Chidambara Vilas - A Luxury Heritage Resort

One of the best hotel we have been to. The history and the experience was worth it. Staff is very polite and professional. They take care of you like a family. We really loved it. Experience included heritage walk around the village & its history. A traditional Chettinad cooking classes in evening. Food was very delicious, be it breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Pros: 1. Spacious room 2. Warm welcome 3. Hearty Breakfast 4. Scrumptious Lunch 5. Friend and attentive staffs Cons: 1. None Overall: I stayed at this property for 3 nights. I had zero expectations due to how rural the hotel was situated. But this gem of a hotel out performed itself. The food and hospitality was really great.

We stayed as a family over the weekend and we really enjoyed being there... food was awesome and the stay was very comfortable. Had plenty of activities inside the property to keep us engaged and allows exploring the culture. The property tour was very informative.

This is one of the best hotels we stayed in. The ambience was excellent. The resort manager Mr. Senthilkumar was great. He planned our entry stay and the visits to Srirangam, Thanjavur and other temples and sites. We enjoyed it thoroughly. The entire stay was memorable

We were a group of five school class mates who stayed at this wonderful palace hotel. It was a cultural treat to behold, be it the stately Chettiar home, the world renowned cuisine perfected here or the luxurious yet ethnic rooms. The cook demo was so memorable, the black rice sweet pudding made on spot is still etched on my tastebuds. The highlight was Mr Senthil, the dynamic resort manager !! His eye for detail, organising events/ tours, handling guests/staff with ease cant go unnoticed. The tour he gave us was mind boggling indeed, he knew every inch of the place. The story attached to that inch is even more awesome. The Chettiar lineage, their heritage discriptions, vibrant life styles and business accumen was narrated in a lucid yet gripping method. Visual imagery. I was convinced that he was a Chettiar himself living out incidents, looked like one too !!! Gr8 team work, recommend this place to all..... Venu Rao Peacock hospitality Bangalore

The Chettiars have a rich history with documentary evidence dating back to the 13th century. Finance, international trade, and commerce were their traditional strengths. The Chettiar mansions in Karaikudi are a fabulous testament of their rich architectural heritage and opulence. Chidambara Vilas where we stayed, Kanadukathan Palace, Atangudi Palace and Aayiram Jannal Veedu are must see marvels that are a testament to Chettiar communities wealth, international exposure and cultural heritage. We explored the Chidambara Vilas ***** with the GM Mr.Senthil whose knowledge about the Chettiars, their lifestyle, and the amazing mansion was extensive. He was a marvelous storyteller holding us spell bound while we got a workout with the 6000 steps my App tells me, I walked and climbed and spiraled on their dizzy spiral staircases. The food was outstanding at breakfast and dinner. Unfortunately we missed the elaborate lunch served on plantain leaves. Some of the activities on our 2 day visit were a visit to Pillayarpatti temple where Karpaga Vinayakar resides from the 4th century. The distinctive idol is made from a single stone and is said to have been installed by sage Agastya. It is a famous pilgrim spot for devotees of Ganesha, the obstacle remover or vighnahartha. We went to the handmade Atangudi tile factory to see marvelous tiles being made. We then visited a few Sari shops where they also weave the famous Chettinad saris. A visit to Karaikudi for a foodie must include the famous Priya mess. The food was delicious and the crowd to get in was so large that we needed many skills to get in, find a bench and finally eat crab, chicken, mutton and fish Chettinad style with rice, sambar and brinjal koottu. The local snacks like murku and adirasam were delicious. Exploring this neighborhood marvel Karaikudi was truly a unique experience. I discovered such amazing buildings, crafts, antiques, temples, cuisine, and gentle rural ambiance. The local cultural experiences were far better than what is so well showcased in international destinations.