Latest Announcement
Dear Madurai Ultra Runners!!
The BIB distribution on Saturday (7-Dec-2024) will begin around 4:00 PM, followed by the Race Directors briefing session and cultural activities at 5:00 PM. Everything will wrap up by 6:00 PM. We recommend arriving in the afternoon to make the most of your visit. Kadambavanam is well-known for its delicious food (both veg and non-veg options), so you could even plan to have lunch there.
For more details, feel free to contact them at +91 9500954094.
The Madurai Ultra on Sunday starts at 6:30 AM for all runners. We kindly request everyone to arrive by 5:45 AM to enjoy a mini pre-run breakfast with coffee or tea before you begin.
While you can run anywhere, the unique blend of endurance, nature, and culture is what sets Madurai Ultra apart. This race is designed to help you take a break from the daily grind, soak in the beauty of nature in this part of North Madurai, and experience the farms/village neighbourhood of Madurai. The cultural performances you’ll witness are rare and usually seen only on TV or online—a one-of-a-kind experience!
Don’t forget to pack your swimming gear (trunks and caps) to enjoy a refreshing swim on Saturday or after your run on Sunday.
For any additional details, please click open the FAQs section below.
Questions? please write to info@maduraiultra.com or interact with the Race Director on the WhatsApp group created for Madurai Ultra runners.
Cheers & Happy Running,
Coach Kay, Founder & Race Director, Madurai Ultra
What is the idea behind Madurai Ultra?
CII Madurai Zone is proud to support the Madurai Ultra Marathon as part of its efforts to boost tourism and promote the city’s rich cultural and historical attractions. By supporting this event, CII aims to attract both national and international participants, helping to elevate Madurai’s growing reputation as a destination for sports tourism. This event will also provide an opportunity to showcase iconic landmarks such as Kadambavanam, where the marathon is held, adding an ethnic touch for the runners. Other key attractions, including the Meenakshi Amman Temple and Thirumalai Nayakkar Palace, will captivate newcomers.
The marathon will serve as a platform to enhance local infrastructure, engage the community, and create economic opportunities for businesses in the hospitality and tourism sectors. Through this initiative, CII is committed to promoting sustainable tourism practices, ensuring that Madurai benefits from increased visibility, visitor engagement, and long-term growth as a premier tourist destination.” – CII Southern Region
Madurai Ultra (an ITRA certified trail race) is organized by KaysFIT Academy, gearing up for its inaugural edition, and registration is now open and offers four exciting distance categories for runners of all levels
Who is the organizer of Madurai Ultra?
Madurai Ultra is proudly brought to you by KaysFIT Academy (learn more), the organizers of OOTYULTRA and Bison Ultra, with Coach Kay, High-Performance Endurance Coach and Race Director. Learn more about Coach Kay.
What is the idea behind Madurai Ultra? Who is this race for?
Participating in races isn’t always about chasing personal bests or setting records. Sometimes, it’s about stepping back, soaking in the beauty of nature, embracing the local culture, savouring the food, and truly enjoying the essence of running. It’s about experiencing the journey, not just the finish line. Madurai Ultra aims to achieve this. This race is perfect for those who love to travel, run, immerse themselves in nature, embrace new cultures, and discover fresh meaning in their adventures. It’s ideal for those travelling with family, friends, or running buddies who enjoy making some noise and celebrating life together.
When is the Inaugural Edition of Madurai Ultra? What is the race Start Time?
The inaugural edition is scheduled for Sunday, 8th December 2024.
The start time for all race categories is 6:30 AM. Please be sure to look out for more instructions during the week leading up to the race.
Where is Madurai Ultra? Is it a trail race? is Madurai Ultra ITRA certified?
Madurai Ultra is a trail race that runs through remote villages north of Madurai, near Natham (நத்தம்). Madurai Ultra will be hosted at the Kadambavanam Ethnic Resort.
Most sections of the Madurai Ultra take runners through mild rolling hill trails and farm fields, passing through mango and coconut plantations. The first edition of the Madurai Ultra will be conducted on a 15 km loop.
Madurai Ultra will be a ITRA certified trail race currently pending verification (View ITRA website)
What are the distance categories & elevation profile?
Madurai Ultra 2024 will have 60k, 45k, 30k and 15k distances.
| Distance * | Elevation Gain (m) | Elevation Loss (m) | Time Cut off |
| 60k | 744 | 744 | 9:00:00 |
| 45k | 558 | 558 | 7:00:00 |
| 30k | 372 | 372 | 5:00:00 |
| 15k | 186 | 186 | No Cutoff |
* The distance mentioned is approx; all runners will run a ~15k loop out and back from the start point
The actual route map will be made available on the ITRA website after the approval (view Madurai Ultra on ITRA page)
How many aid-stations are there?
| Location | Approx Distance (km) |
| Start | 0 |
| Kannatti Malai | 4 |
| Paraipatti | 7 |
| Kodangipatti (Only hydration) | 9 |
| Mangathoppu | 12 |
| 15k – Finish | 15 |
| Kannatti Malai | 19 |
| Paraipatti | 22 |
| Kodangipatti (Only hydration) | 24 |
| Mangathoppu | 27 |
| 30k – Finish | 30 |
| Kannatti Malai | 34 |
| Paraipatti | 37 |
| Kodangipatti (Only hydration) | 39 |
| Mangathoppu | 42 |
| 45k – Finish | 45 |
| Kannatti Malai | 49 |
| Paraipatti | 52 |
| Kodangipatti (Only hydration) | 54 |
| Mangathoppu | 57 |
| 60k – Finish | 60 |
What is the registration fees? and what does that entail?
Please scroll down to the bottom of the page to see the registration fees.
- The registration fee guarantees your participation in the race if you meet the qualification requirements (15k & 30k don’t have a minimum qualification)
- Madurai Ultra finishers will get a finisher medal within the cut-off time set (all 30k and 15k finishers will receive the custom finisher Madurai Ultra race Mascot (the Pikalkuthirai (the horse)), provided they legally complete the course.
- All runners will get an event Souvenir T-shirt (registered on or before 3-Dec) – we may make arrangements to send it to you post race if you are registering after this deadline. We will ask you to bear the additional cost of sending it to your house address.
- All runners will get a post-run vegetarian breakfast.
- Event day photos will be shared with you through our photo aggregation partner, OneGlint, at an additional cost of Rs. 199/- for downloading all your photos one week after the race.
Where can I stay if I'm coming from outside Madurai?
Place of stay
The Kadambavanam Ethnic Resort, where the Madurai Ultra is hosted, is beautiful. We highly recommend that runners choose this as their place of stay. Scroll down to Book your Accommodation at Kadambavanam
Madurai city is about 35-40 minutes away (~25 km via the Natham Flyover), and we strongly recommend that those coming from Madurai bring their vehicle, as public transportation is not an option. If you stay at the resort, it will be easy to attend the Expo on Saturday (which will also be held at the same location) and get to the race venue on Sunday morning.
Kadambavanam Ethnic Resort offers luxury rooms on a 3-person sharing basis, where you can relax, stretch, and enjoy the property. You’ll have access to authentic cuisine, known for its rich aromas and flavours. You can also dip in the swimming pool for a light swim on Saturday or a relaxing dip after the race on Sunday.
The #ultramalaivasi Expo will be conducted at the same venue on Saturday. You won’t need to worry about travelling back and forth if you stay here.
- You can also stay at the Courtyard by Marriot, Madurai
Premium room single/double : INR 7000/7500+taxes (12%) per room per night which includes breakfast & WIFI) Call this number and quote you are a Madurai Ultra runner to receive this offer +91 452-4244555
See the Accommodation Options section below to learn about your check-in and check-out times at the Kadambavanam Ethnic Resorts.
“Kadambavanam Cuisine celebrates traditional Tamil flavours rooted in the region’s rich culinary heritage. The menu emphasizes authenticity using locally sourced, seasonal ingredients and time-honoured cooking methods, such as slow cooking in clay pots. Both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes are meticulously prepared to highlight Tamil Nadu’s diverse palate, with staples like rice, lentils, and various aromatic spices. Each dish balances a harmony of textures and tastes, offering a sensory journey through the traditional heart of Tamil cuisine” (source: Kadambavanam Cuisine)
- Visit the Travel page to learn more about how to reach the race venue
- There are around 15 rooms available (3 runners staying on a first-come-first basis) for Madurai Ultra runners at the Kadambavanam Ethnic Resort (Start & Finish point for the race).
- If you travel from outside Madurai, you can stay at other properties of your choice in Madurai and nearby areas.
- Local runners participating in Madurai Ultra from Madurai City can travel to the resort on Expo Day and Race Day using their own transportation.
- Suppose you stay at the Kadambavanam Ethnic Resort. In that case, your accommodation includes a single-night stay + three meals, including the Expo Night Dinner, Post Run Breakfast and the Ethnic Gala Lunch on Sunday post-race (see Table 1 below). You also have the option to stay there for extra nights, before or after your race.
- Madurai Ultra organising crew or anyone from KaysFIT Academy does not interfere with the room allocation process.
- All runners must comply with the Kadambavanam Ethnic Resorts registration and entry rules & terms and conditions, participation rules
Table 1: Food Arrangements at Madurai Ultra
| Runner Type | Accommodation | Saturday High Tea | Saturday Dinner | Sunday Post-Run Breakfast | Sunday Lunch* |
| 30k or 15k | At Resort | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| 60k or 45k | At Resort | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| 30k or 15k | Not at Resort | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✔️ | ✖️ |
| 60k or 45k | Not at Resort | ✖️ | ✖️ | ✔️ | ✖️ |
| ✔️ Dinner or lunch coupons are available for purchase at the resort | |||||