So I have gotten to know the north east part of Madurai pretty well because of outings with Indian and foreign trainees in the Aravind owned Inspiration hostel and Indian colleagues at Lions Aravind Institute of Community Ophthalmology (LAICO). I will just briefly discuss my three favorites but I have put all of the places I have been (including St. John's Methodist Church) on this google map.
Here is a picture of "Varsha from Kerala" and I, in my favorite place to shop Vishaal de Mall. Sometimes called "Max" after its major retailer, this mall is located in the Chockickulam neighborhood of Madurai. While some girls may enjoy all of the brand name stores (European, American and Indian) I most enjoyed the Reliance Digital Store. I also bought a pair of sandals from the Reliance shoe store. Reliance Industries owns a chain of small Reliance Fresh grocery stores throughout Madurai.
My favorite place to eat of the places on the google map is the tiny bakery Blaack Forest in K. K. Nagar. It certainly is "A Happening Place" at least, it seemed as if we were always blessed to find a table and some chairs just before a wave of families. After a long day of work, we would take a brisk walk in Sundaram Park (or Walker's Club) in the cooler 90F evening weather. Then we often found it convenient to wander across the street to Blaack Forest before taking an autorickshaw back to the hostel. The cakes, of course, are quite good. However, the chicken pizza (despite, or perhaps because of the spicy flavor) are extremely tasty and filling despite their small size.
My favorite place to see of the places on the google map is the Gandhi Museum. It is located in a beautiful building in the Gandhinagar neighborhood of Madurai. I enjoyed learning about the history of the Indian independence movement. The museum grounds are also home to other museums (natural history, etc) and an institute where one can earn a certificate or degree in Gandhian philosophy. The grounds are beautifully maintained and provide a serene environment for serious-minded study. Also present is a replica of Gandhi's final home that one can peer into.
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