Mogappu - The Portals of Chettinad

Mogappu: The Grand Portal of Chettinad Mansions is a visual chronicle of architectural storytelling, capturing the striking facades that once defined the grandeur of the Chettinad region. In Chettinad heritage, Mogappu,derived from Mugappu, meaning "the arrangement of the face",is more than an entrance; it is a statement of wealth, status, and artistic mastery.

This book brings together a stunning collection of street-facing facades, known as Therukadhavu, each intricately designed to impress. From elaborate carvings to symbolic motifs, these portals stand as testaments to a bygone era where architecture spoke in the language of prosperity, devotion, and cultural influence.

With time, Mugappu evolved into Mogappu and even Moappu in local dialects, its presence extending beyond architecture into jewelry design,always signifying an ornamental façade of significance.

Through evocative photography and insightful documentation, Mogappu invites you to rediscover these fading masterpieces,where every doorway is an open invitation to history, and every facade tells a story waiting to be heard.