SARATHA VILAS CHETTINAD PALACE
HOTEL

A Luxurious Heritage Mansion

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Like all the mansion in Chettinad, the house was constructed following the rules of Vastu Shastra, the traditional science of architecture of wellbeing. It is comprised of a succession of inner courtyards and halls laid out on a longitudinal axis opening a perspective along the entire length of the house.

The main verandah at the entrance of the mansion is guarded by columns of dark marble and opens into a grand hall crowned with chiseled woodwork painted in delicate colors. The central courtyard is surrounded by carved granite pillars in the style of Dravidian temples and is followed by a dining room encircled by an arcade of heavy stone columns under decorated cornices covered by a pressed metal ceiling imported from England.

The perspective which crosses the whole house from West to East, opens on the ancient kitchen courtyard, today the open-air restaurant, then finally on the garden planted with hundred-year-old coconut palms where we installed the swimming pool.

For finishes and decoration, the founder, Subranania Chettiar, does not hesitate to bring the best from around the world: Burmese teak, ceramics from Japan or Europe, marble from Italy and Belgium, the great crystal chandeliers and mirrors from Belgium. The result is a blend of unique and sophisticated Tamil and Western architecture.

Tamil Traditional Magnificent Architecture

The different architectural influences reflect the Chettiar way of life who combined their vibrant Indian traditions with influences from around the world.

Facade

One can also see Western influences on the main façade and upper floors, featuring classical architecture details, such as colonnades, cornices, multi-level balustrades, parapets and symmetrical organization following the classical style.

The facade of Saratha Vilas is a blend of Tamil and Baroque architecture.

One can see sculptures of the deity Gaja Lakshmi, different levels of parapets, loggia and verandah shades separated from the street by a high compound wall and a front garden.

Thinnai

The main entrance verandah, called Thinnai, was used by the men for business. We can find the Thinnai at the entrance of all kind of Tamil houses, from the humbles to the sumptuous ones.

The Thinnai at the Saratha Vilas is surrounded by series of black stone colonnades in a western style and floored with marble from Italy and Belgium.

Main Hall

Saratha Vilas’ Kuttam is an architectural masterpiece fusing aspects of Tamil and European architecture and design with its lofty, ornate wooden ceiling, stunning crystal chandeliers imported from Europe, and floor of inlaid Italian and Belgium marbles. Its unique and opulent decorative finishes showcase examples of the finest of materials available from across the world in the early twentieth century.

The Kuttam was used as the gathering space for wedding ceremonies involving hundreds of guests. Today it hosts a permanent exhibition of original Ravi Varma lithographs from the 1900s and an annual calendar of classical and contemporary dance and music performances.

Central Courtyard

The Chettiars took their climate into consideration in the design and construction of their homes. Houses were built around an east/west oriented central courtyard to introduce both light and breezes while still providing shade and preserving the coolness of masonry walls throughout the entire residence. The essential structural materials and design components of the mansion are brick and lime plaster walls, terracotta tile roofs, stone pillars, teak columns, and marble and stone floors.

The Nadu Vasal is the heart of the mansion and where important family ceremonies used to take place. Today it remains the most popular spot in the hotel for relaxation and conversation.

Dinning Hall

Originally, invited guests took their meals during family festivities, notably weddings in the Kaliana Kotogai. Here, a multitude of dishes served by servants were served on banana leaf plates in successive waves to hundreds of people seated on mats on the floor.

Today, the Kaliana Kotagai contains a permanent exhibition of collections of Ayyanar terracotta, Thanjavur reverse glass painting, and Karaikudi studio photography from the 1920s. Restaurant service in the Kaliana Kotagai is reserved for meals on rainy days and for groups.

Moonamkattu

During family weddings at the house, famous Chettinad dishes were prepared in Moonamkattu. The whole courtyard was occupied with the preparation and cooking of the festive dishes under the supervision of the women of the family. Now, meals are served here in under a shady portico during the day, or the open sky in the evening.

The mansion’s everyday kitchen was also located in this courtyard. It has now been transformed into the hotel’s kitchen where traditional Chettiar dishes, as well as Western and Mediterranean cuisine, are prepared fresh daily.