Visalam Heritage Hotel Tamil Nadu

The Visalam Hotel is a glorious heritage hotel in Tamil Nadu. If you look at Visalam Hotel in Kanadukathan on a map it looks pretty much in the middle of nowhere but it actually makes a perfect stop on the long journey between the temple towns of Tanjore and Madurai. A stay at this Chettinad hotel will give you a real taste of rural India but also a once-in-a-lifetime experience of old-world luxury and traditional hospitality. You’ll be waited on hand and foot from the moment you arrive by the welcoming staff.

Visalam is a 70-year old Indian mansion or haveli. It is one of several heritage hotels Tamil Nadu has to offer. Originally local merchant Ramnathan Chettiar gifted the palatial property to his daughter Vishalakshi. Today Visalam is part of the CGH Earth Hotel chain which specializes in luxury heritage properties with an emphasis on sustainable and responsible tourism. Like all CGH Hotels Visalam is careful to nurture the local culture and environment.

Step Back in Time at Visalam Heritage Hotel Tamil Nadu

From the entrance of Visalam Heritage Hotel, Tamil Nadu you can already sense that this is going to be a special experience. The polished wooden furniture, high wood-worked ceilings, ornate doorways, marble platforms, antique light fixtures and cool Athangudi-tiled floors ooze elegant style from a time when the small village of Kanadukathan was the heart of a powerful community of merchants.

The hotel building has restored art-deco interiors and on the walls are photos of the original owners and the mansion in its heyday. Every detail of the building reminds you of the property’s legacy.

Modern Luxury in a Heritage Hotel Tamil Nadu

The fact that you feel surrounded by old-world charm doesn’t mean you have to forego creature comforts. Visalam has a large swimming pool; WiFi; Ayurveda treatments on request; a games room and a gift shop selling local products. The hotel has extensive lush gardens with perfectly kept lawns, colorful bougainvillea, trees, and flowerbeds. the property is large enough for all of the guests staying in the 15 rooms to feel like they are VIPs in a private sanctuary. This heritage hotel in Tamil Nadu is ideal if you are looking for peace and quiet; if you just want to get away from it all and relax.

Dining at Visalam Hotel, Chettinad

Visalam Hotel has four dining options – Sapadu Shala where Chettinad cuisine is prepared by expert chefs; the Garden Breakfast Cafe, which serves South Indian and international cuisine; the Pool Cafe, which faces the pool and garden and the roof-top Terrace Grill where dinner is served. Chettinad cuisine is famed for its spices, aromas, and complex flavors. You can enjoy your lunch on a long wooden table facing the kitchen where dishes are prepared with the freshest ingredients and using a set of original brass pots and pans.

Activities at the Visalam Hotel and in Chettinad

If you want to do more than relax and unwind then the hotel offers interactive cooking experiences. You can borrow a bicycle and explore the village’s quiet streets that are lined with old mansions. Take a ride in a bullock cart; visit the local farmers’ market; see how local artisans create sun-dried tiles; watch weavers at work or learn about kolam-making – beautiful patterns drawn with powder on the ground. You can visit the local temples and tour the majestic architectural landmarks from the era of the Chola kings.

Visalam Heritage Hotel Tamil Nadu Practical Details:

Where: CGH Earth Visalam Hotel, Kanadukathan, Karaikudi, Sivaganga District, Tamil Nadu, India