Chettinad is a region located in the Sivagangai district of Tamil Nadu. It once consisted of 94 vibrant villages, but that number has now dwindled down to 75. The Nattukottai Chettiars who lived in this region belonged to a business and banking community; they generated their wealth by trading with the south-eastern nations.

With the wealth they amassed, they built massive mansions. They brought back materials of great beauty and included them in the building of their palatial homes. It would be no surprise to find exquisitely carved Burmese teak pillars lining the inner courtyards or stained glass from England for their windows. Most of these prosperous Nattukottai Chettiars have moved out of Chettinad now and only visit their mansions for festivities.

To experience the best in Chettinad architecture, you should visit the Chettinad Palace. It is an exquisite coming together of art, architecture, and tradition and offers a remarkable tribute to the rich cultural heritage of this region. It was designed and built by Dr. Annamalai Chettiar in 1912 and still stands tall and proud. Dr. Annamalai is also the founder of the Annamalai University and the Indian Bank.

Welcome to Chennai’s 1st sea facing palace, an architectural heritage inspired by the grandeur of the Chettinad dynasty. The Leela Palace Chennai keeps a majestic watch over the immediate azure. The Chettinad Palace (Raja’s Palace) in Kanadukathan is another grand mansion where visitors are not allowed in; it is definitely worth stopping by for a look from the road (or take a virtual tour at www.view360.in/virtualtour/karaikudi).

As with other mansions, materials from European and South-east Asian countries have been used in its construction. The rich teakwood furniture, exquisite marble tiling, Belgian mirrors and chandeliers, carpets and other decorative materials were all imported. Huge wooden pillars and exquisitely carved doors are all made of teakwood imported from Burma. The best part is that the different arts and styles have blended in together perfectly to give the palace an identity that’s totally unique and beautiful.

It is a prime tourist attraction with thousands of people visiting its gracious beauty every year. The floor of the waiting area is covered in exquisite white marble. The meeting hall has numerous family portraits, several pairs of African ivory tusks as well as a gleaming collection of colored crystals. The ceiling is also very artistically designed and eye-catching. There are intricately carved figurines and wooden carvings as well as showpieces from various countries.

The walls are 1.5 to 3 feet thick, ensuring that the palace interiors are always cool. There are a number of interior courtyards serving different purposes and a visit will surely enrich your knowledge of Chettinad traditions.

While visiting the Chettinad region, stay over at the heritage Chidambara Vilas hotel which is a palatial renovated Chettinad mansion that offers an authentic experience of the sights, sounds, and tastes of this grand region.

Getting here is easy as there are excellent rail and road connectivity with closeby Trichy offering the nearest airport.

MAM Ramaswamy, 84, was crowned a Forbes Billionaire in 2012. His house alone, called Chettinad Palace (3D view), is estimated to be worth a whopping Rs. 2000 crore.

MAM Ramaswamy inherited the Chettinad business empire from his grandfather, Raja Annamali Chettiar. He built the business into a massive conglomerate with interests in cement, logistics, power, steel, minerals, plantations, healthcare, education, etc.

MAM Ramaswamy’s other notable achievement is that he is an avid race horse racer. He and Dr. Vijay Mallya were, during the latter’s glory days, collaborators and competitors in horse racing. One could frequently spot the duo living life king-size amidst the lush green race courses of the World.

While Dr. Vijay Mallya reportedly paid Rs. 4 crore for “Air Support”, an imported stallion, MAM Ramaswamy holds a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for winning over 500 classic races. He owns about 1000 horses presently.

MAM Ramaswamy does not have any children of his own. He adopted Muthiah in 1995.

Chettinad Palace Wikipedia

Muthiah, now 43 years old, has turned out to be an ace industrialist in his own right. Under his watch, the Chettinad group has grown by leaps and bounds. Its turnover increased from Rs. 60 crore to Rs. 4000 crore. The group has planned an investment of Rs. 4000 crore to set up/ increase capacity in cement plants, logistics business, power plant etc.

Presently, the unfortunate situation is that MAM Ramaswamy and Muthiah are locked in a bitter struggle for control over the empire.

Muthiah appears to have won the first round. He managed to have a resolution passed at the AGM of Chettinad Cement, the flagship of the group, to remove MAM Ramaswamy from the position of director.

Ramaswamy fought back by getting the Registrar of Companies to declare the resolution “null and void”. In a counter attack, Muthiah claimed that the ROC had been bribed Rs. 10 lakhs and got the poor fellow arrested by the CBI.

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The two have also lodged police complaints against each other. While earlier the complaints were about “harassment” and seeking to “oust from the Chettinad Palace”, things reached a flash point with Ramaswamy alleging that Muthiah was seeking to “eliminate” him and that he had sent goons over to the Chettinad Palace for that purpose.

MAM Ramaswamy’s final trump card is to annul the adoption. However, Muthiah was not fazed by that threat. “I have not heard anything about it. It will not affect me personally. He cannot disown me” he told the Hindu.

The latest news is that Muthiah has made a bid to calm the storm and to call a truce. However, his conditions are stiff. He wants Ramaswamy to “break free” from his “ill advisors” who are “poisoning” his mind. Worse, he wants Ramaswamy to stay away from the management of Chetttinad Cement and not interfere in business activities.

Muthiah has not indicated what he will give Ramaswamy in return for the latter relinquishing control.

Whether MAM Ramswamy will accept Muthiah’s offer and put an end to the sordid family drama requires to be watched closely.