Religious motifs adorn the gate of a mansion in Karaikudi, in the Chettinad region of Tamil Nadu. Numbering more than 60,000, Chettinad's mansions wer
Religious motifs adorn the gate of a mansion in Karaikudi, in the Chettinad region of Tamil Nadu. Numbering more than 60,000, Chettinad's mansions were built by a tribe of people called the Nagarathars, bankers and merchants who made their fortunes ferrying teak, marble and lacquer, amongst other things, around Asia during the height of the British Raj. Requisitioned during World War 11 and unable to make a living from the desert, many abandoned their stately properties, relocating to the nearby city of Madras instead. Now unable or reluctant to pay for the upkeep of their family estates, many owners are taking apart their heirlooms – each, heavy with more than 300 tones of black teak, hand painted tiles, British iron and Danish glass - selling them into the antique shops of Jodphur and Bombay. Antique dealers believe that Chettinad’s once wealth of mansions will drop to less than 20% in the next ten years. Some Chettiars are hoping that tourism, namely converting the mansions into boutique hotels, and museums, will help to save the regions exquisite heritage.
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Photo credit: © Leisa Tyler / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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