{"id":36963,"date":"2020-12-12T03:43:00","date_gmt":"2020-12-12T02:43:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/magikindia.com\/?p=36963"},"modified":"2020-12-14T09:22:28","modified_gmt":"2020-12-14T08:22:28","slug":"chettinad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/magikindia.com\/en\/chettinad\/","title":{"rendered":"Chettinad, the forgotten splendour of Tamil Nadu"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Chettinad must be the most surprising part of Tamil Nadu. In the 19th century, rich merchants, the “Chettiar<\/strong><\/strong>“, built palatial houses\u00a0here in a daring and harmonious blend of Eastern and Western styles. This is unique architecture with a charm of its own, inviting travellers to stop awhile for a taste of culture.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"Chettinad\"
One of the Chettinad palaces<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Chettinad is an area of 1550km\u00b2 in Sivagangai district in southern Tamil Nadu<\/a><\/strong>. It encompasses 73 villages, with Karaikudi as its capital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chettinad is the homeland of the Nattukottai Chettiar, a merchant community who in the 19th century prospered in trade and banking, their business reaching right across Southeast Asia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Chettinad\"
Painting of a Chettiar merchant<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Chettiars displayed their wealth in the form of splendid little palaces. There are about 10,000 of these dotted around Chettinad. Most are in a state of neglect; only about a dozen can be visited and some have been converted into bijou hotels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Chettinad\"
Another palace of Chettinad<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Architecture of the Palaces<\/strong> of Chettinad<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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\"Chettinad\"
The “thinnai” at the entrance of traditional Tamil Nadu houses, used for social functions<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

These houses were all built on the same model and according to the rules of vastu shastra<\/em>, the traditional Indian science of architecture. But the Chettiars incorporated various influences they had brought home from their constant travels. The result is a very particular architectural style and atmosphere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Chettinad\"
Entrance to the main courtyard (H\u00f4tel Saratha Vilas)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On the ground floor, generally, the architecture of the Chettinad palaces is typically Tamil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The front of traditional Tamil Nadu houses always features a “thinnai”, that is, a raised street veranda used for social functions. The front door opens onto a large hall or \/ and a large courtyard with a pluvarium in its center. The bedrooms and different rooms are distributed all around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Chettinad\"
In the center of the main courtyard there is a pluvarium surrounded by the different rooms of the house (Hotel Saratha Vilas)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

On the upper floors, the Chettinad mansions display Western architectural <\/a><\/strong>elements illustrated by colonnades, cornices, balustrades, stained glass, Gothic windows, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Chettinad\"
On the upper floors, western elements have been added such as colonnades, cornices and balustrades.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The building materials, decoration and furniture were mostly imported from East Asia or Europe : Crystal chandeliers from Belgium, ceramics from Japan, marble from Italy, teak wood from Burma, among others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Chettinad\"
The main hall of the charming Saratha Vilas hotel, tastefully restored<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

World War II destroyed the Chettiars’ business economy. Many emigrated to Sri Lanka, Burma or Malaysia in search of new business prospects. Chettinad fell into obscurity, and few have been interested in investing to restore the past splendour of these homes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Chettinad\"
The swing, a typical element of traditional Tamil Nadu houses<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

However, French architects Michel Adment and Bernard Dragon have taken up the challenge. In 2010 they tastefully restored the former home of Subramanian Chettiar, turning it into a boutique hotel called Saratha Vilas<\/a>. They have also founded an association called ARCHE-S, whose aim is to preserve and promote the natural and cultural heritage of the Chettinad region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let’s hope that the region can work its charms on the authorities so that these forgotten palaces will at last be internationally recognised and protected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Chettinad\"
Another Chettinad palace with its Gothic style on the second floor<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Other attractions<\/strong> in Chettinad<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Sari weaving workshop in Kadiapatti<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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The Kandaagi saree workshop<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Chettinad saris, or Kandaangi saris, are famed for their extensive use of colours, contrasting tints and patterns stripes. They tend to be thicker and more durable than many saris. They used to be wound round the body without any other garment. Originally they were shorter in lengh with the deliberate aim was to let the women show off their ankle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Hand-woven cotton sarees from Chettinad | Photo : www.chettinadhandloom.com<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Ayyanar temples<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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The smiling horses of the temples dedicated to Ayyanar<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

While visiting the Chettinad region, you will surely come across these friendly smiling terracotta horses; they are traditional votive offerings in Ayyanar temples. Ayyanar is the god who protects the villagers against agricultural calamities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Row of horses around one of Ayyanar’s temples in Chettinad<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Athangudi glazed tiles<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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The traditional tiles that pave the palaces of Chettinad<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Attangudi or Athangudi is a small Chettinad village famous for the decorative tiles manufactured there. They are handmade and painted with traditional patterns. They were used to decorate the Chettiar palaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Chettinad cooking<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Pepper Chicken with Spices (Milagu Masala Kozhi), typical cookery from Chettinad | Photo: Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Chettinad is also famous as the home of South India’s spiciest and most aromatic food. It uses a wide range of freshly-ground spices. This is non-vegetarian cuisine<\/a>, making ample use of fish, seafood, chicken and mutton. Most dishes are accompanied with rice, dosas, appams, idiyappams or idlis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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