Chidambara Vilas - A Luxury Heritage Resort

Chettinad has been on my bucket list forever, and there was no better way to experience the region than to stay at a luxury Chettiar Mansion, Chidambara Vilas. Chettinad is built on the history and heritage of the Chettiars. Chidambara Vilas is an example of it. The architectural style, with the steps leading up to a magnificent outer portico, the entrance of grand and intricately carved Burma teak doors inviting you into the courtyard with family rooms and then onto a magnificent dining hall and onwards to large and comfortable rooms replete with all amenities, in my opinion, immediately draws you in as a visitor into a slice of life exactly as it would have been for the Chettiars. An immersive experience you'll get no where else. It is tough to separate the building from the hospitality, and here I experienced the finest of hospitality under the capable hands of the GM, Senthil Kumar. The entire Chidambara Vilas (CV) team, led by him, are warm, welcoming and brimming with smiles and a readiness to help. So it is an ideal home away from home from which to go out and explore all of Chettinad and its delights and return to the care and hospitality of the CV team. They look out for your every need, from a refreshing drink to amenities in your room or a special dish for dinner/ breakfast according to your request. The tour de force of my stay was the 2 hour CV tour with the GM. Having travelled the world, it is seldom I come across people with a true passion and knowledge of the place they are taking you around. It is clear Senthil is one of the few who is not only passionate about CV and Chettinad, but that he has put in the painstaking research and time to understand their history and connect it to the tour of CV. He has met over 80 Chettiars and this depth and mastery of knowledge reflects in the stories he weaves as he introduces you both to the way of life and the immense value the Chettiars have brought to the country as well as the secrets of their ways of living as unveiled in the various rooms, corridors and nooks of CV. It was a thrilling experience for a history buff like me. So do make sure you sign up for this tour. Thank you to the CV team for the most memorable and magical holiday experience, one that I will always cherish. Senthil, Muthu, Hari, Glory, Shah Jahan, Vembarsi and the rest of the team, your warmth and care is a reference point for the hospitality industry. If ever I return, there is no where else I would choose to stay but with you in CV.

4 ratings is mainly for over priced food and accommodation.. the hospitality, the environment, the staff, the rooms all are perfect and very good. Friendly staffs, spacious rooms, tasty food. But the lunch and Dinner prices are overpriced for a regular plantain leaf meals (Rs1000 plus taxes-) the menu was not completely a rich food, all were local vegetables and regular South Indian cuisine.. the dinner a la carte was even more worst. A plate of idly (3 nos) priced at Rs.300 which we felt we were really ripped off. For 3 star rating hotel- the pricing is 5 star level.. if the accommodation cost and food pricing is kept at decent prices, a worth place to stay one night just for the experience of seeing Chettinad architecture and learn their life style.

The hotel manager was not so kind to handle customers, and being rude while we are staying there, the tariff was higher than other hotels. Others are offering more cheap prices. Best i recommend to go other hotels. Need more higher standards.

Before few months, one of my friend took me to this hotel by seeing in online for lunch when we came for chettinad tour. The food was not upto mark, the staffs and manager behaviour was not quite good. I hope they will change the concerned things.

Excellent property. The staff are really helpful and the food is very tasty. There is a tour of the properties which is very good and informative. This is a restored Chettinad house with a small courtyard in which children can run around in. In the tour you are taken to the terrace of the house from which the view is beautiful. The roof of the Durbar hall is very intricately carved. The Thirumayam temple and fort are very close by.

Wow, what a beautiful building. The history in this place is amazing. We did the tour of the hotel with a member of staff and it was so interesting. The staff were super friendly and very obliging. The food was good. The swimming pool looked super clean but we didn't have the time to use it. The outside bar area by the pool was good to mix with friends. The bedroom was amazing...a four poster bed. You could imagine how this building would have been so luxurious in it's hayday. This is definitely a hotel to cone and visit.