The Palmyrah is situated in the scenic countryside about 15 minutes west of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Mamallapuram, just off the East Coast Road that connects Chennai with Pondicherry. The villa is approximately 90 minutes from Chennai and its Airport. As you drive along the winding country road, you pass along stretches of verdant paddy of varying hues until you see the bright terracotta tiled roof of Palmyrah welcoming you.
 

The villa is a contemporary expression of the glorious architectural heritage of Kerala and Chettinad. On its exteriors, neo-classical columns, white walls and balustrades prop up the classical double layered Kerala-style tiled roofs. As you climb the steps up and walk across the threshold, all the classical elements of a true Chettinad mansion greet you with the central courtyard and all the common and private spaces arranged around it.
 

The rear side verandah, pool and lawns pay homage to the rising sun. And the upper terrace and lawns on the front delight with beautiful views and riveting sunsets.

The main entrance to Palmyrah leads to a formal living room with seating. Beyond this lies the central rectangular shaped open-to-sky courtyard.
 

As you move in a clockwise direction around the courtyard, you pass two bedrooms and a powder room. At the rear side of the courtyard is the dining room and western kitchen - a classical Chettinad way of laying out spaces. Three sets of French doors lead to the rear verandah and lawns and the swimming pool.
 

As you move in an anti-clockwise direction, you pass a third bedroom, a chess nook, and stairs that lead to the first floor. Beyond, is the informal living room with a rattan swing and colourful sofas - perfect for lounging. After dark, wooden blinds come down to create temporary walls and the space transforms into an air-conditioned TV room where you can enjoy a cinematic experience with the 4K projector and giant screen.
 

Upstairs lies the master bedroom and a mezzanine over the formal living space, A wide covered deck and terrace look out to paddy fields and palms.

Three of the four bedrooms at the Palmyrah are located on the ground floor and lead off from the central courtyard.
The enormous Yellow and Red Bedrooms with their colour themed Athangudi tiles are air-conditioned and have king beds, beautiful linen, and luxurious contemporary bathrooms. The smaller Blue Bedroom is ideal for a teenagers or a senior traveller.
 

The first floor Master Bedroom with wooden floors has a romantic four-poster king bed and its own large screen LED TV with OTT programming. Wide French doors open out onto a west-facing balcony that is also accessible from the mezzanine and is a shared space. The bedroom is framed on two sides by the glass-paned green surroundings. With its high-vaulted ceiling and Mangalore-tiles, this is truly a lovely and special place to sleep in and to wake up to.