GOC Holidaymaker Holidays to Chettinad
CHETTINAD is a region between Thanjavur and Madurai which is famous for its mansions. About 10000 of these are located in the surrounding villages, built by the very rich and successful Chettinad merchants during the last 150 years of the British rule. Most of the mansions are designed with a central courtyard, and built with exotic timbers, decorations, and jewels, often from Burma.
Nearby Karaikkudi has many antique and architectural salvage shops, supplied by the many demolished mansions. However many of the mansions are now being made into beautiful guest houses and hotels. The area is ideal for cycling, being flat and having many interesting locations nearby.
Chettinad is also famous for its spicy food
Chettinad has an amazing variety of houses and mansions. These are covered with marble and Burma teak, with central courtyards with rooms off. Some have a second story with a balcony all round the open courtyard. The walls were coated with a plaster made out of egg whites to give a smooth finish. Many of the new hotels converted from mansions are using these old techniques to restore to the original state.
Chettinad has many picturesque villages with huge mansions, built in the 1850-1950 period by the rich merchants, some of which are ruins. There is a station and palace used by the Raja of Chettinad, and other sites nearby. These include Thirumayam Fort and the open air temple at Illangudi, with an avenue of Ayyanar Horses. In the nearby town of Karaikkudi, the antique shops are colourful and interesting.
This area is quite flat, and although some of the roads are rough, it is good cycling country. This is an ideal way to see the villages, which are not too far apart. Arrangements can be made to hire cycles by the day.
Nearby Karaikkudi has many antique and architectural salvage shops, supplied by the many demolished mansions. However many of the mansions are now being made into beautiful guest houses and hotels. The area is ideal for cycling, being flat and having many interesting locations nearby.
Chettinad is also famous for its spicy food
CHETTINAD ARCHITECTURE
Chettinad has an amazing variety of houses and mansions. These are covered with marble and Burma teak, with central courtyards with rooms off. Some have a second story with a balcony all round the open courtyard. The walls were coated with a plaster made out of egg whites to give a smooth finish. Many of the new hotels converted from mansions are using these old techniques to restore to the original state.
CHETTINAD SIGHTS AYYANAR TEMPLE
Chettinad has many picturesque villages with huge mansions, built in the 1850-1950 period by the rich merchants, some of which are ruins. There is a station and palace used by the Raja of Chettinad, and other sites nearby. These include Thirumayam Fort and the open air temple at Illangudi, with an avenue of Ayyanar Horses. In the nearby town of Karaikkudi, the antique shops are colourful and interesting.
CHETTINAD CYCLING
This area is quite flat, and although some of the roads are rough, it is good cycling country. This is an ideal way to see the villages, which are not too far apart. Arrangements can be made to hire cycles by the day.