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Chettinadu, a mesmerizing place enriched with heritage and culture is a must visit if you love the wonders of the past. A total of 2 or 3 days would be sufficient to cover in and around Chettinad. I prefer a nonchalant travel, so I stayed for 3 days and 2 nights. Arrange your stay in any palaces to experience the royalty. As I was traveling with my pet, I preferred a home stay (Senthil Apartments, Karaikudi) which offered a homely feel and also none of the palaces let pets in.
I reached Chettinad by afternoon and decided to take a stroll through the ruins of the past. An evening walk through the heart of Chettinad/Kanadukathan captivating the exceptional architecture would leave you with some astonishing memories to reminisce. Never hit the famous Chettinadu Palace directly as it is not open for the public now, rather walk around the palace and enjoy the remnants of the past. Take a few moments to savour the beauty of the lake nearby which many fail to speak of. The lake has been a showcase for many famous movies and songs when it was in its full glory. Wander around the ruins of the abandoned homes and let the ruins of the past consume you here and there for a while and then go around for mansion hoping.
There are a few mansions that let you in for reasonable price which is worth the visit. A few mansions that let people in and explore include CVRM and CVCT (Twin mansions) and VVR. Visiting SASRM is upto your choice as I had a very bad experience as the lady of the house doesn’t entertain solo travelers. Wind up your day visiting the Alagappa Museum and enjoy the local cuisines as well.
Gear up for some adventure savvy on the 2nd day. Travel a few extra miles to reach Thirumayam Fort. The fort is worth spending some 30 minutes but beware of the couples hidden here and there of the fort. Make sure not to disturb them and enjoy your view. It’s a small fort with good view. Hike to the top to take a look at the canon view and don’t forget to climb up the stair like structure to catch a glimpse of the Shiva abode.
Head straight from there to Sittannavasal to relish the Jain caves and Jain beds. It’s an area that falls under the ASI and there are few places to stopover. Saunter around the park first just to relax. The park is not greatly maintained but if you are a nature lover, you would find some monkeys enjoying their best of life around. Head straight towards the Jain Caves or Temple next. Collect your tickets from the counter and ascend the hill to reach the Jain temple. The guardian of the place Mr. Paramashivam will explain in detail the science behind the temple and you will be awestruck afterwards. Carry the amusement along with you while you get to Jain Beds. It’s approximately 270ft tall. Collect separate tickets from the counter and clamber the hills while you amuse yourself by the scenic beauty as you ascend. Delve in and around the place but never get lost and beware of the height too. Enlighten yourself from the inscriptions written on the Jain beds and ascend down safely. Once you are done for the day, get back to your place and rest well for the next day.
Start your third day afresh and set off to indulge in the enthralling view of the Athangudi Palace. The tour guide explains each and everything in detail for the guests and you can click plenty of beautiful pics inside the hypnotic mansion. Peek into the famous Athangudi tile making process while you return back and wind up your trip while you hang on to the magnificence of the place.
A few food places never to miss while you are around include Jainika and Annapoorani Mess. Explore the local culinary while you are around and also hop around the local shops for collecting souvenirs. Have a happy and safe vacation.