Athangudi Tiles
Athangudi tiles are handmade cement floor tiles originating from the village of Athangudi in Tamil Nadu's Chettinad region. Made tile-by-tile on glass plates with hand-poured colour, each tile is a small craft object. A favoured floor for Kerala homes wanting traditional craft, courtyards, heritage restoration and design-led interiors.
Material notes, Athangudi tiles
Athangudi tiles are not a stone, they are a tradition. Hand-cast cement tiles made in the Chettinad village of Athangudi in Tamil Nadu, using a process that has not materially changed since the late nineteenth century: liquid cement and natural-pigment colour poured onto a glass casting plate, the design built with a brass stencil, the tile back layered with concrete, then cured slowly.
The result is a floor tile that reads more like a craft object than an industrial product. Each tile has a tiny variation that machine-made cement tile cannot replicate. The glass-plate face gives a naturally smooth surface without polishing.
We supply Athangudi tiles into Kerala from the source craftsmen, on a made-to-order basis. Lead time is real, three to five weeks for stock patterns and up to six weeks for fully custom work.
Where it suits in Kerala
- Traditional Kerala home flooring, particularly in homes drawing on Chettinad, Travancore or coastal-Kerala vernacular.
- Heritage restoration, the right specification for restoring a tharavadu or older home.
- Pooja room and prayer-space floors, the hand-made character reads particularly well in spaces with traditional textiles, brass lamps, jaali screens.
- Drawing rooms in design-led homes, especially homes by architects who prioritise local craft.
- Resort and boutique-hotel floors, where guests expect a sense of place.
- Cafés, retail spaces wanting Chettinad-style craft authenticity.
Pattern repertoire
The traditional repertoire includes:
- Geometric patterns, hexagons, rhombuses, eight-pointed stars
- Floral motifs, lotus, hibiscus, jasmine, banana leaf
- Border patterns, vine, key-frieze, rope
- Plain solid colours
- Custom monograms, family crests, religious symbols on request
Most Kerala-house projects use a combination, plain border tiles framing patterned floor centres.
Limitations to know
- Lead time is long, three to six weeks. Cannot be ex-stock.
- Surface is wax-finished, not glaze-fired. Spills should be wiped quickly; bleach and harsh cleaners will dull the surface.
- Pattern variation is part of the product, machine-precise uniformity is not what these are. If you want flat-uniform, specify vitrified.
- Not suitable for wet shower zones or pool decks, the wax surface is slip-prone when wet.
- Minimum order: 300 sq ft for custom patterns. Smaller orders for stock patterns possible.
Care and longevity
Athangudi tiles develop their soft sheen over the first few years of use. Daily care: dry sweep, then damp mop with warm water. Specialised tile wax or coconut oil applied every six months refreshes the surface. Avoid bleach, vinegar and any acidic cleaner.
Sealed and cared for, an Athangudi floor outlasts the building.
Get in touch about a project
Athangudi orders are bespoke, every project starts with a conversation. Email sales@kohinoorfloors.com with the area, the kind of pattern or pattern reference you have in mind, and the timeline you’re working with. We will come back with options, samples (sent to your site or design office) and a quote within the working week.
Common questions on Athangudi Tiles
What makes Athangudi tiles different from other floor tiles? +
Athangudi tiles are hand-cast one at a time on glass plates by craftsmen in the Athangudi village of Tamil Nadu's Chettinad region. The cement, colour and design are poured by hand, set, then cured. Each tile has tiny variations that machine-made tiles cannot replicate. The process has not materially changed in over a century.
Are Athangudi tiles durable? +
Yes, exceptionally. Original 100-year-old Athangudi floors in Chettinad mansions are still in active use today. The tile is dense, low-porosity, and the surface is naturally smooth from the glass-plate casting. The waxed surface develops a subtle sheen with use rather than wearing dull.
Can Athangudi tiles be made in custom patterns? +
Yes. Custom-pattern orders are standard, you provide a pattern reference (or we suggest options from the traditional repertoire of geometrics, florals, and tile-mosaic designs) and the craftsmen produce to specification. Lead time 4-6 weeks for fully custom work.
How are Athangudi tiles laid in Kerala? +
Standard cement-mortar bed with grout joints kept tight (1-2mm). After laying, the floor is rubbed with coconut oil or specialised tile wax which develops the characteristic Athangudi soft sheen. Resealing every 2-3 years.
Visit the godown. See the slabs.
Photographs only go so far. Athangudi Tiles is one of 2 thicknesses we hold at the Kundannoor godown. Walk in any working day to inspect the actual stock.