Chettinadu Mansion

Tamil Nadu


Friendly, well run and packed with character, this colourful century-old mansion is still owned (and lived in) by the original family. Of its 126 rooms, 12 are open to guests – all sizeable, with wacky colour schemes and private balconies gazing out over other mansions.

The owners also run nearby Chettinadu Court, which has eight heritage-inspired rooms. The two share an off-site pool.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Tamil Nadu attractions

1. Sri Mahalakshmi Handloom Weaving Centre

0.11 MILES

Chettinadu is known for its handwoven, contrasting-colour silk-and-cotton Kandaangi saris (now increasingly hard to find). At this small weaving complex,…

2. VVR House

0.27 MILES

One of Chettinadu's oldest mansions, built in 1870 with distinctive egg-plaster walls, Burmese-teak columns, patterned tiled floors and intricate wood…

3. CVCT and CVR House

0.28 MILES

Backed by the typical succession of pillar-lined courtyards, the impressive reception hall of this 'twin house' is shared by two branches of the same…

4. Athangudi Palace Tiles

3.22 MILES

Lusting after those exquisite handmade Chettinadu-mansion tiles? Then swing by this long-standing Athangudi workshop, where you can watch expert tile…

5. Athangudi Palace

3.98 MILES

With perhaps the most exquisitely painted wood-carved ceilings in Chettinadu, Athangudi Palace is a popular film set. Take in the especially fine…

6. Thirumayam Fort

5.48 MILES

The most impressive things about this fort, 20km south of Pudukkottai, are the massive boulders it's built on – it's just a wall enclosing an area about…

7. Ayyanar Temple

11 MILES

Just 8km southwest of Pudukkottai, this is an outstanding village shrine dedicated to the pre-Hindu guardian-god Ayyanar, worshipped only in rural Tamil…

8. Pudukkottai Museum

14.8 MILES

The relics of Chettinadu's bygone days are on display at this wonderful museum, 4km north of Pudukkottai train station. Its eclectic collection includes…