Samanar Hills, or Samanar Malai, are a rocky Jain heritage landscape west of Madurai. The hills hold caves, beds, inscriptions, and carved figures connected with Jain monks who lived and worshipped here long before the modern city spread outward.
The site is rougher and quieter than Madurai's great temple circuit, which is exactly why it is worth considering. Bring water, go outside the worst heat, and expect a short climb rather than a polished monument complex.