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.
Chettinad palatial style house Yashima
