Chettinad

Homeland of Nattukottai Chettairs, this town in Tamil Nadu is home to some extravagant palaces that were built to keep the wealth of these professional businessmen safe. While the clan seems to have moved out during the Second World War, today this town is a thriving tourist paradise that must not be missed.

Exploring the Charming Chettinad
Most famous for its houses, architecture and art the charm of this place is further enhanced with its unpredictable yet manageable thundershowers which fill up the temple tanks and churn up the fragrance of the red soil.

The houses her are embellished gorgeous Burma teak and marble that comes together to create a grand environment. The basic design comes with a thinnai, which is essentially a courtyard that is enclosed with family rooms on 4 sides. Built with the help of plaster that is mized with spices, lime, powdered shell and jaggery, these homes are able to keep the interiors cool even during the summer months.

Chettinad like the rest of the state is known for its humble and friendly people. Explore the fabulous homes and structures of this gorgeous town to gain insight into the traditional way of life in South India.

Chettinad Mansions Tour

The Chettinad region is very interesting. The Chettiars are believed to have had a pivotal role in the Chola Empire. They dominated the coastal business as salt merchants, chandliers and gem dealers.

The whole community shifted to Pandya Kingdom in 13th century when the king abducted a Chettiar girl for his wife. They settled 4 villages about 25 km to the west of Karaikudi, which later on expanded to 96.

The community earned good profit by trading with the South-east Asian countries. They built huge mansions with the money they made, but the number of villages reduced as the countries with which they were into trade gained independence and many Chettiars had to move away. The leftovers were some lavish huge mansions, which you can see in the villages even today. Chettinadu Palace is one of them where quality and opulence of workmanship can be clearly seen. It has brightly coloured floor tiles, Burma teak pillars and walls plastered with jaggery and egg shell.