudi before heading back to Madurai. You will be dropped off to the airport or railway station depending on your mode of travel.

Frequently Asked Questions

This trip is for you if:

You are passionate about the culinary and cultural heritage of a place and are keen to explore them beyond the typical tourist trail.

You’ve always wanted to experience a place through the eyes of a local.

You geek out on local cuisines and are always on the lookout to try new, lesser-known dishes.

You are curious about the people who grow and cook your food.

You are excited to forge meaningful connections with like-minded travellers, who share the same passion for conscious and sustainable travel.

You are open to getting your hands dirty while on the adventure!

No, the trip cost does not include travel to and from Madurai. Please book your flights in order to arrive at Madurai (Airport code IXM) on day 1 before 17:00.

The tour starts and ends in Madurai. You should fly to Madurai International Airport (Airport code IXM).

No, the tour starts at the hotel at 5pm on 17 Oct. We will meet at the hotel lobby.

Your first activity is scheduled for 5:00 pm on Day 1. Try to be in the hotel lobby by 16:45.

We will arrive in Madurai from Karaikudi around 13:30 on Day 4. You can plan your departure from the airport or railway station with a few hours of buffer time for unexpected delays.

Yes! Many of our travellers arrive solo since our trips provide an opportunity to meet and share experiences with like-minded people. We normally pair up solo travellers for accommodation, but you can request a single room for an additional cost.

Anyone over the age of 12 is welcome on this trip. However, anyone under the age of 17 must be accompanied by an adult.

Yes, this is a vegetarian tour! All included meals will be vegetarian

We will try to accommodate your dietary restrictions as much as we can but this being a culinary tour focussed on regional cuisine, there may be some limitations. Please write to us at [email protected] with booking number and restrictions after booking the trip.

Sorry, this trip might not be for you. We endeavour to introduce people to local culture and regional food experiences are a big part of that.

Overall for the tour on a scale from 1 - 5, a fitness level of 2 would be ideal for this trip since we will be doing some walking.

Please refer to the itinerary for any long drives, they are mentioned in the daily activities.

Tamil Nadu tends to be warm and humid throughout the year. Please carry lightweight, breathable clothing. Take a look at the weather forecast before travelling incase of rain.