Aathangudi Tiles

Aathangudi Tiles or Chettinadu / Karaikudi Tiles, as called locally, are Eco-Friendly Hand Made Floor Tiles; they are made at Athangudi, a small village in the Chettinad region of Tamilnadu, India. These tiles were born out of necessity as Victorian age homes found it hard to repair the wear and tear of their imported European Tiles. The people of Aathangudi learnt the craft of tile making to make and tender to the demand in the region.

These tiles are made with cement, sand and colour oxide. Once the cement tile is ready, it is put into a frame and fixed with a clean glass. A metal die is made as per the pattern and is used as a mould to pour paint on the tiles. Though some traditional designs are used widely, these tiles can be customized to any design a customer needs.

The craft has been in practice for over a century now. These tiles are low maintenance and age beautifully, developing a sheen under usage. Though these tiles are cheaper and more aesthetic than factory-made tiles, the long manufacturing time and difficulty in shipping them safely to different places discourage people from using them.