The Lotus Palace Chettinad, a luxury heritage hotel by Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels Ltd will host Kalai, a four-day the Chettinad Art and Architecture Festival in Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu from April 3, 2026.
Curated by the Lotus Palace Chettinad in collaboration with Chettinad’s most iconic heritage properties, The Bangala, Visalam, Chidambara Vilas, Chettinad Mansion and Saratha Vilas – Kalai will offer guests a journey through architecture, culture, art, history, food, and living heritage through a thoughtfully curated set of experiences.
Kalai will unfold across centuries, old Chettiar mansions, sacred temples, and vibrant craft ateliers of Chettinad, offering an intimate encounter with one of India’s most distinctive architectural legacies that celebrates a confluence of global influences and aesthetics.
Over four days, participants will traverse grand courtyards and ornate mansions to temple architecture, alongside conversations with leading conservation voices and immersive village walks.
Kalai will be more than just a festival; it will be a curated passage through space, structure, and story where art, architecture, and time will converge to offer a rare, layered perspective on heritage that continues to evolve.
The agenda of Architecture, Art & Legacy Festival include stays in restored heritage mansions, expert-led architectural tours and talks by eminent conservation architects Sujatha Shankar and Sashikala Ananth and historian Pradeep Chakravarthy and cultural evenings with live traditional performances and authentic Chettinad culinary experiences.