Visalam

Visalam was the splendid house that KVAL Ramanathan Chettiar built for his eldest daughter, Visalakshi, in Chettinad more than a century ago. However, Visalam never became the lively family home it was intended to be and was used only for occasional family gatherings during the period following its construction. A half-century later it passed onto us bringing with it an unparalleled legacy and a technical challenge of the highest order. How were we to restore this masterpiece while remaining faithful to its original conception? It was a task that we met with diligence and pride, selecting both materials and people who approached Visalam’s restoration with great care and skill as you would a work of art. No sweeping changes were made to the building’s interiors except to partition its vast halls into comfortable guest rooms from which to experience a palpable presence of the past. Today at Visalam, one of our landmark heritage properties, you can bear witness to an ambiance that still exudes the spirit of the times it was built in. Its character remains unchanged over the decades and faithfully recalls its original inspiration – the touching saga of a father’s gift to his first daughter!