Chettinad...who has been and what's the story!

SitaParityaga · Sep 18th, 2006, 00:28

I have done an IM search on the Chettinad area of Tamil Nadu, but haven't been able to find much.

But what I've found seems very interesting. More wonderful temples, great food, beautiful old houses.

I'm trying to fit Karaikkudi into the big Tamil Nadu plan, so here's the question:

Coming from Chennai, is it faster to fly to Madurai then get a car to go to Karaikkundi, or is Trichy closer? (I'm beginning to get short on time, so the train won't work)

Has anyone been on the road between Karaikkudi and Kumbakonam? (I would be hiring a car to move on from Karaikkudi)

And lastly....has anyone been to any of the two fairly upscale hotels, The Bangala or the Chettinadu Mansion?

Jorge Reverter · Sep 18th, 2006, 00:52

I think you must get at least a couple or three days to go from Trichy by train to Karaikkudi and Rameshwaran. From there you have also a train to Madurai. I should get this days from another place ???? but is just an opinion.

Jorge

SitaParityaga · Sep 18th, 2006, 01:07

I'm rethinking the train again, found an old IM post that lists the train schedual from Chennai to Rameswaram called the SETHU EXPRESS.

I was planning on some time in the Chidambaram area, and it looks like I can take some time out to take this train south to Karaikkudi to spend a few days, then come back north.

abracax · Sep 18th, 2006, 02:42

Tamil Nad has the best bus system in India, and with the new highways bus or taxi is the way to go.

SitaParityaga · Sep 18th, 2006, 11:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by abracax

Tamil Nad has the best bus system in India, and with the new highways bus or taxi is the way to go.

Having been on the great TN roads before, bus/taxi sounds good to me as well.

Anyone been to the Chettinad area recently to comment on Karaikkudi area?

kart06 · Sep 18th, 2006, 12:08

well yes its faster to fly to madurai then by road or by train .. an hour by plane ..
but karaikudi is in the district of pudukottai . and its closer to trichy ... so if your not covering
rameswaram .. i suggesst from chennai to trichy by air and from there to pudukottai by taxi
will be easy ... and dont miss TANJORE. if u miss tanjore temples .. whole trip to
tamilnadu will be waste ..

fsg · Sep 18th, 2006, 15:16

Last year was the worst monsoon in Tamil Nadu for 100 years.
Crowds lined the bridges over the Adyar and Cooum rivers in Madras to see the floods and all the slums adjoining the rivers were washed away.

Even the Palar flowed well, so please dont think all the rain did not affect the roads.

Natives of T.N think their roads are the worst with little state maintanence . NH roads are central govt mentained.

So allow some leeway in timing for travel between places.

Nick-H · Sep 18th, 2006, 15:56

Or the best! No water shortage here this year!

Edsita: are you coming in monsoon season?

SitaParityaga · Sep 18th, 2006, 21:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by fsg

Last year was the worst monsoon in Tamil Nadu for 100 years.

Natives of T.N think their roads are the worst with little state maintanence . NH roads are central govt mentained.

So allow some leeway in timing for travel between places.

I see the roads are not always so great! fsg has a good point, remember Mother Nature in all your travel plans!

Nick-H....I'm coming in the end of December, when the weather is dry, right?

beach · Sep 18th, 2006, 21:35

chettinadu.

..great looking old huge houses.
.....still great non veg cuisine

Sama · Sep 18th, 2006, 21:44

from the sound of it, seems like a city I need to visit on my next trip to south India!

Nick-H · Sep 18th, 2006, 23:20

Yes, December/January weather should be perfect

Sama · Sep 19th, 2006, 04:22

just realized this is an AREA, not a CITY! no wonder I couldn't find it listed in LP or the Rough Guide!

SitaParityaga · Sep 19th, 2006, 08:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by yogagal60510

just realized this is an AREA, not a CITY! no wonder I couldn't find it listed in LP or the Rough Guide!

One of the towns is Karaikkudi (where the train station is) . Rough Guide doesn't talk about it, does LP?

I got a pm from Jorge Reverter saying he had heard alot about The Chettinad (area) on an internet French travel forum. We sure haven't talked about it much on IM!

P.S. yogagal...I just read your "Rameswaram vignette" before I went to work today...found it while looking up TN in the TN forum...it was very touching, I enjoyed it immensely. If you would like to read it too:

Rameswaram vignette

But back on the topic! May-be someone has stayed in The Chettinad and could share their experience.

beach · Sep 19th, 2006, 12:30

Clue!!!

When you search (Google etc) use the word Chettinadu a lot more info will be thrown up...

Sep 18th, 2006, 00:28	#1
SitaParityaga member in the forest Join Date: May 2003 Location: California Posts: 908	Chettinad...who has been and what's the story! I have done an IM search on the Chettinad area of Tamil Nadu, but haven't been able to find much. But what I've found seems very interesting. More wonderful temples, great food, beautiful old houses. I'm trying to fit Karaikkudi into the big Tamil Nadu plan, so here's the question: Coming from Chennai, is it faster to fly to Madurai then get a car to go to Karaikkundi, or is Trichy closer? (I'm beginning to get short on time, so the train won't work) Has anyone been on the road between Karaikkudi and Kumbakonam? (I would be hiring a car to move on from Karaikkudi) And lastly....has anyone been to any of the two fairly upscale hotels, The Bangala or the Chettinadu Mansion?

Sep 18th, 2006, 02:42	#4
abracax Mahaguru Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Canada Posts: 435	Tamil Nad has the best bus system in India, and with the new highways bus or taxi is the way to go. __________________ He travels fastest who pays for a cab.

Sep 18th, 2006, 12:08	#6
kart06 Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: chennai Posts: 6	try trichy and tanjore well yes its faster to fly to madurai then by road or by train .. an hour by plane .. but karaikudi is in the district of pudukottai . and its closer to trichy ... so if your not covering rameswaram .. i suggesst from chennai to trichy by air and from there to pudukottai by taxi will be easy ... and dont miss TANJORE. if u miss tanjore temples .. whole trip to tamilnadu will be waste ..

Sep 18th, 2006, 15:56	#8
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 27,692	Or the best! No water shortage here this year! Edsita: are you coming in monsoon season? __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Sep 18th, 2006, 21:35	#10
beach Lost in translation Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: India ! Posts: 2,233	chettinadu. ..great looking old huge houses. .....still great non veg cuisine __________________ Hampi info

Sep 18th, 2006, 00:52	#2
Jorge Reverter Maha Guru Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Murcia - Spain Posts: 1,213	I think you must get at least a couple or three days to go from Trichy by train to Karaikkudi and Rameshwaran. From there you have also a train to Madurai. I should get this days from another place ???? but is just an opinion. Jorge

Sep 18th, 2006, 01:07	#3
SitaParityaga member in the forest Join Date: May 2003 Location: California Posts: 908	I'm rethinking the train again, found an old IM post that lists the train schedual from Chennai to Rameswaram called the SETHU EXPRESS. I was planning on some time in the Chidambaram area, and it looks like I can take some time out to take this train south to Karaikkudi to spend a few days, then come back north.

Sep 18th, 2006, 15:16	#7
fsg Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: U.K Posts: 238	Last year was the worst monsoon in Tamil Nadu for 100 years. Crowds lined the bridges over the Adyar and Cooum rivers in Madras to see the floods and all the slums adjoining the rivers were washed away. Even the Palar flowed well, so please dont think all the rain did not affect the roads. Natives of T.N think their roads are the worst with little state maintanence . NH roads are central govt mentained. So allow some leeway in timing for travel between places.

Sep 18th, 2006, 21:44	#11
Sama a pain in the asana Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: the India inside my heart Posts: 5,434	from the sound of it, seems like a city I need to visit on my next trip to south India! __________________ *My India, 2005-2008* BE THE REVOLUTION

Sep 18th, 2006, 23:20	#12
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 27,692	Yes, December/January weather should be perfect

Sep 19th, 2006, 04:22	#13
Sama a pain in the asana Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: the India inside my heart Posts: 5,434	just realized this is an AREA, not a CITY! no wonder I couldn't find it listed in LP or the Rough Guide!

Sep 19th, 2006, 12:30	#15
beach Lost in translation Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: India ! Posts: 2,233	Clue!!! When you search (Google etc) use the word Chettinadu a lot more info will be thrown up...

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