We Jatinder Taneja, Guneeta Taneja along with 2 more couple friends traveled to Chettinad and
Tanjore during 23/27 September 2018. For us it was a study cum Fam tour and for friends, it was a
kind of short paid holiday. A brief feedback report FYR is given herein under.
23/9/18 : -
There is no direct flight and therefore took a flight Delhi/ Chennai/Trichy. Trichy is the nearest
airport for Chettinad. The Chettinad region stretches roughly 80 square kilometers and comprises
seventy six villages. Rich in cultural heritage, cuisine, art and architecture the region is a must
visit for every serious traveller.
We Arrived at about 4 pm at Trichy airport and drove for about 1.15 hr to Chettinad district and checked in at CGH hotel Visalam at Kanadukathan village. An old mansion converted into a hotel. Very neat and clean CGH style hotel. Large, simple but very beautiful rooms, very nice bathrooms. Excellent pool area and nice restaurant and sitting area. No minibar and tea/coffe maker in the rooms.
24/9/18
After breakfast along with a guide from hotel, We visited Athangudi village to see the handmade tiles. It was interesting to know that, how handmade tiles are made. We stopped there for about 15 minutes and continued to Laxmi House, this was very nearby.
Laxmi house is an old huge one of the most beautiful mansion and is a must visit. This was the best place we visited.
Then we visited the Village kottayur for rich mansions. The owners of Visalam has a mantion here. Which we visited. It was interesting but laxmi house was too good.
Then in Kairakudi village we saw the The Bangla boutique property.
The Bangala, It is a beautiful heritage boutique property, very beautiful rooms, very large well maintained Swimming pool with nice greenery around, nice restaurant. They have new and old wing and the rooms looking over the pools were very good. They have same rates for all rooms. it is at par with visalam hotel. if someone is looking for quite place then, Visalam is better and if someone is looking for a busy place then the Bangala is better.
The antique market. Nearby there was an antique market. This is intestine if someone wants to visit the street. Can put it in the itineraries.
Thereafter we Went to Chidambravilas hotel for authentic banana leaf lunch.
It was a great experience. All loved it. Saw the hotel. Beautiful old mansion converted into a hotel. Decent rooms, the view from the rooftop is amazing. Lot of deserted old mansions are around this property. Didn’t take a walk but will be interesting. This hotel is ok but NOT for high end clients, it can be used for medium category. The Visalam and The Bangala are better and more professionally run hotels but the structure of this Chidambravilas is amazing. To organize a lunch at Chidambravilas is a good option so the clients can see this area and this hotel.
Evening at Visalam, We did a bullock cart ride for half hour in the village. Was interesting. The Park hotel chain has taken over an old mansion which soon will be converted into a hotel.
Evening had our dinner at the restaurant. Nice grilled food.
Over all Chettinad is a beautiful place and we must add into the itineraries.
25/9/18
After breakfast left for Tanjore, 2 hour’s drive. Checked into Swatma hotel. It is a nice hotel, A boutique touch on the entrance, at the reception and in the old heritage wing. We were given rooms at the new wing, which were okay but not as good as the heritage wing. On our request they gave 2 rooms in heritage wing and one room on the next day. The hotel is quite beautiful, with beautiful pool, very nice Spa area, nice seating in the heritage wing and nice two restaurants and a bar. However IT IS A PURE VEGETARIAN HOTEL. We should inform the clients in advance.
Met guide Shekhar, Afternoon visit to the main palace, library and then the temple. Most temples are closed from 12/4 pm due to heat. The palace main entrance was really poor. Overall the palace and the library not well kept but has a lot of sculptures, statues and manuscripts in the library. It’s good to see all this. The clients should visit these places.
Hotel Ideal River Resort, It was about 20 minute drive from the city. A nice well maintained resort, good greenery, rooms were also good and most of them facing the river. A huge restaurant with an open air seating facing the river. Good size swimming pool. Overall a nice property and can be used for mid category clients.
Bheerdehwara Temple visit was an Amazing experience. The whole complex is beautiful. Well maintained, lot of intricate work on the exteriors. It’s a running temple and therefore lot of devotees and visitors etc. The clients can easily spend 2 hours there. Came back and had dinner at Swatma. Course meal but our group didn’t like it much. According to me, for foreigners it should be okay.
26/9/18
After breakfast left at about 11am for Kumbakonam.
Met the lady guide at Darasura temple. It was extremely hot this time. Some ceremony was going on in the main temple and therefore couldn’t really enjoy the interiors. Exteriors are really beautiful and worth visiting. The guide also took us to silk weaving houses but actually they demonstrate and thereafter they want to sell.
Lunch at Mantrakoodam, CGH property, Very nice beautiful resort with a lot of open area. The rooms were very large, well equipped and CGH touch is there. A nice large pool but they still need to make the pool area more beautiful.
Visited INDeco hotel, swamimalai , I saw the hotel and the rooms. I didn’t like it much. The lobby is a like a museum, the rooms were too loud. I found the cheap furniture and the class was missing. NOT for our clients.
Visited bronze making factory for statues. In this area there are lot of factories. After showing they want to sell but interesting to know the process of making bronze statues.
Paradise hotel, Met Latha, the director. The lobby area is quite poor ( which i informed her )and you are not sure as to what to expect inside. However, is like a resort, good greenery, well maintained, good decent size good rooms and decent bathrooms. Nice large pool. She wanted to show some more cottages which were about 10 minutes walk, i didn’t go there due to time constraint. This property can be used for mid segment clients.
Returned to the hotel at Tanjore. Had Italian dinner at their restaurant. The restaurant at night looks beautiful, between 7/8 they had Veena Recital, very soothing music and for clients it will be great. Food and the service was ok.
Overall the Tanjore and Kumbhakonam should be included in the itineraries.
Next morning
After breakfast left for Trichy airport about 1.15 hr drive.
I took a flight to cochin for KTM and the friends and Guneeta came back via Chennai. I hope that, it helps all to choose the right hotels and to prepare an interesting itinerary.
Suggested Tours
South India Temple Tour - 8 Nights / 9 Days
Places:Arrive Mumbai, Chennai, Mahabalipuram, Tanjore, Trichy, Madurai, Mumbai & Departure
https://www.tsiholidays.com/tour/south-india-temple-tour/
