Is our fight to save Chettinad accelerating its decline?
On a recent visit, to attend @thelotuspalace_chettinad 's Kalai architecture festival, I heard about entire mansions being bought and cannabalised for their interiors, as prices of carved Burma teak doors, Belgian chandeliers and Italian tiles soar.
The local and International market for these antiques, led by interior designers, architects, restaurants and hotels enthralled by the romance of Chettinad is simultaneously fuelling local industry - like athangudi tiles, carving and carpentry.
This took me down the most fascinating rabbit hole, through antique markets and century old homes, for interviews that taught me so much about a way of life that is fast disappearing.
Thanks for all the information that made this story possible @sujatha.shankar.sundaram@senthilbheeman@chidambaravilas@amarramesh@cherishvintagefinds@_lokesh_sridhar_@darshiniashok@kathiravankarunanithi@instacow60@murgiii and the incredible Mrs Meyyapan of @thebangala
Sliding beside the Butter Ball in a sari looks like so much fun.
I saw it for the first time on a boarding school excursion. Now, playing tourist in my own city, I found myself back in Mahabhalipuram, and was reminded why I loved it on sight.
Is it weird to have a favourite rock?
We attend a cocktail masterclass helmed by experienced bartender and mixologist Karl Fernandes at Chennai's newest bar Roc-a-coe on Khader Nawaz Khan road.
The class, priced at ₹2,500 takes us through the science behind cocktail making and includes three simple but layered drinks, and appetisers.
@the_feni_guy.karl@rocacoebar.che
Video and editing: @sangita365
At the Kalai festival of Art and Architecture, curated by The Lotus Palace, historic mansions are turning into spaces for learning, drawing travellers seeking a deeper engagement with heritage, design and culture.
@ananthsashikala@sujatha.shankar.sundaram@chakravarthypradeep_dr
✍️ @shonalim
#chettinad
Chettinad Mansion floors, vibrant with colours that have not faded in 200 years.
Walking over cool Athangudi tiles, Italian marble, Italian vintage tiles and the occasional jamakalam.
Walk through @thelotuspalace_chettinad with me.
The mansions of Chettinad are all built with mathematical precision and rhythm, along a central spine, with three courtyards, all in a straight row that light up the space with sunshine.
The clever construction ensures that it stays cool inside, even through searing Karaikudi summers.
Kalai: The Art and Architecture festival
@darshiniashok@kathiravankarunanithi
At @chidambaravilas , we get a class on how to lock - and unlock - a century old Chettinad Mansion door by @senthilbheeman
Since all the wealth was stored within the house, security was layered and built into its layout.
Guards stood outside, massive 200-kilo teakwood doors were secured with intricate locking systems from Dindigul, and just inside the entrance, the men of the household slept in the front hall, while women and children occupied the more private inner quarters.
Don't miss Senthil's @vivekarunakaran
shirt, which fits in seamlessly with the historic setting.
At Kalai: The Art and Architecture festival by @thelotuspalace_chettinad
Thank you for a fascinating weekend: I learned so much. @darshiniashok@kathiravankarunanithi
More than two centuries later, how are Chettinad's mansions still standing so strong?
All of them are built about 5 to 10 feet above ground level with a foundation made of solid sembari stone from Palathur, which keeps the ground beneath dry.
And every house has three or more courtyards built with a slight slope so rainwater is collected, and then efficiently diverted to the village pond via brick and limestone channels.
Made in the days when things were meant to last.
At @thelotuspalace_chettinad
Thanks for all the fascinating classes on Chettinad art and architecture at Kalai.
@kathiravankarunanithi@darshiniashok
The Darbar Hall at Chidambara Vilas. The intricately carved ceiling is made with local jackfruit, neem and mango wood, then painted with natural dyes - more than a century later, the colours are just as vivid with no intervention.
At @chidambaravilas where @senthilbheeman gave us a fascinating class on Chettinad history and architecture.
Kalai: The Art and Architecture festival by @thelotuspalace_chettinad@kathiravankarunanithi@darshiniashok
#Kalai #Chettinad
