History, Culture And Chettinad Food: This 100-Year-Old Heritage Home In Karaikudi Is Worth A Visit

A revamped heritage home in the heart of the Chettinad region, The Bangala is an ode to the glorious heritage of the area through ambience, hospitality, food and architecture.

The next time you want to relax and unwind, skip the usual Coorg, Ooty, and Goa, and wander into the past at The Bangala at Karaikudi in Tamil Nadu. Meenakshi Meyyappan, the proprietor, will make sure you feel as royal you’re meant to here, right from your check in to your last personalised meal. In true Chettiar style, the rooms are lavish and opulent. Think 32 rooms decked out in antique furniture, Athangudi tiles, and oh-so-lovely wooden windows with old-school grills. Oh, and throw in verandahs with traditional lounge chairs, and you’re sorted for Zen Mode.

The boutique hotel is that while they are quaint and a blast from the past {the four poster beds make all the difference!}, don’t worry about your modern amenities across the property. They’ve got air conditioning, power showers and a luxury swimming pool in the middle of the property. See, want to go already, don’t you? For those who are not water babies, like most old Chettiar homes, there are little nooks through the house, which you can happily hog and curl up with a book, laptop {ugh, why?}, or settle down for a game of chess, cards or even Monopoly.

As gorgeous as the indoors are, the kitchens will draw you out of your huddle. Some serious Chettinad cuisine aroma will waft through, and true to its character, it’ll hit all the right notes. Try the tamarind crab curry that is a hot favourite, prawn curry and the quintessential Chettinad favourite black-pepper chicken. And the best part is that meals are all communal, so all the guests and host, gather in the grand dining room {teak tables and chairs too!}, and on banana leaves for that added drama and experience. They even have cooking workshops if you fall in love with the food, and can’t get enough of it.

Make some time to explore the area around the mansion, and check out the village shandy — it’s a local market, with indigenous food, ingredients, and trinkets.