Skeleton remains of children unearthed as part of Keeladi excavations in Konthagai, Sivaganga district on July 7, 2020. | Photo Credit: Ashok R A newly laid road runs through Keeladi, a village in Sivaganga district of Tamil Nadu, that has now earned a significant place on India’s political and cultural map. A steady stream of … Read more
Archaeological excavations in progress at Keeladi in Tamil Nadu’s Sivaganga district. File | Photo Credit: The Hindu Civilisation and culture are deeply entwined in the identity of any society and attempts to reinterpret or regulate them often invite political consequences. Over the past fortnight, this became clear when political parties in Tamil Nadu put up … Read more
Chettinad is a fever dream. On its sun-baked arid landscape, punctuated by cacti and laced with palm trees, majestic century-old mansions rise like castles in a children’s tale. Set in quiet villages, and springing up on narrow dusty roads, these ornate structures shimmer like mirages in the unrelenting heat. Their cavernous rooms, divided by pleasingly … Read more
Walk through Chettinad’s bustling lanes, and you will be welcomed by heritage mansions featuring intricate handiwork, ponds with lotus blooms, and ancient temples with ornate facades. The region once helmed by the Nattukottai Chettiars, was known for its opulence in every realm: architecture, culinary heritage, art and craft, and more. While only 11,000 mansions remain … Read more