AVMS

MANSIONS OF CHETTINADU

Having been forced to abandon their establishments in the port city of kaveripopattinam around the 13th century, a versatile and successful trading community, at the invitation of the Pandya rulers,came to settle in this arid land in the current Sivaganga district.

This area in time came to be known as “CHETTINAD” and the settlors as “NAGARATHARS OR NATTUKOTTAI CHETTIARS”. This community flourished in their trading activities and by the 1800’s their reach had gone as far as Varanasi, Allahabad, Calcutta etc.

Later with the expansion of British colonies into Ceylon, Burma, Malaya, Singapore etc, the Chettiars followed and played a major role in financing the economic development of these regions. In the process much wealth was created which enabled them to fund their joint family homes in chettinadu, which were built to astonishing scales, styles and skills.

Sadly, the economic forces are now adverse and the burden of maintaining these magnificent homes no longer sustainable. Leading to the destruction and decay of a very large number of such homes. A local chettiar family, known as the MSMM family in Karaikudi, observing the destruction and decay of the mansions around them and also sensing the potential for tourism, set up a Heritage hotel on an ancestral property, known as The Bangala. They hoped that with the advent of tourism, the mansions would get a new lease of life. Today Chettinad is a humming tourist destination, the mansions in better shape and The Bangala a well-known Heritage Hotel, that put Chettinad cuisine on the map and is also regarded as the ultimate destination for Chettinad cuisine

ARCHITECTURE & PLANNING

The Chettiars, settling in a hot and semi-arid region, meticulously considered the climate when designing villages, constructing grand homes, and selecting materials. This resulted in a unique landscape shaped by their vision of land-use planning.

Villages were arranged along north-south axes, featuring east-west plots. Homes were built around central courtyards that offered shade, light, coolness, and ventilation. Thick brick walls, lime plasters, terracotta tile roofing, marble and stone floors were used to suit the climate. Sloping roofs facilitated rainwater collection during the monsoon. Excess water was directed to village drainage systems and common ponds.

Chettiars engaged in significant earthwork to manage rainwater, utilizing traditional water management techniques. The landscape, near the Gulf of Mannar, alternates between lakes lined with trees, agricultural lands, forests, and sacred groves.

The house’s central courtyard served as the heart of rituals, akin to a temple sanctuary where events were officiated by Chief priests from the nine clan temples (each Chettiar belonging to one). Spaces in the house accommodated daily functions and special ceremonies.

NAGARATHAR TRADITION

The cooking area held importance, employing many cooks during celebrations. Chettiars curated a sophisticated cuisine, blending South Indian and international recipes due to their business ventures. IN addition to life-cycle traditions, temple and village festivals enriched Chettiar culture with an array of rituals throughout the Tamil year. The region boasts a vibrant craft industry producing architectural elements, wood carvings, bronze figures, wedding gifts like sarees and basket weavings, and jewelry.

How to Reach

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By Road

Karaikudi is accessible by road through a well-maintained network of highways and roads.The town is accessible via National Highway 383 and State Highway 34.

By Train

Karaikudi has its own railway station, known as Karaikkudi Junction (Station Code: KKDI), which is well-connected to major cities in Tamil Nadu and other parts of the country

By Air

The nearest major airport to Karaikudi is the Madurai Airport (IXM), located about 90 kilometers away.