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. Not yet discovered by the world, Chettinad is a rural area certain to surprise even the most discerning traveller.

Apart from the houses, Karaikudi offers extensive antique shopping, weekly shandy [village market], a number of temples, visits to Craftmen working with wood and metal, silversmiths and goldsmiths, attractive Textiles and exciting Chettiar cuisine.