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Karaikudi is the biggest City in Sivaganga district. Known as the capital of Chettinad, because of the predominance of the "Nattu Kottai Chettiars" who have from here have ventured far and wide to set up their businesses even at the turn of the 20th century. Karaikudi is also home of two famous Institutions, Alagappa University and CECRI (Central Electro Chemical Research Institute).

Karaikudi is known as an ancestral home of Chettiars. It is 80 kilometers away from Madurai. It is famous for its Chettinad Mansion, CECRI (Central Electro Chemical Research Institute), Temples, Old buildings, Gopura karai saris and Chettinad delicious tasty dishes. Nowadays it is termed as a shooting spot for Tamil and Telugu film industries and as well as a tourist center. Tourists come in large numbers to have to have a view on history of Chettinad buildings. One of the well known countryâ€™s magazine recently came out with surprising news wherein it was mentioned that Chettinad was one among the top 5 fast growing vacation spots in India. Hence, Karaikudi will provide relaxing and enjoyable time to tourists who will cherish the memories for long. Karaikudi and 74 other villages comprise Chettinad, the homeland of the Nattukottai Chettiars. The Chettiars were a prosperous banking community who ventured overseas to do business in South and Southeast Asia in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Karaikudi is 40 km from Sivaganga and 60 Km from the famous temple town of Madurai, which is connected by air to Bangalore, and by air and rail with Chennai.

By air: Madurai is the airport closest to the Chettinad region (90km/2.5hrs). Both Indian Airlines and Jet Airways fly Chennai-Madurai daily.

By train: The Rameshwaram Express from Chennai's Egmore station to Karaikudi Junction is a comfortable overnight option.

By road: Karaikudi is approximately 480km from Chennai, 90 Kms from Madurai and 100 Kms from Trichy.

Chettinad Houses : Built on a rectangular plot stretching to two streets with the front door towards the street and the back to the second room. The rooms are formed in a straight line across the inner court yard each having an outlet to the back door. The platform leads to the store room and to the massive granaries. It even leads to the accountant's room. The front door is carved with teak wood and opens in to the courtyard with pillared corridors. There is a third corridor dedicated to the ladies of the family for rest and meetings.

Kamban Mani Mandapam : It is the residence of the great Tamil poet and literature Kavi Chakravarthy Kamban. The poet has spent a valuable part of his life in this place and hence the Mandapam was built to respect his honour and fame with programs on Tamil Literature held every year in the place.

Kaviarsar Kannadhasan Mani Mandabam
Located opposite to the New Bus-Stand of Karaikudi is the Kaviarsar Kannadhasan Mani Mandabam in the honour of late poet-laureate Kannadhasan. It has two entrances and in between the two is the statue of Kaviarsar Kannadhasan. It has a library, Art Gallery and Photo Exhibition.

Chettinadu Mansion: The Raja's palace of Chettinad is its pride. At Kanadukaathan, the Chettinad Mansion, museum next door to the Raja's palace is yet another attraction. No one should miss the railway station, which has the Raja's special waiting room.

Athangudi tiles: Athangudi tiles, named after their place of manufacture in Chettinad, come in myriad colors and patterns and are made by a unique process using local soil. These tiles are a testimony to the rich cultural heritage of the Chettiar community, who effectively adapted many influences to their own brand of local craftsmanship. The designs and colors used in Athangudi tiles are still those of a bygone era. The artisans say the charisma of those tiles is due to sand, which is of just the right composition. Cement, baby jelly and sand along with synthetic oxides make the composition of the tile. The art of making these tiles is a traditional activity at Chettinad

Pillaiyar Patti Lord Ganesha Temple : Kairaikudi is known all over the country for the rock cut temple of Lord Ganesha. The temple is placed at a distance of 12kms from the city center. Built in the 16th century by the Pandiya kings over the top of a hillock, it holds the image of Karpaga Vinayaka. Along with the image of the Karmapa there is also a Shiva Lingum carved out of a stone by a renowned sculptor by the name of Ekkattur Koon Peruparanaum whose signature is found every where on the sanctum.

Meenakshi Temple : The Meenakshi-Sundareswarar temple is an attraction which the tourist never forget to visit on their tour to Karaikudi. Considered one of the most important places of Hindu Pilgrimage, the temple was built in the Dravidian style of architecture. The Gopurams or the gateways and the mandapams, the multi pillared halls are covered from top to the base with different images of the Hindu deities, animals and mythical figures. The temple is also known as Sivan Temple and its shrine was constructed in the year 1872. The most interesting fact about the temple is that it holds 108 statues of Ganapathy Vinayaka..

Kundrakudi Murugan Temple: In Kundrakudi the Lord Murugan Temple is set up in a very small hill. Here Lord Muruga appears with his wives Lord Valli and Deivanai. The Murugan statue is set up with six faces and hence here Lord Murugan is called as "Lord Shanmuga", the meaning is Lord Murugan with six faces. The temple is under the control of Kundrakudi Aadhinam and maintained by them efficiently. At the bottom of the hill, there is a small temple for Lord Ganesh who is the brother of Lord Muruga and another temple is also at the bottom of the hill itself for Lord Muruga in the name Lord Palani Murugan. In this Palani Murugan temple the main statue is not fixed on floor and set up in a bar. Because this statue is brought to palani by the Kundrakudi Pada yatra group people every year at the time of Thaipoosam festival. Then on the way to the main temple three more mini temples are there, two temples for again Lord Ganesha and one for Lord Kadamba who is one of the famous devotees of Lord Muruga. In the main temple as already stated Lord Muruga is appearing with six faces and along with his wives.

ThenTirupathi : Dedicated to Lord Srinivasa Perumal, is a vast temple complex with a 100 year old history and referred to as "Then Tirupati" and "Arulmigu Ariyakkudi ThiruvenkadamudaiyanTemple". This temple was build by Nattukkotai Nagarathars. After 100 years, this shrine was renovated by the cost of Rs.10 million and Consecrated recently on 16th September 1999. Then Thirupathy at ariyakudi is 5 km away from karaikudi.This allayam is considered next to Srirangamâ€™s allayam and alternative of main Thirupathy.

Chettinad Food: Chettinad food is the main branch of south Indian cuisine that specialises in the preparation of non vegetarian food, hot and pungent with fresh ground masalas, and topped with a boiled egg that is somehow considered essential for a proper meal. At the same time, there are a number of sun dried meats and salted vegetables, stored by the achis or the Chettiar housewives, who make use of every seed, fruit or legume that grows in their dry countryside.
As with many communities in the South, most of the dishes such as dosais, appams, iddiappams, adais and idlis have a rice base. Through their contact with Burma, the Chettiars have also learnt to prepare certain dishes with the sticky red rice that is cooked into a rice pudding or made into a red tinged string hopper. Taste the chettinad food and see for yourself.