Visalam Chettinad Palace - A CGH Earth Experience

The staff were extremely supportive, warm, and friendly throughout our stay. Being a family of 6 adults traveling with an infant, we felt truly cared for. The property is well maintained and offers a pleasant environment. The rooms were very clean. We booked 3 Chettinad suites. The upper floor suite was more spacious, while the two ground floor suites were slightly smaller. Complimentary tea in the morning and evening was a thoughtful touch that enhanced the experience. The manager was welcoming and consistently supportive.

The food was just average. If you’re familiar with authentic Tamil or Chettinad cuisine from other reputed restaurants in Tamil Nadu, this might not meet expectations. However, for travelers from other states, it could be a new experience. Parking inside the property is very limited. While the security staff were helpful, some drivers made unnecessary comments about cars from other states, which could be unpleasant.

The village in which Visalam is situated is the best amongst all Chettinad villages. It is clean and has a lot of mansions around. The hotel feels more like a home with excellent food, great service and smiling faces all around. The filter coffee is super 👌. Swimming pool and restaurant areas are well laid out. Nice cotton sarees in the hotel shop as well. Room 204 is Huge! The hotel made a convenient base for us to go around the mansions as well as to Tanjore, Karaikudi, Athangudi and Madurai.

Beautifully restored and very well maintained. Stunning rooms very comfortable and the most amazing food. The staff were super helpful in every way. I had a medical emergency and they were most helpful to get me to the hospital nearby.

Everything was amazing.

Amazing old property totally renovated in every minute detail. Right at the entrance of town, walking distance to everything. Food was unique, delicious and very fresh and light to digest. Staff was of the most helpful and smiling all the time.

I liked every single moment spent there.

Unique heritage experience

Nothing

Gorgeous property, lovely rooms which takes you back in time and the ground staff were genuinely nice, and the cycling tour was a highlight. One reception girl was polite. But overall, the front office felt untrained, uninterested, and far too comfortable treating guests like an inconvenience. Visalam is one of the most beautiful properties I’ve stayed in stunning heritage architecture, peaceful surroundings, and endless potential for a memorable stay

(Dear CGH Earth, please train Manager Mohan & team before the building’s charm starts apologising for them.) Visalam is one of the most beautiful properties I’ve stayed in stunning heritage architecture, peaceful surroundings, and endless potential for a memorable stay. Unfortunately, the people running it seemed determined to make the service the part we remember most… and not in a good way. From the start, the reception was mostly empty, and when someone was there, they seemed more interested in their phones than in guests. The young girl at the desk had perfected the art of the side-eye whether it was check-in, check-out, or a simple question, she could deliver it with precision. Meals were a whole separate challenge. Told to order 3 hours in advance, I called 2 hours before lunch no one picked up at first. When they finally did, lunch was declared “ready”… and yet arrived 45 minutes later. At one point, we asked in reception where everyone was, only to be told “they all went for lunch” meaning, at a luxury property, there was literally no staff available anywhere except this one girl at the desk. The restaurant itself? Completely deserted. Evening snacks at 6 PM? “Nothing available” we were told we should have ordered earlier. This, at a property with a restaurant, in a remote village with no other restaurants, no shops, no tea/coffee maker in the room, not even a biscuit or tea bag. For a CGH Earth hotel, that’s not “authentic simplicity,” it’s just poor planning. The Periya Veedu episode deserves its own mention, we planned to go to Periya Veedu at 12 PM and the reception told it was closed till 4 PM, went at 4, and were told it was open all day and it was closing in 30 minutes. When I brought this up, the young side eye expert blamed a “puja,” and Manager Mohan gave his iconic line “That’s not our problem.” Checkout was the cherry on top.

The rooms were phenomenal. Heritage walk and especially morning cycling session by Mr. Siva was really worth it. The staff were friendly and the food was good.

NIL