The Architectural Style of Nagarathaar Houses

The Architectural Style of Nagarathaar Houses

Author Name : K. Thangaraj, Dr. C. Selvaraj

ABSTRACT

Sivagangai, is one of the district in Tamilnadu. Sivaganga is the headquarters of the district. Next to Sivaganga Karaikudi is the major town in the district, Chettinad is a common name used for the villages (96 villages) of Chetinad It is the homeland of the Nattukottai Chettiars called as Nagarathar.

The origin of the Nagaraththar or the successful trading Community of Chettiars, also called as the Nattukottai Chettiars The Nattukottai Chettiars migrated from the Kaveripoompatinam Presumably after a massive and devastating flood. The new settlement became the land of chettiars with 96 villages spreading over 1000 sq. miles. Currently it has shrunt to 56 villages in Sivagangai and 20 villages in Pudukkottai Districts. Karaikudi is the main village and Karaikudi and surrounding areas called as Chettinad.

The architectural features of the houses comprised of series of courtyards organized along a longitudinal axis as well as the use of material is taking into consideration the semi-arid and hot climate. Chettinad architecture is also closely linked to the life cycle rituals of the Chettiar community. The mansions were conceived to perform the different functions, rituals and family celebrations during the course of life from birth to  death. In addition to the lifecycle rituals, the temple and village festivals are part of the Chettiar culture forming a large set of rituals all over the Tamil year.

In order to construct and decorate these mansions, materials and expertise were brought from all over the world, which added to the cultural glory of Chettinad. For examples, teak wood was imported from Burma, sandal wood from Ceylon, marble from Italy and Belgium, cast iron and steel from UK and India, ceiling in metal plates from Great Britain, tiles from Bombay, Japan, Germany, France and England, chandeliers from Belgium, France and Italy. As they required the best, they also brought skills from different regions of India such as woodcarving, frescoes and egg-plastering.