Alagar Kovil, 21 kilometres north-east of Madurai, is the home temple of Alagar (Vishnu) in the local tradition — and the place from which Alagar sets out each year during the Chithirai festival to attend his sister Meenakshi's wedding in the city. The temple sits at the foot of a sacred wooded hill and feels much more rural and quiet than the great urban temples.
Combine it with a visit to Pazhamudhircholai, a Murugan temple higher up on the same hill, and the small waterfalls in the surrounding forest. Bring a packed lunch and you can easily spend half a day here.