'Some photos of Kandukathan Heritage village, Tamil Nadu, India' - by K J S Chatrath

I visited the Chettinad area of Tamil Nadu in January earlier this year. I stayed in Kandukathan village (population 4814) for two nights and visited various mansions and enjoyed Chettinad cuisine. I took a train from Chennai and reached at 4 am. There was no transport available at the railway station except for those who had booked taxis and private vehicles. The hotel where I stayed had offered to get me picked up from the railway station- two kms away, for Rs.500. I thought it to be too steep and did not accept the offer. Anyway while all the vehicles had left except one SUV, I stood dejected at 4.15 am. And then God arrived in the form of the owner of the SUV, who came to me and started talking in impeccable English. I will drop you in your hotel as I am going that way only. My house is in the same lane as your hotel, he said. I offered some tip to the driver but the SUV owner wouldn’t have any of it. Kanadukathan is a Town Panchayat in the Karaikudi taluk of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is famous for platial houses, Chettinad style of cuisine, intricate wood carvings and extensive use of Burma teak. UNESCO has noted that ‘Chettinad possesses some outstanding physical characteristics of urban and rural planning which create a unique architectural ensemble with thousands of palatial houses. This ensemble reflects the way the Hindu Tamil community of Chettiars lived. As the result of their travels, they have integrated multiple influences into the Tamil traditions. This blend represents the uniqueness of Chettinad.’ Here are some scenes from Kandaukathan:

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