| Weekend Getaways | Services | |||||||||||||||||
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| Introduction | ||||
| State | Tamilnadu |
| City | Tamilnadu |
| Airports | Madurai Airport |
| Distance from Airport | 90 km |
| Railway Junctions | Karaikudi 100 km |
| Local Languages | Tamil |
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Chettinad Houses Chettinad, rich in cultural heritage, art and architecture, is well known for its houses, that are embellished with marble and Burma teak. The houses have wide inner courtyards and spacious rooms. The grandly and wonderfully embellished houses were created reflect the prosperity of the Nagarathar community. The basic design comprises of a "thinnai" which is an enclosed courtyard and this is surrounded by family rooms. The walls are smooth and are made of special plaster. The plaster involves the application of the finely ground mixture of powdered shell, lime, jaggery and spices, including gallnut (myrobalan), to walls. This technique keeps the interior of the house cool during the hot and humid Indian summers and lasts a lifetime. The architectural structure of a typical Chettiar home is a study in how a human dwelling can be constructed in harmony with nature. High ceilings, airy and well ventilated, the house has one courtyard near the entrance leads to the imposing main door, usually made of wood with extraordinarily intricate carvings of mythological figures. The thinnai is a long narrow raised platform that serves as a meeting place and also as a kind of accomodation for travellers and visitors. The inner courtyard has special significance. It is lined with classically beautiful pillars made out of granite or teakwood. The courtyard serves as the venue for the many ceremonies that the community performs from births to weddings to death. Deliciously Chettinad
Among the various South Indian food varieties, the Chettinad style holds
a special place for food lovers. Chettinad's food culture provides
varieties for both vegetarians and nonvegetarians. Apart from usual and
familiar food items they have a list of peculiar snacks items that are
delicious and colourful enough to be a temptation to eat. Some of the
food items that are made by Nagarathars are the following: Ukkarai,
Kandarappam, Karupatti Paniyaram, Kavanarisi, Pal Paniyaram, Thenkuzhal
and Seepu seedai and many more.
Arts & Crafts The arts of Chettinad occupy a distinct position in South Indian folklore. Wood carving, silver embellishment, woven saris, palm-leaf baskets, gold jewellery, hand-made tiles, architectural styles, refined cuisine and egg plastering are among their more visible contributions to the wide-ranging repertoire of Indian arts and crafts. Chettinad baskets has a special attraction as they have intricate patterns made with date-palm leaves. These patterns are as fine as the embroidery and are the specialty of the Chettiar community. As the house they live emphasise the lifestyle that is larger than life, so does the Chettinad weddings. Earlier it was a week in duration which in course time has now shrunk to three days. The hospitality, the jewels for bride and bridegroom, the food varieties, are all special to the occasion. Generally they conduct the weddings in their own houses. The Nagarathars have the custom of tying the kalzutheeru as the mangalasutra or the thali, which is made of gold and covered with diamonds. The pedant in the thali represents the house and the red spot the holy KumKum
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Chettinad-
The Land of Heritage & Devotion It is a place that enchants and
enhances the soul. Chettinad is the homeland of the Nattukottai
Chettiars called the Nagarathars, are a prosperous banking and business
community. It is a tourist's paradise with a difference, and one which
certainly cannot be missed by the discerning tourist. A stray
thundershower adds to the charm of the place, churning up the red soil,
and filling up the temple tanks. The palatial mansions, makes Chettinad
a place of rare charm, and a must visit destination