Chettiar Clan’s Chettinad Temples of Tamil Nadu

The Chettiyar (earlier known as Nagarathars) community of Chettinad region constructed temples wherever possible. Like in other communities, this community too had clans.

There are 9 clans in Chettinad community. Each clan was associated with one temple with its own water tank. That is how 9 Chettinad Temples are famous in Chettinad region.

Each clan had their own rules and protocols to be maintained. The temple committee often played a big role in town planning, and a flourishing city soon developed around these temples.

These are some of the pictures of the interiors of the Chettinad Temples. Not all of them allow photography; wherever they permitted I clicked to my heart’s content. The sculpted figures are so life like, almost telling a story.

Chettinad Temples

Karaikudi stone pillars, steps leading to temple

Chettinad temple interior

Chettinad temple interior 

9 Chettinad Temples

Nine of these temples are the most famous ones. Their distances from Karaikudi mentioned  with names:

Illaiyathangudi Kovil (25 km), Mathoor Kovil (5 km), Vairavankoil (15 km), Nemamkoil (12 km), Illupaikudi Kovil (5 km), Surakuddi Kovil (10 km), Velangudi (12 km), Iraniyur Kovil (25 km) and Pillaiyarpatti Kovil (12 km). Very complex names, but all are reachable and we toured them in a span of three days crisscrossing the entire Chettinad region. Do a slow travel around he area to fully experience the greatness of the heritage of the place.

Angels sculpted in Chettinad Hindu Temples

Angels sculpted in Chettinad Hindu Temples

Each temple is unique. Religious activities dominated the daily life of people in these regions for centuries. The traditions and rituals handed down generations after generations. And watching them perform these activities is interesting and valuable. The entire set of 9 Nagarathar temples of Chettinad is worth visiting.

In its heydays the entire region must have been grand! Now it seems so dreadfully silent. Most noteworthy in these temples are the paintings on the ceilings. The colors are charming as ever. Time is taking its toll on these monuments of heritage.

This area is a must visit destination in Tamil Nadu. Tourism in Chettinad is yet to pick up. I wish the Tamil Nadu Tourism board would do something about this.

Chettinad temple architecture is as interesting as the Chettinad house architecture and is a widely pursued subject by students of architecture.

One unusual aspect that was shared with me was that:

People within the same temple of Chettinad region are considered as siblings. To get married the bride and groom should belong to different temples. Only exception is Mathur Temple. There are subdivisions within the temple. So marriage among brides and grooms of certain subdivisions are permitted.

Chettinad style pillars - temple architecture

Chettinad style pillars – temple architecture

Angels painted in ceilings and sculpted on walls and pillars show a distinct influence of European architecture subjects. I have not seen such winged humans in other temples of India.

Best Time to Visit Chettinad Temples

The ideal time to visit and tour temples of Chettinad is October to March. I visited in the month of May and it was so dreadfully hot. It is best to avoid summers here.

Tickets and timings

None of the temples need any tickets for entering, though some are very strict about no photography.

The temples open by 6.30am and shut at 12pm and then reopen again at 4pm and shut at 7pm.

How to reach Chettinad Temples

Villages of Chettinad are now spread over 1000sqmiles.  There are 56 villages in Shivaganga district and 20 villages in Pudukottai district of Tamil Nadu.

We drove down to Chettinad from Bangalore. Road conditions are good, it took us about  8 hours, including an hour’s halt for lunch.

The nearest airport is Madurai and Trichy (Tiruchirapalli), both at approximately 100 km. And the nearest railway station is Karaikudi.

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