9 DAYS ~ £1,521
Stay at Chettinadu Mansion, built in 1902, now one of the most spectacular heritage mansions in Chettinadu, offering an insight into the fascinating past of the area. Here learn the secrets of Chettinad cuisine in deepest Tamil Nadu. The Chettiar were a very successful trading community, and many recipes reflect the countries they traded with. For example, sticky red rice from Burma. The food is mainly non - vegetarian with fish, prawns, lobster, crab, chicken and mutton on the menu. Sun dried meats and salted vegetable are common. Dishes are hot and pungent and typically topped off with a boiled egg. Most dishes are accompanied by rice or rice related preparations – dosa, appams, idlis etc.
Chennai • Chettinadu • Madurai • Chennai
Day 1. To Chennai
Fly from Heathrow to Chennai on direct British Airways flight.
Day 2. To Madurai afternoon
Chennai sightseeing
Arrive Chennai early in the morning and transfer to Hotel Raintree. Afternoon sightseeing including Fort St. George and St. Mary’s Church. Overnight 1st class train to Madurai.
Day 3. To Chettinadu with village sightseeing
Arrive Madurai in the morning. Transfer to Chettinadu. After lunch village sightseeing including viewing otherMansions. 4 nights stay at Chettinadu Mansion.
Day 4. Morning excursion afternoon culinary demonstration
After breakfast visit the Athangudi tile factory and the colourful vegetable market. Perhaps buy produce for the afternoon lesson. After lunch demonstration of a Chettinadu recipe. Spices are so important to the cuisine – marathi mokku (dried flower pods) anasipoo (star anise), tamarind and saunf (fennel seed) are amongst the favourites used.
Day 5. Sightseeing in Karaikudu and afternoon culinary demnstration
After breakfast sightseeing of Antique shops in Karaikudi filled with memorabilia, and the see the handloom Sari weaving centre. After lunch demonstration of a luncheon meal. The dishes are hot and pungent, with fresh ground masalas adding the flavour and fragrance.
Day 6. Morning sightseeing and afternoon culinary demonstration
Local morning sightseeing. After lunch demonstration of a dinner recipe. Chettinad cuisine is one of the spiciest and the most aromatic in India, during demonstrations learn how to prepare the spices.
Day 7. To Madurai and Sri Meenakshi
Temple visit After breakfast receive a book of recipes. Drive to Madurai. Afternoon to relax before late evening visit to the SriMeenakshi Temple to see the “going to bed ceremony’. Overnight stay at The Gateway Hotel, Madurai.
Day 8. To Chennai
Morning at leisure to explore this pulsating Temple city. The Sri Meenakshi Temple is a superb example of Dravidian architecture with nine gopurams, ablaze with colour with carvings depicting the pantheon of Gods. Afternoon fly to Chennai. Overnight at Hotel Trident.
Day 9. To London
Fly to Heathrow on direct British Airways flight.
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