Tam: காரைக்குடி kāraikkuṭi
‘Karai Village’ City, Tamil Nadu
Tam: kārai, ‘shrub’ [Canthium coromandelicum, Webera tetrandra]; and kudi, ‘village’, ‘settlement (of family, tribe or people related to one another)’.
The Coromandel Boxwood is a very common coastal shrub: it is scraggy, spiny and thrives in most soils.
Canthium coromandelicum Vengolis
The Karaikudi region, often called Chettinadand, is home to the Chettiar community, a powerful mercantile, banking and trading community.
Karaikudi is famous for the Chettinad palatial mansions which have earned it heritage status.
For related place names see Indian Place names and Tamil Nadu place names.
Chettinad palatial style house Yashima
