CHETTINAD HERITAGE
An Outstanding Heritage in the
Heart of Dravidian Culture
Since the time the community was founded, the Chettiars have upheld a vision of urban planning and development and have built thousands of palatial homes forming architectural ensembles which make this area an outstanding heritage region.
The Chettiars belong to a lineage of wealthy traders and financiers who made their fortunes by extending their business to the whole of Southeast Asia, particularly during the 19th century when they were at the peak of their economic power. As a result of their traveling, the Chettiars integrated diverse influences into their traditions which contributed to their uniqueness. Their villages were constructed upon precise and sophisticated rules of urban planning, represented namely by orthogonal streets and specific water management systems.
