Very pleasant rooms, calm, good service. Nice pool. A nice comfortable relaxing stay while visiting the Chettinad.

Two things to be aware of -
a) The hotel compound itself is very pleasant, but it is not one of the Chettinad mansions you probably came to see. If you ask, the owner's family will cheerfully invite you to visit their actual mansion which is a short walk away - but if you don't ask, no one will mention it and you might think that is all there is. If you stay in the Chettinadu Mansion a few km away, you will be in one of the mansions (and within walking distance to see others).
b) The food (dinner and breakfast) at the Bangala are very good, nicely done and presented, and there was fun lively conversation over dinner by the guests. However, based on having had some of the same Chettinad dishes in a less fancy setting the next day at lunch, it is clear that the spices are toned down for a tourist palate. This may be a positive or negative...up to you.

All in all, we found this a very satisfactory stay and would recommend it - just does not quite meet the bar of somewhere you would remember years after as a memorable stay. And in this price range, in India, you can certainly find those - especially if you are willing to make some compromises.

Charming old lodge now a lovely homestay/boutique hotel. Excellent food - and plenty of it - especially the lunch meals on the banana leaf. This is a MUST!!
Staff was courteous and attentive, and people are treated like guests in a home. One must ask specific questions about the sights and costs and such, but the answers are always clear. We had a marvelous guide show us the lovely old mansions in the area and even with rain, had a great day. Local weavers and tile makers were also on the itinerary.
Returning to the Bangala, we settle in the drawing room for a lovely tea, or glass of wine. Books are available for those who wish to browse. Mrs. Meenakshi makes sure she meets and chats with all her guests. She is a warm and gracious host. When in Chettinad, this is a must stay hotel.

Lovely house and garden.
Comfortable atmosphere.
Delicious food.

Mosquito net missing in room.

Friendly staff, at first.
Unfortunately, service level dropped to it lowest once we were identified as a gay couple.

We stayed two nights here and our first impressions were very good, especially our first lunch which was an excellent thali. The rooms and adjoining bathrooms are huge and very tastefully furnished. The staff are attentive, particularly at mealtimes when they hover behind guests ready to offer second helpings. Meals are fixed menu and there is plenty of food, however I thought they were too rushed and prefer a slower paced evening meal. There is much to like about The Bangala, but a few things let it down such as its location on a busy road with buses roaring past horns blasting at full volume. Also at a nearby temple chanting starts at 4am every morning until 6am - it's very loud and a number of guests were woken by the noise. There is also a pond nearby with mosquitos - we thought it quite revealing to see ear plugs and mosquite repellant on the bedside tables. One thing we found odd about The Bangala was the lack of information provided about things such as any costs and timings. Perhaps it is because most guests book through travel agents and stay on full-board basis. We stayed at Chettinadu Mansion and in some ways preferred it to The Bangala...