Visalam Chettinad Palace - CGH Earth

This is a truly stellar set up. From the moment you arrive, there are little gestures and thoughtful things that make such a difference and provide a stand-out stay. There are natural fragrances in various parts of the building and the hotel supports local small industries. The property is built ***** the conventional lines of the Chettinad ***sions, so apart from seeing 3 as we did, all within walking distance, you can experience living in one too! (We tried to visit the palace - there are varying informations on whether it is open to the public, and it is not. However, one of the guests had ***aged to book an appointment to visit, so... ). The rooms are really comfortable, the WiFi very good. Breakfast is served on the lawn at the back and they offer a good selection including home made bread. In the evening the restaurant offers delicious, freshly cooked food. The pool is a terrific size, really clean and great for doing lengths. They offer heritage walks, a cooking demonstration and a 6.30 am bicycle tour which is well worth doing (about 12.5km on the flat) to experience a couple of villages and what it is really like being on wheels on the road. Overall the best experience we have had on this trip.

Just had 6 amazing nights at this very special hotel. Everything was perfect, the staff were all so very kind and helpful . We would like to give a Special mention to Shiva who took care of us and guide, for our whole stay. He even took us to the gourmet cake shop for our afternoon tea, for 3 days on the trot .thanks also to Sam the General ***ager who runs a fantastic team. Highly recommend for a real Indian experience and relaxation.

what an experience! This is all about the people, nature, community, heritage, food, all at its best. Just spent a magical 6 days here and the trips out we would not have found on our own. The food is fabulous. The staff all are highly recommended. The pool area is very relaxing spend more than a couple of nights here ~ its well worth it!

A nostalgic place to stay in. You will be transported back to the chettinad era when you stay at the Visalam. I have been here numerous times in the past with my family and friends and this is one place where you will truly find peace and an absolute atmosphere of a rural village that a city dweller can crave for. The Visalam will not have TV's in your rooms. It will not cater to you if you are looking for a St.Regis or a Four Seasons. Visalam is a place where you spend time reading a book. Strolling in the garden and watching the monkeys play during the day. It's a place where you can cycle through the small streets of the village in the early morning and experience the rural countryside. It's a place where you can experience local tradition cuisine at its best. You can enjoy the warm weather and enjoy the dip in the swimming pool by the evenings. This place will transport you back in time. The staff in Visalam are the sweetest you can ever encounter. They are 95% locals and are very humble and polite and the most welcoming people you can ever encounter. The GM and his team are the best and they truly deserve appreciation.

The property was good kept clean, room was very big and nice,, in Visalam the food & service was ordinary, I did not expect that from CGH I have stayed in Waynad & Kumarakum in CGH property yiu cannot compare it this one. They need to improve the service.

This is a beautiful heritage hotel with lovely staff. The pool area is pleasant with comfy seating. The things that spoil it are the lack of a bar and the very, very restrictive regime - there are separate areas for breakfast, lunch and dinner; lunch had to be pre-ordered and there was no facility for having a snack instead; dinner had to be pre-ordered in the afternoon and it was only possible to have 1 beer with dinner, no other options.

Highly recommended, well run hotel well placed for seeing the amazing Chettinadu ***sions. The 1930s property has been beautifully renovated throughout. The staff are friendly and helpful and the food is delicious. We enjoyed some of the activities on offer: Chettinad cookery demonstration, early morning cycle ride and guided evening walk. The pool was also a real treat after a hot day of sightseeing.

This was the second CGH hotel on our south India trip and like the first one in Pondicherry it didn’t disappoint. Lovely area for breakfast each morning under a Tree covered area. Plenty of choice. Siva gave us an informative tour of the local town. Evening dinner with the Chettinad Chicken was really good. Plus they got some beers in for us always appreciated. The room we had 104 was large and spacious no complaints. Lots of heritage. Overall an excellent hotel

Simply stunning. Beautiful stay in a lovely 1930s ***sion. Rooms on the ground floor & first floor around an open courtyard. Rooms are very large with high ceilings. My room on the 1st floor had an outdoor balcony but it was a bit too hot to use it. The rooms are air conditioned & have a ceiling fan. The floors are tiled and there are shutters on the windows. There was a large bed in the centre of the room. There is a seperate bathroom with a walk in shower & plenty of hot water. There is wifi throughout which is fast and stable. The grounds are beautiful and there is a large outdoor pool. A nice breakfast is included with both western & Indian dishes available. Dinner is an extra cost & as this is a small town there is really nowhere else to go. Dinner is three course including an Indian platter of curries and other dishes. The hotel does a heritage walk every evening & there is a cooking demonstration in the late afternoon & an early morning bike road all at no cost. The staff are wonderful, friendly and helpful. This property is a gem & should not be missed.