Home > Grand Madurai by GRT Hotels > GReaT Kathas

STORIES OF MADURAI, CRAFTED FOR YOUR STAY
AT GRAND MADURAI BY GRT HOTELS, EVERY CORNER HUMS WITH STORIES OF SANGAM POETS AND SPICE SELLERS, ROYAL ARCHES AND ROARING WATERFALLS, JASMINE GARLANDS AND JIGARTHANDA NIGHTS. EACH KATHA IS A CHAPTER OF THE CITY WAITING TO BE EXPLORED.
STEP IN AND CRAFT YOUR OWN GREAT KATHAS.
DIVINE DARSHAN KATHA
Temple Run 2.0 – Meenakshi’s Magic Hour
Goddess energy in technicolor
Meenakshi Amman Temple is a living epic with towers carved with gods, demons and dancers, halls echoing with devotion. Your guide reveals myths, miracles and Madurai’s soul.
Time: 5.00 AM – 12.00 PM & 4.00 PM – 8.00 PM
Price:INR 3,200 (Regular tour) | INR 3,400 (Special darshan) | INR 4,400 (Guided tour)
Madurai Mary
Gothic vibes, gentle grace
St. Mary’s Cathedral with pastel arches and rose windows is a serene 150-year-old sanctuary. Light a candle, wander its courtyards or simply pause in its stillness.
Time: 7.00 AM – 7.00 PM
Price: INR 3,200Up to 4 guests
FOODIE KATHA
Thattu Vibes Only
Madurai street feast trail
As night falls, Madurai’s thallu-vandi stalls light up. Taste bun parottas, spicy kothu, melt-in-your-mouth dosas and cool jigarthanda, all led by a local food guide.
Time: 5.00 PM – 10.30 PM
Price: INR 3,200Food & Beverage on actuals | Up to 4 guests
ARTISAN KATHA
Whisk It Real Good
No stress, just saute
Join our chef for a Madurai cooking masterclass learning from crisp dosas to tangy kuzhambu and chutneys ground fresh. Learn, laugh and taste your way through Tamil flavours.
Time: 4.00 PM – 5.00 PM
Price: INR 1,500Per guestMocktail, Not Mayhem
Zero proof. Maximum flair
Shake up your own Instagram-worthy mocktails with fruits, herbs and syrups. Make two signature drinks, be it floral, citrus or spicy and name them like a pro.
Time: 4.00 PM – 6.00 PM
Price: INR 1,200Per guestADVENTURE KATHA
Hill Yeah!
A classical evening on the water’s edge
Trek through Azhagar Hills and Pazhamudhircholai with our expert guide. Shrines, rare trees and serene corners line the way making this trail as sacred as it is scenic.
Time: 9.30 AM – 11.30 AM
Price: INR 15,000Up to 4 guests
HERITAGE KATHA
Metal Gods & Madras Tales
Where Time Sculpts and Silence Speaks
Explore the Government Museum with a private guide. Marvel at bronzes, relics and manuscripts that reveal South Indian artistry from Chola bronzes to Mughal miniatures. Visit the Children's Museum and the Modern Art Wing. Conclude your tour with a relaxing filter coffee break.
Time: 10:30 AM - 1:30 PM (Closed on Sunday afternoons)
Price: INR 3,500Up to 4 guests
Prices mentioned are for 3 hours. Additional charges: INR 99 per km or INR 800 per extra hour.
Fort Files and British Vibe
Where British East Meets the Indian Sun
Stroll at Fort St. George alongside a heritage expert. Visit the museum, St. Mary's Church and the hidden bastions. Listen to stories of treaties, trade and rebellion. Wrap up your experience with heritage tea in George Town.
Time: 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Price: INR 3,500Up to 4 guests
Prices mentioned are for 3 hours. Additional charges: INR 99 per km or INR 800 per extra hour.
WELLNESS KATHA
The Balance Within
Where Healing Meets Harmony
At Bodhi Prana, wellness is an act of love for yourself and those you cherish. Begin with a Five Elements Consultation rooted in Ayurveda and enhanced by modern therapies. Realign your body, mind and spirit under the guidance of our in-house doctors. Experience a journey that restores balance, renews energy and reveals that true health is the purest form of love
Time: 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Price: As per actuals
DISCOVERY KATHA
Canvas of the Coast
Where Chennai Breathes in Brushstrokes
Visit Cholamandal Artists' Village to explore galleries, sculpture spaces and working studios. Meet artists shaping modern Tamil expression and try a short demo yourself. Conclude with tea and snacks under the banyan trees.
Time: 2:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Price: INR 4,000Up to 4 guests
Prices mentioned are for 3 hours. Additional charges: INR 99 per km or INR 800 per extra hour.

HERITAGE KATHA
Diggin’ the Past
6th Century BCE but make it a field trip
Step into Keeladi, the archaeological site that rewinds Tamil history to the Sangam era. From etched pots and ancient graffiti to tools and relics, every find here proves that Tamils were urban, poetic and proud long before empires rose.
Time: 10.00 AM – 1.00 PM
Price: INR 2,200Up to 4 guestsPrices mentioned are for a 2-hour, 20-kilometre package.
Palace, Please
Drama, domes and light shows
Thirumalai Nayakkar Mahal is Madurai’s royal masterpiece with arches soaring, domes glinting and columns echoing with 17th-century grandeur.
Time: 9.00 AM – 5.00 PM
Price: INR 3,200Up to 4 guestsPrices mentioned are for a 3-hour, 30-kilometre package.
Charkha & Chill
Khadi, courage & country roads
At Tamukkam Palace, Gandhi’s legacy speaks through handwritten letters, black-and-white photographs and even the cloth he wore on his last day.
Time: 10.00 AM – 5.00 PM | Closed on Fridays
Price: INR 3,200Up to 4 guestsPrices mentioned are for a 3-hour, 30-kilometre package.

NATURE KATHA
Fall for It
Chill air, cool waters and zero Wi-Fi
Kutladampatti Falls is Madurai’s waterfall reset button with forest trails, chirping birds and cascading tiers.
Time: 10.00 AM – 5.00 PM
Price: INR 12,000Up to 4 guestsSISTERHOOD KATHA
Bend, Groove & Glow
Stretch, sway and slay the day
Begin with yoga for clarity then switch to zumba for pure fun. A wellness jam where fitness meets friendship and laughter is the playlist.
Time: 4.30 PM – 6.00 PM
Price: INR 1000per guest | Min. 4 guestsMalligai & Mangai – Flower Power Hour
Twist, string, bloom and bond
Sit with a flower artisan to learn hand-stringing jasmine garlands the old way. A cultural ritual turns into a fragrant memory with moms, daughters or friends.
Time: 6.30 PM – 7.30 PM
ComplimentaryLOVE KATHA
Pool Date = Cool Date
Love under the lanterns
A candlelit poolside cabana with a curated 4-course meal and music under the stars. Whether first date or anniversary, it's your private rom-com moment.
Time: 7.00 PM – 10.30 PM
Price: INR 6,000per couple
Spa-la-la Love
Rub, relax and reconnect
A 60-minute couple’s spa ritual with aromatic oils, intuitive massages and candlelit calm. Perfect to recharge after temple trails or simply reconnect in quiet luxury.
Time: 9.00 AM – 9.00 PM
Price: INR 12,000per coupleDISCOVERY KATHA
Frame It Like That
Where Madurai’s soul gets a canvas
At Andril Heritage Art Gallery, Tamil traditions meet modern brushstrokes in exhibits of oils, terracotta and regional crafts. Meet local artists, soak in creativity and leave with frames full of inspiration.
Time: 10.00 AM – 2.00 PM & 4.00 PM – 8.00 PM
Price: INR 2,200Up to 4 guests

NATIVE KATHA
Once Upon a Madurai
City secrets & soul stories
Follow Ms. Swarna through Madurai’s alleys, markets and facades, her storytelling weaving Sangam poetry with colonial echoes. Every step feels like drifting between past and present.
Time: 7.30 PM onwards
Price:INR 13,000 (2 guests) | INR 10,000 (4 guests)Spice Girls IRL – Market Run & Aroma Walk
Cardamom, cumin and cultural clout
East Masi Street brims with temple flowers, sunlit brassware and sacks of turmeric, cumin and chilli. A self-paced sensory trail where colours and aromas tell their own stories.
Time: 9.00 AM – 9.00 PM
Price: INR 2,100Articles as per actuals | Up to 4 guestsDam-n Good Views
Where breezes whisper and skies turn gold
The Vaigai Dam offers calm waters, banyan shade and birdsong just an hour away. Spread a mat, enjoy a deluxe picnic basket and watch sunset turn the skies into theatre.
Time: 10.00 AM – 6.00 PM
Price: INR 12,000Up to 4 guests
WELLNESS KATHA
Salutations to the Sun
Sunrise yoga & meditation
Start the day with Surya Namaskar, breathing and meditation guided by expert instructors. A morning ritual that aligns body, mind and soul.
Time: 7.00 AM – 9.00 AM & 4.00 PM – 6.00 PM
Price: INR 1,200Per guest | Min. 10 guestsTERMS & CONDITIONS
GREAT KATHAS BY GRT HOTELS & RESORTS
1. Bookings & Payments
- All experiences must be booked in advance through the hotel concierge, front desk, official website or designated partner platforms.
- Prices are inclusive of GST, taxes and service charges (unless otherwise specified).
- In cases of adverse weather, safety concerns or operational challenges, GRT Hotels & Resorts reserves the right to cancel or reschedule experiences. Guests will be offered either a full refund or the option to reschedule.
2. Experience Guidelines
- Some Kathas are weather-dependent and may be subject to last-minute changes.
- Guests are requested to inform the team of any medical conditions, mobility concerns or dietary restrictions at the time of booking.
- Children under 12 years must be accompanied by an adult unless the experience is explicitly marked as kid-friendly.
3. Conduct & Safety
- Guests are expected to behave responsibly and respectfully towards local traditions, guides, fellow participants and hotel staff.
4. Liability Waiver
- Participation in GReaT Kathas is at the guest’s own risk. While GRT Hotels & Resorts maintains the highest safety standards, the hotel will not be held liable for any injury, loss or damage incurred during or after the experience.
- Guests are responsible for safeguarding their personal belongings at all times.
5. Amendments
- GRT Hotels & Resorts reserves the right to modify, suspend or withdraw any GReaT Katha experience without prior notice due to operational requirements or external factors beyond the hotel’s control.