Chettinad’s revival fuels both restoration and dismantling of historic mansions

Chettinad is undergoing a revival. Its mansions are paying the price.

As travellers, architects and designers discover the region’s unique aesthetic via festivals and curated holidays, luxury homes and hotels across the country are increasingly being outfitted with Burmese teak doors, granite pillars, vintage tiles and even carved wooden roofs retrieved from century-old mansions. “Entire houses are being cannibalised,” says Chennai-based architect Sujatha Shankar. “Wares from these homes fuel a thriving antique market, drawing buyers in India and abroad.”