Heart of Chettinad

TRIP | THE HEART OF CHETTINAD

Madurai (1) - Karaikudi (4) - Athoor (2) - Madurai

Blend in with the glorious past and the busy present of Madurai with its great temples that showcase architectural brilliance. Venture inside the cavernous Puthu Mandapam, a 17th century pillared entrance hall opposite the Meenakshi Temple's east tower, to find rows of tailors and stalls selling fabric, jewellery, and handicrafts.

In the heart of South India's Tamil Nadu, lies the colourful and extravagant mansions of the Chettiars - a prosperous trading community who made their fortunes in the 19th and early 20th century. Their huge mansions (some with over a hundred rooms!) are crumbling, but filled with Burmese teak, Italian marble and English iron. Slowly but surely, India is waking up to Chettinadu’s intricate heritage, and this 75-village web, centred on Karaikudi, is now home to some of South India’s most exquisite hotels. While here, explore the weekly markets called a santhai and shop for hand spun cotton fabrics, palmyra leaf baskets. Visit the loom at Mahalakshmi or local shops for the famous Chettinad sari – a striking combination of checks and stripes in bold colours, and stop at the tile manufacturing units at Athangudi and custom order your own handmade terracotta tiles. Browse for antiques and collectibles in Karaikudi at the Muneeswaran Koil Street.

Proceed to Athoor, a charming hamlet nestled in the foothills of the Western Ghats. Staying and visiting here offers the opportunity to see a slice of real rural Tamilnadu – the way that most of South India lives.

Deep in Tamil Nadu's sultry South, explore the gloriously extravagant mansions, food and lifestyle of Tamil Nadu’s wealthy 19th-century Chettiar traders, strewn across dusty, dark-ochre plains, like colour-bursting palaces straight out of a kids’ Eastern-themed storybook.

BEST TIME TO VISIT
August - March

IDEAL FOR
Couples & families

BASICS
7-nights; road-based

PRICES START FROM
INR 55,000 per person

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ITINERARY

DAY 1: ARRIVE MADURAI

Arrive in the morning from Chennai to Madurai, one of the oldest cities in South Asia. Go on a guided visit of Meenakshi-Sundareshwarar Temple, built to its current form in the 15th century AD. The massive gopuras (pagodas) of this vast temple complex, writhing with multi-coloured mythological figures and crowned by golden domes, remain the greatest man-made spectacle in South India.

DAY 2: DRIVE MADURAI - CHETTINAD

In the morning, go on a private guided-walk of Madurai as the history and culture of this wonderful and ancient city is uncovered by a local insider who has lived here for generations. Drive from Madurai to Karaikudi – the home to the Chettiars, a community of Tamil traders.

DAY 3: IN CHETTINAD

In the morning, take a guided visit to Karaikudi and Kanadukathan, visiting some of the palatial homes and mansions with a local Chettiar expert that gives you insights into legacy of this vibrant and prosperous community. Shop for the famous Chettinad sari at one of the local shops and also stop at a tile manufacturing unit at Athangudi.

DAY 4: IN CHETTINAD

Today, with your local expert, stop at an Ayyanar Temple famous for its terracotta horses, then visit the artisan village where these and other terracotta images are created. Explore one of the local weekly markets called a santhai. Shop for hand spun cotton fabrics, palmyra leaf baskets, and locally-grown food produce that comes from village farms. In the afternoon, visit a wood carving workshop, the home and studio of a renowned Tanjore artist, and the kitchens of a woman entrepreneur who turns out amazing savoury snacks.

DAY 5: IN CHETTINAD. DAY IN PUDUKOTTAI

Today, go on a full-day tour of the ancient Thondaiman kingdom, visiting cave temples and ancient Jain sites. Stop to see and lament the bare remains of some of India's most beautiful murals in Sittavasanal. Have lunch at a restored Chettinad palace, and climb the short distance to the ramparts of the Thirumayam Fort.

DAY 6: DRIVE CHETTINAD - ATHOOR

Located just over two hour’s drive from Chettinad, Athoor is a small village in the foothills of the Palani Range. Spend 2-nights here experiencing the way of life that is largely Tamil Nadu - an agrarian village community.