Karaikudi: A magnificent Chettinad town with glorious history, tradition

Karaikudi, a municipal town located in the Sivaganga district, holds the crown for heritage tourism in Tamil Nadu. In fact, this quaint little town is now declared to be a ‘Heritage Town’ by the Government of India. Palatial homes, sumptuous cuisine, intricate wood carvings, are some of the things that make this Chettinadu culture special.

If you want to entertain yourself in mythical style, Karaikudi is definitely the ultimate destination. The important places to visit in and near Karaikudi include Chettinad Palace, Athangudi, Then Tirupati — Ariyakudi Perumal Kovil, Shiva Temple in Kandanur, Kanadukathan and Aayiram Jannal Veedu.

Considered as one of the seven wonders in the country, Chettinad Palace is an amalgamation of art, architecture and tradition. The palace provides so much information on the technology that was available during the period. You can also visit the nearby Athangudi village that’s famous for the handmade terracotta tiles that are made only there. Another must-visit place is the Chettinad Museum, a heritage home. The main reason of converting it into a museum, open to guests was to show them the unique Chettinad style of living.

The traditional cuisine of Chettiar community, Chettinad cuisine has a culinary tradition, unlike any other community. If you are a foodie, you can go for a food walk in Karaikudi and relish the traditional food served in Chettinad style. The dishes are prepared using a variety of spices and herbs and the cooking method employed for making these dishes is also very unique. One must not leave the place without tasting local dishes like cheeyam, kandharappam, masala paniyaram, velliam paniyaram and thaalicha idiyappam.

The nearest airport is at Trichy. The city has its own railway station that is well connected with the major south Indian cities. Karaikudi can be easily reached by road as well.