Vedanta Wake Up – Arapalayam Bus Stand in Madurai

The Hostelz.com Review

Vedanta Wake Up - Arapalayam Bus Stand might be the only hostel in Madurai we found. But with no competition around, the price is still good and the staff are extremely kind, attentive, and generous. This place is highly recommended!

The Location

The hostel is pretty conveniently located near the Arapalayam Bus Stand, which is a good reference if you're going to ask locals for directions. To get here from the airport it either takes two buses or a taxi ride. Around the city, most of the tourist attractions, such as the big temple and the Gandhi Museum, are accessible even by foot (although a lot of walking is required). The train station is also a few kilometers away. There are lots of food options in the area and plenty of ATMs. Overall, it's a very satisfying location!

Rooms and Bathrooms

The building is in pretty good condition, and the rooms are equipped with most important things, except that there are no lockers and not enough electric sockets. The beds are not entirely comfortable since the mattress is not actually one piece, but a few cushions -- but hey, at least we have a bed to sleep in. There's an air conditioner, which is more than we expected, since it's not too hot at night, but it's very handy during the day. The bathroom is en suite, which is great; however, it's very small, with not enough dry places to hang things, and in general the toilet isn't in great condition. Also, don't expect toilet paper. However, for Indian standards, it's still quite alright. On the other hand, there's hot water and great, strong pressure in the shower! That makes us very happy!

Common Spaces

The lobby has a dining area as well as a hang-out area with comfy sofas and huge floor pillows, and there is also a TV and a book exchange (the book choices are not bad!). You can easily spend hours here reading a book, watching football, or chit-chatting with the friendly staff. They will probably kindly teach you some local lingo! Also, great homemade food is available. We got a fantastic complementary dinner the night we arrived. There's great Wi-Fi working everywhere!

Summary

It's truly a place that makes you feel like home, even if you're far away from it. Although the facilities are not the best, when the staff are so warm and nice, not much else matters. It's very easy to make new friends if you're traveling alone, too.

Photos taken by the Hostelz.com reviewer — Genuine photos you can trust.