Chettinad Palace: Central courtyard-Kanadikathan

One of the most remarkable examples of Tamil house architecture you won't find in your travel-guide. Reading the newspapers daily there I stumbled on an article in 'The Hindu' about this palace never mentioning in wich place it could be found ... I found it in Kanadikathan a small place near to Karaikudi and I didn't regret to have taken the bus up there.(about 100km from Madurai)

Here you see the private entrance of the house where still the authentic family of the Chettiars live. Only by accident I took this photo as I didn't know I was on private ground
The Central courtyard is used for weddings and religious ceremonies.The pillars around the courtyard are in Burma teak, and there is picturesque combination of scarlet tiles and sloping woodwork.
The basic style of architecture is based on the Chettinad tradition. The construction material, decor items and furnishings were mostly imported, from east Asian countries and also from Europe where the Raja Chettiyar had spread his sprawling business . The woodwork and stone work were inspired by French and other European architecture.
The Chettinad Palace, home of the Chettiar familie, was built in 1912.

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Thousand Pillar Hall-madurai

The Thousand Pillar Hall should count 999 pillars as the last is the leg of Shiva. In fact there are 985 beautifully decorated columns. Each pillar is sculptured in the Dravidan style (jumping Lion: Pallava III). Nowadays the hall is used as a museum where you can see icons, photographs, drawings, etc., exhibiting the 1200 years old history.
In the corner you find the music-pillars: each has his own sound as you knock on it.
At the end of the Hall you see Nataraja or the famous dancing Shiva.

South to this Hall you will find the Mandapam or hall where the marriage of Shiva and Parvati is celebrated every year during the Chitirai Festival in mid- April.

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