Athangudi

Home of the famous Athangudi tiles. Visit a factory and see how these famous handmade terracotta tiles are patterned and sun-dried. They say it's the local sand that's the secret behind the texture. The village Athangudi, manufacturing exclusive colourful tile designs, even today has an industry going strong. The tiles are not ceremic. Cement, baby jelly and sand along with synthetic oxides make up for the composition of the tile. They are cast from the locally available clay that is first burnt and then glazed. It is the play of base colours with typical conventional flora and line-drawing designs that sets them apart from the modern versions in the market.

Laying these tiles on the cement floor is a special technique. These tiles are quite heavy and 3/4 inch thick. Machine polish is not needed for these tiles manufactured in earthy tones and configurations. It can be cleaned with husk initially. Later a daily mop with a few drops of oil is said to keep the sheen intact. It is cost effective too and is in the range of Rs. 22 to Rs. 25 per sq. ft.

Athangudi tiles come in geometric and floral designs. The colour, design and size could be custom-made to suit our taste and decor. The tiles are generally used only for flooring. Dark, earthy hues and black and white assemblage for borders are the Chettinad-tile specialities.