The Meenakshi Temple continued to instill in me a sense of reverence and I felt lucky that I was able to have the ‘darshan’ of the deity in this lifetime. The heat of the afternoon sun was getting to me and I was hungry too. What better cuisine to have while in South India than the South Indian food. The appams, dosas and idlis were calling and I made way to the Murugan Idli Shop, quite popular in Madurai, for eating the yummiest food ever. The cuisine is very light and nutritious and it is always better to have it from a shop that serves it best. Hence, the outlet has been the favorite for all the locals and the tourists alike.
The interiors of the shop was a picture of humility much like the cuisine it served but the true essence was in the variety they offered and in the taste of the food. I had a long look at the menu card; there were so many dishes that I wished to sample but I obviously could not have had any more than my usual fill. Yet, I may have ordered more than what I could have because by the time all the food came, my table was full. It was a tad embarrassing but who cared, I was on vacation! I ate well, tucking in all the different varieties and loved the chutneys and the sambhar that they provided with the main course. It was by far the best meal that I have ever had while on a journey.
The Murugan Idli Shop, Madurai had evolved from a very small shop and now the firm has a chain of successful restaurants in many areas of Southern India. Much of their success is because of the consistency they provide in the food, the quality control and the taste which has been the same since years now. Very quickly then, I exited from the shop and hired a taxi to go to the American College, Madurai. I hoped that I would be on time to visit one of the oldest colleges in India.