Chettinad or Chettinadu is a place in Tamil Nadu that has gained a lot of following, due to its lip-smacking culinary delights. The meaning of Chettinad is the land of Chettiars. The Chettiars were famed as traders of spices and salt. Apart from the flavorful cuisines, another thing worth noticing and appreciating here is the traditional and unique architecture of the houses. You can visit the 19th century mansions that are famous for the huge courtyards and spacious rooms which are embellished with teak as well as marble. The materials for construction, the decorative items and the furnishings were mostly brought from the European and the East Asian countries. The marbles were from Italy, while the teak and chandeliers were from Burma. Apart from the mansions, you can also take tour of the temples, which were mostly built by the early dynasties in Tamil Nadu. Almost all the temples have their own tanks that are called ‘Oorani’, which are used for growing water lilies. The famous temples in Chettinad that you must visit include Kundrakudi Murugan, Iraniyur, Karpaga Vinayakar, Vairavan Kovil, Kottaiyur Sivan, and Kandanur Sivan temples.
Locals celebrate the festival of Vinayagar Chathurthi every year. Therefore, you can visit the place during this festival to see the town illuminated in lights and well-decorated with flowers. The famous local crafts of this place are Sari which is called Kandaangi here and are made of pure cotton. There are various other unique arts and craft that you can explore while exploring this region. Some of these can only be admired while there however you will find many that you can purchase and bring back with you such as the famous Athangudi tiles. The Athangudi tiles are inspired by European designs and incorporate Chinese technique which combined with the local red sand and glass to create magnificent patterns. Do make sure to visit Athangudi to see the age old process produce beautiful work of art and you can manage to buy a sample for your living room.
Apart from these famous things about Chettinad, the specialty of this place that has put it on the map is its culinary delights. You cannot leave the place without having a memorable experience with mouthwatering food that you can hardly find anywhere else.
Chettinad Cuisine:
Chettinad cuisine has a wide variety of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian delicacies. The vegetarian cuisines that you can try while visiting here include paal paniyaram, idiyappam, paniyaram, masala paniyaram, vellai paniyaram, seeyam, karuppatti paniyaram, kuzhi paniyaram, kozhakattai, adikoozh, maavurundai, kandharappam, masala seeyam, kavuni arisi, and athirasam. The non-vegetarian options of cuisines include Chicken Chettinad, Chettinad mutton curry, Chettinad prawn masala, and Chettinad mutton biryani, to name a few. The magical spices of Kalpasi (black stone flower) provides the signature taste to these magical recipes while most people also add the dried flower pods to the food to enhance their flavor. The rich flavor can also be attributed to the stone grinding which provides a distinct aroma to the dishes. The fresh ground spices are sure to alleviate your dining experience and leave you with many pleasant memories of the taste. Although if you want the authentic taste of the dishes you need to visit some places where the authentic recipes are followed including access to the fresh ingredients.
Where to stay in Chettinad?
Stay at Chidamabara Vilas and get to know the Chettiar lifestyle a bit closely. The 166-year old property, located in Karaikudi has been immaculately maintained. It is just the right place to stay, especially if you wish to have an inner gourmet tugging to your heart. Booking through Luxury Escapes hotel booking App india at just INR 10,999 per room, you can enjoy a lip-smacking breakfast, a sumptuous Chettinad lunch, and you can even learn cooking in Chettinad style here through the one cooking class included in your package. You will also be able to avail the morning heritage walk in which you can learn a lot about the culture and history of Chettinad. If you have up to two children under the age of 11, they can stay with you for free. The package is for 2 nights. You can also indulge in indoor games like board games and pool table.
If you want to treat yourself to a delicious holiday, seal the deal now.
