Visalam was the splendid house that KVAL Ramanathan Chettiar built for his eldest daughter, Visalakshi, in Chettinad more than a century ago. However, Visalam never became the lively family home it was intended to be and was used only for occasional family gatherings during the period following its construction. A half-century later it passed onto us bringing with it an unparalleled legacy and a technical challenge of the highest order.
How were we to restore this masterpiece while remaining faithful to its original conception? It was a task that we met with diligence and pride, selecting both materials and people who approached Visalam’s restoration with great care and skill as you would a work of art. No sweeping changes were made to the building’s interiors except to partition its vast halls into comfortable guest rooms from which to experience a palpable presence of the past.
Visalam recalls a way of life that was truly extraordinary. The Chettiar community of this region were prosperous traders who loved the good life. Their palatial houses were standing testaments to an aesthetic sense that was lofty in its conception and painstaking in its details. A celebrated residence though it once was, Visalam today is a veritable museum, having preserved almost everything of its original character and interiors from the time it was built almost a century ago. The rooms are large with high ceilings, gleaming floors and polished windows and doors that characterize comfort and luxury of a very warm and intimate kind. The furniture is period in style, flawlessly crafted and made from the finest Burma teak. The floors and walls are inlaid with the famous Aathangudy tiles that are handmade to this very day. To complement this antique spirit of the house, we have added a service style that is rooted in the tradition and culture of this region, making for a holiday experience that is as magnificent as it is local in nature.
The pearly lustre of the plastering of the walls and pillars of the homes is unique to this region. It is a rather unusual formula consisting of eggshells, lime, palm jaggery and seashells, ground together by hand to make the base material for plastering. The final polishing is done with the white of eggs, whose proportions for mixing and casting are known only to a few. The end result, however, is more well known - astonishingly smooth and glossy finishes that have to be seen and touched to be believed!
The bed runners, cushions and even the uniforms of our people at Visalam are sourced from the famed handloom weavers of Chettinad who still make colorful cotton fabrics the traditional way.
Visalam is a veritable showpiece for these famous tiles that are a leitmotif in many a grand Chettinad home. Part of their allure lies in the fact that they are made entirely by hand through a process perfected over many generations. There are over one hundred small-scale tile factories in the village of Aathangudy, about 10 Kms from Visalam, where this unique handmade tile making process still continues.
Visalam recalls a way of life that was truly extraordinary. The Chettiar community of this region were prosperous traders who loved the good life. Their palatial houses were standing testaments to an aesthetic sense that was lofty in its conception and painstaking in its details. A celebrated residence though it once was, Visalam today is a veritable museum, having preserved almost everything of its original character and interiors from the time it was built almost a century ago. The rooms are large with high ceilings, gleaming floors and polished windows and doors that characterize comfort and luxury of a very warm and intimate kind. The furniture is period in style, flawlessly crafted and made from the finest Burma teak. The floors and walls are inlaid with the famous Aathangudy tiles that are handmade to this very day. To complement this antique spirit of the house, we have added a service style that is rooted in the tradition and culture of this region, making for a holiday experience that is as magnificent as it is local in nature.
As per the temporary regulations by the government for COVID-19 safety, there may be slight changes to the amenities offered. Please check with us in case of a requirement. Check-in at 2 pm & Check-out at 11 am, Dental Kit, Shaving Kit, Comb, Bathrobe, Hairdryer, Footwear, Tea / Coffee Maker , 2 Bottles of Packaged Drinking Water per day, Sewing Kit, Electric Iron on request, Safe Deposit Locker, Hot & Cold Water, Iron board on Request, WiFi is complimentary, Air conditioned rooms.