GO ON A CHETTINAD FOOD TRAIL IN TAMIL NADU

Amid ancient temples and many 19th- century mansions, the laid-back Chettinad region of Tamil Nadu keeps safe age- old recipes and food techniques that have been part of its glorious legacy since time immemorial. Apart from the signature Chettinad kozhi (succulent chicken cooked in spices and coconut), gorge on idiyappam (steamed string hoppers made from roasted rice f lour), mutton chukka (marinated lamb in a masala of cardamom, cinnamon, clove, chilli, and curry leaves), meen kuzhambu (fish fillets in sweet and sour curry), vazhaipoo meen kuzhambu (fried banana f lowers in spicy tangy gravy), milagu kozhi varuval (pepper chicken fry), karaikudi eral masala (prawns laced in a fiery spice paste), cabbage carrot poriyal (sautéed vegetables), kada or quail fry, and kozhukattai (sweet steamed rice f lour dumplings) during your food pilgrimage through the region. Join Puliyogare Travels in their two- day-long culinary excursions through Chettinad.

GETTING THERE

The nearest airport is in Madurai (90 km), which is well- connected to New Delhi and Chennai.

STAY

The excursion packages by Puliyogare Travels include travel tickets, all meals, luxury stay at The Bangala, cooking demos, and more (starts at ` 30,000/ USD415; puliyogaretravels.com).