The Chettiar Mansions of Karaikudi.

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyZKxvGmloinkmfVJ9s8AswfvqyTc3niUMp2GAMRWfQmbZSL6-AF8pBlxwwdI0arlS_X-rmXdGO9AJh_F4Kl9nQGxQ47Bn3dhrXU4IoDvRVFmuIp3I9Vd9_MiwUFnGMPUsWsIPthdvoHrg/s1600-h/c1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074417475829533106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyZKxvGmloinkmfVJ9s8AswfvqyTc3niUMp2GAMRWfQmbZSL6-AF8pBlxwwdI0arlS_X-rmXdGO9AJh_F4Kl9nQGxQ47Bn3dhrXU4IoDvRVFmuIp3I9Vd9_MiwUFnGMPUsWsIPthdvoHrg/s640/c1.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a>Karaikudi is a city in Tamilnadu which is known as the homeland of Nattukotai Chettiars. Chettiars are a prosperous banking & business community many of whom migrated to Burma, Sri Lanka, Malaysia etc .<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwLDV_Zec6o4VknZszvX5RsndPsOkxb_F9j_UgEceE6D8dfmIxspJHHg8xEuuDPElVY26GkEDSByeDQeOv-i4Q7olpmty9NaJLqaZuIy8up7x3YaAbcAcNroM4boCt7OVvZb1Uo6h65Lkm/s1600-h/c2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074417480124500418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwLDV_Zec6o4VknZszvX5RsndPsOkxb_F9j_UgEceE6D8dfmIxspJHHg8xEuuDPElVY26GkEDSByeDQeOv-i4Q7olpmty9NaJLqaZuIy8up7x3YaAbcAcNroM4boCt7OVvZb1Uo6h65Lkm/s640/c2.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a> We visited a mansion of one of the Chettiars who welcomed us into their home with open arms.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj07TKSJf4n4Jm7a-VZHqof_WZODjNe-gxu4DPmunNTqaqYCuh76pS9bKatRRCa4iXonXoPGp9qcR2SPdhwpbqRkaCWj5M2XQNrzUASiCIEJdOeU3sBrSTP7jnW-bO4N2Q0zoi7abX9EQfV/s1600-h/c4.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="491" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074417484419467746" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj07TKSJf4n4Jm7a-VZHqof_WZODjNe-gxu4DPmunNTqaqYCuh76pS9bKatRRCa4iXonXoPGp9qcR2SPdhwpbqRkaCWj5M2XQNrzUASiCIEJdOeU3sBrSTP7jnW-bO4N2Q0zoi7abX9EQfV/s640/c4.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a> Intricate carvings on the door just took my breath away. <img alt="" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074417810836982274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqTrya1OVBdVL09ugLxD8dxSBN6dwHAqNPdUKgUAfLrX-1nydzaC5PEx34wTxMMz4Qj5Z1_mCS-UvmSGV4HjmYLV8wFgEA03Wt6oF9qAK4C1qWiSMkSUU_U6886rN5WKqOd1Vmu7sxG7Be/s640/chettinad_doorcarving.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="480" /> Close-up of the carvings in one of the main doors.<img alt="" border="0" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074418725665016338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi01VlM2m_5kFKKDsKyfDTmE4aeY4ur_f2dLIrxGlXDFm8xScw01LKKt4pyo-nfs_MLM_XL2ZUZ-e0mhawuWXHL4f9IsdXmZQEhnfJrhgtva62QG3DoJPvdnUyh5INcmQ-5B2wg8E3z8nqR/s640/c6.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" />The design is typical of traditional south indian village homes...there is an open courtyard in the centre through which natural light fills the whole house.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl99_SJHbUUNygHNRnE-6MG8ViE-h8DcwoMeoTyYBV4haB6NaRdh7KAAHhZa0VrGmmaFICmCOTQu8v6hhvuCVa0R_7NCBJ12Q5CUxPnq-77fxi3Kmv9NBTzA8jq1G2zE_mil1-5zCXMaJ7/s1600-h/c5.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074417484419467762" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl99_SJHbUUNygHNRnE-6MG8ViE-h8DcwoMeoTyYBV4haB6NaRdh7KAAHhZa0VrGmmaFICmCOTQu8v6hhvuCVa0R_7NCBJ12Q5CUxPnq-77fxi3Kmv9NBTzA8jq1G2zE_mil1-5zCXMaJ7/s640/c5.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" /></a> Beautiful stone-carved pillars line the courtyard. Colourful handmade floor tiles called Athungudi tiles demarcate the various sections of the house.<img alt="" border="0" height="480" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074418729959983666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBMHc7mWoqdgIPNQ8Cnhj0IOkFt903hvc3u5BnBiV2L3Z1UKGTo0Dxff3dkJIp6jeUsQ6plQwn3-eg-eqdvhd6YEjaKu5M-BmmeZ7EnHUNhu6UtWdMSxEt8_myOvtuT95XOdjoXvQCEez4/s640/c8.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" />This entrance room had a chess board floor design.<br /><img alt="" border="0" height="472" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074418725665016354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy2maP9zif1FmqBEanMKorxRFd6kUFAIWaFcoGTMjv_CVVUeIZbWX3XpOHR9DRsLMr3r8yoqEav1oboAH1tCnuz05raPU5iu0Vqk5-I1Rg2CuozLXCzSamrgsBznrXs_Q4Jifl9ws_3vjF/s640/c7.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" width="640" />Just loved this space dedicated to the black & white pictures of their ancestors. Lovely!<br /><br />The highlights:<br /><br />* Intricately carved doors in Burma Teak.<br />* Carved stone & wooden pillars and beams.<br />* Handmade Athungudi floor tiles.<br />* Carved wooden furniture with antique tiles.<br />* Antique furnitures, enamel, lacquer & wooden vessels from Burma, Srilanka, Malaysia etc</div>

The Chettiar Mansions of Karaikudi.

Karaikudi is a city in Tamilnadu which is known as the homeland of Nattukotai Chettiars. Chettiars are a prosperous banking & business c...

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