Tired of the usual seaside/mountain getaways? Up for something different, really different? Come to The Bangala where nostalgia battles with arresting charm and the hospitality of the owners wins your heart. The ‘bangala’ itself is a meeting point of styles – a 19th century Tamil bungalow done up in ’50s Art Deco style. Expect understated elegance with bright mosaic floors, airy verandahs that skirt the bungalow, planter’s chairs that scream to be lounged into with a glass of kapi and traditional Chettinad lunch served on banana leaves but complemented by authentic English silver. Sounds muddled? Not really – it’s only hopelessly charming.

USP: History, heritage, getaway. High on the romantic index.

Air: Nearest airport is Tiruchirapalii or Madurai, both 90 km away. Regular flights between Chennai and these destinations.

Rail: Nearest railheads are Madurai and Tiruchirapalli, both connected with Chennai by the overnight Madurai-Kanyakumari Express and the Rockfort Express respectively.

Road: Karaikudi is a two-hour drive from Madurai and Tiruchirapali. The drive from Chennai takes nine hours.

Comfortable living room decorated in a riot of colours, black and white portraits on the walls, quaint four-poster beds, authentic home cooked Chettinad cuisine, verdant garden with blooming gulmohurs. Also a chance to visit the nearby villages for some cultural immersion, browsing through antiques, ancient temples and watching goldsmiths at work. But above all, comfort, ultimate peace, ultimate solitude.