GETTING THERE

Karaikudi is the main town in the Chettinad region. Located deep inside Tamil Nadu, the region is connected to the rest of the country by Madurai Airport and Tiruchirappalli International Airport. Regular trains connect Karaikudi to all the major cities of the state. You can also make it a road trip from Bengaluru or Chennai.

STAY

The first and finest heritage stay in Chettinad, The Bangala is set in a property that has been with the same family for 100 years. Located in Karaikudi, it offers the best of traditional Chettiar hospitality with modern amenities and scrumptious food. Tariff starts at `5,000; thebangala.com

Visalam, located in the town of Kanadugathan (also spelt Kanadukathan), is set in a century-old Chettiyar mansion that has preserved its original architecture and character. It offers the quintessential Chettiyar lifestyle and access to many small villages. Tariff starts at `6,000; cghearth.com/visalam