Chettinad

Places of Interest

Chettinad Houses

The Chettinad region is most popular and adored for its 18th century mansions, unique and ornamented palatial houses , with wide courtyards and spacious rooms embellished with marble and teak. Beautiful front court yard with wide and lengthy corridors on all four sides lined with ornamental pillars and antiques are a part of the Chettinad Houses. These palatial houses are found in the villages of Kaanadukathan, Aathangudi, Kandanur, Kad-iyapatti. Many of these mansions were built using a type of limestone known as karai hence they are also called as Karai[limestone] veedu. Local legend narrates that the mansion walls were polished with a paste made out of egg whites to give them a smooth and shiny texture.

Kaanadukathan

Kaanadukathan, is one of the best destinations to see the Chettinad Architecture. The streets of this town with houses built on a palatial scale are almost deserted. Each one of these houses are located on a large plot of land that spreads over 1.5 to 10 acres and has many as 1,000-1,500 windows consuming around 1500 tons of timber as wood work. Annamalai Chettiar’s Chettinad Palace built in 1912 [almost 113 years ago], is the best of its kind located in chettinad. The construction material, decorative items, and furnishings from East Asia and Europe ; Marble from Italy; Chandeliers and Teak from Myanmar; Crockery from Indonesia; Crystal and Wall-to-wall Mirrors from Europe find their presence in these palaces.

Since the maintenance of such Palaces costs lakhs of rupees a year, it is very sad to note that, of late , these antiquity master pieces are disappearing and are being demolished, built as smaller, compact and easily maintainable bungalows or houses.

Karaikudi

A location called so because of the presence of Karai [Lime stone] Veedu [houses] or Houses built with Lime stone. It is also called so because of the widely found plant called KARAI in this area. This is on the Tiruchi-Rameswaran Highway, in the Sivagangai District, located around 100 m above the Sea Level. Population of Karaikudi is 1,06,793 and the literacy is 90% on an average. Karaikudi administration was set up in 1928, upgraded in 1988. Kundrakudi Shanmuganathan Temple, Ariyakudi Thiruvengamudayan Temple and the Thirumayam Permual Temple are some prominent temples around the town. The foundation for Mother Tamil Temple, first of its kind was laid in 1975 and completed in 1993. Karaikudi is famous for its collection of KANDANGI cotton sarees. 25th July 1948 was the golden letter day for this desolate village in the Chettinad Region , that saw the rise of the prestigious CSIR - Central Electro Chemical Research Institute, initiated by Rm. Alagappa Chettiar, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Dr. Santhi Swaroop Bhatnagar. Foundation stone was laid by the Late Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru; while doing so, he said “… I believe by such undertakings and by yoking science to public good we can advance the lot of the people of India enormously”. This was dedicated to the nation on the 14th January, 1953 as the 12th such Laboratory under the banner of CSIR, by Dr. S.Radhakrishnan, the then president of India. The Institute has helped over 5000 research papers and has affiliated itself with the Anna University, to conduct a four-year Bio Technology courses in Chemical and Electro-Chemical Engineering and Technology.

Aathangudi Tiles

Athangudi village manufactures these tiles, hence the tiles are identified by this name. These tiles come in a myriad of colors and patterns, made by a unique process using local soil and glass plates. It is a testament to the rich cultural heritage of the Chettinad, effectively adapted many external influences to their own brand of local craftsmanship. Though the designs and colors used are of the bygone era, new designs and patterns are being tried these days. These tiles are hand-made, with a short shelf life and relatively slow manufacturing process. This had led to the decline in market demand.

Ilayathangudi

The Kailasanathar Nithyakalyani, is the first of the clan temple, 25 kms from Karaikudi on the Kunrakudi road, Via Nemam, Keelasivalpatti and Avinipatti. Nagarathars received this place as a grant in the year 707 A.D. The temple is known for its great sculptural value and it has the biggest OORANI or the Temple Tank. Soora sashti and Karthikai Deepam and Mahasivarathiri are few of the important festivals of this place. Legend says: Because this was believed to the resting place of the gods this was called as Illaipatrankudi [ilaippu meaning tiredness, attru meaning to relieve and kudi meaning place] and got corrupted as Ilayathangudi as the years passed by. Mahadevendra Saraswati Shankaracharya Swamiji, 65th Acharya of the Kanchi Kamkoti Peetam attained siddhi [eternal bliss] in 1891 at Ilayathangudi and a Temple [Adishtanam] has been built by the Nattukottai Chettiars on his Samadhi[tomb].

Vairavanpatti

The Vairavanpatti temple is 15 kms from Karaikudi. This is an awesome 19th century temple, with a tank still considered as a testimony to Dravidian architectural skills. Vairava Theertham, a sacred spring said to have miraculous powers is located behind the Nagarathar choultry. The temple has 23 bronzes and 12 vahanams , exotic wall paintings of Vairava Puranam [37] , Ramayana [43] and a few from the Mahabharata too. The main deities here are Lord Aatkondanathar and Sivapurandevi. As per the legend, Siva incarnated as Bairavar (Vairavar in Tamil) and destroyed Sooran. He then appeared as a celestial light (Peroli). He is called as 'Valaroli Nathar'. Bairavar / Vairavar is called as the Raja Marthanda Bairavar enshrined seperately.

Soorakudi

The Soorakudi temple dedicated to Lord Desikanathan and Avudainayaki, is about 10 kms from Karaikudi on the road to Kanadukathaan and the Chettinad railway station. This town gets this name because of the abundance of Soorai shrub found in this region. Ten vimanams, two Rajagopuram one with architecturally rich Five Tier structure on the east, speaks about the architectural highlights of this temple. Added to this are the sculptured pillars on the corridor around the shrines of the main deities. This temple of the Nagarathar clan is held in high esteem for its sculptures.

Velankudi

The last clan temple is the Velankudi temple, granted to this clan in 718, is located 10 kms from Karaikudi on the Thiruchirapalli road. Because it is surrounded by Vela Trees it is called as the Velankudi. This temple is worshipped by smallest clan among the Nagarathars. The population of the clan did not change much over the past hundred year, hence this temple did not receive big attention. The last Consecration or Kumbabishekam ceremony was performed in the year 1937. The temple was granted to the Nagarathars in 718 A.D. Lord Sandeeswara [Sandikeswarar] is the main deity of this Temple and Kamatchi Amman is enshrined separately in this temple.

Iraniyur

Sri Atkondanathar temple is 25 kms from Karaikudi on the Pillaiyarapatti road, near Keelasivalpatti. 50 bronzes, an exotic Nataraja Statue dating to the 12th -13th century period are the speciality of this temple. This temple finds One bronze of the 16th century, Pancha ulogam [ 5-metal alloy] of the 17th century, 19th and 20th century and awesome paintings of the Lakshmi mandapam and Vijayanagar style paintings. The Paintings of the 1940’s second renovation display the Ravi Varma influence.

Pillaiyarpatti

It is situated 15 kms west of karaikudi 8 Kms east of Thirupattur. Karpaka Vinayagar Temple , world famous Vinayagar temple visited by millions of devotees is located here. Nagaraththar of Chettinad maintain the temple activities. It is the best known of the Nagarathar Clan temples. The five tier Rajagopuram is on the eastern entrance. Six feet tall, 5th Century statue, the Presiding Deity called as Karpaga Vinayagar [valampuri posture] is a Huge bas-relief in a cave hewn out of a hillock and is a splendid example of the art and architecture of the South Indian Sculptor. 10th century 30 bronzes are found in the temple. Shrines of Thiruveswarar and his consort Sivagami are enshrined in the temple. Ganesh Chathurthi festival during August-September is the main festival of the temple. Sankata Hara Chathurthy of every month is also celebrated in a grand manner. The main festival attracts visitors from all over India and abroad.

Mathur

The Ainootheswarar- Periyanayaki Temple called as the Mathur temple is 5 kms from Karaikudi via Iluppakudi. Five tier, 70 feet tall Rajagopuram is the special feature of this temple. Apart from this, A single rock cut Mandapadm, with two elephants in the front and Two Dwara palakas [Entrance guards ] at the entrance of the Sanctum sanctorum is another special feature of this temple. Vizha mandpam was built in 1949 with a seating capacity of over 500 persons. Excavations that brought out many archaeological evidences including Burial urns to indicate that there were settlements in this area even before 1500 years.