Choultry

A choultry, or tschultri^[1], is a resting place for visitors where rooms and food are provided by a charitable institution for nominal rates.

Some were guesthouses where accommodation was free of charge. Choultry can also be spelled choultree or choltry, and is also known as a satram, chatram or dharmasala.

Etymological origins

A peculiar word whose origin is in South India and of doubtful etymology.

In West India the form used is chowry or chowree. A hall, a shed, or a simple loggia, used by travellers as a resting-place, and also intended for the transaction of public business.

In the old Madras Archives there is frequent mention of "justices of the choultry". A building of this kind could have been used as early courthouses.

Other usages

• In South India, especially in Karnataka a choultry can also denote a Hindu wedding hall.
• According to Seringapatam 1799 terminology, a choultry may be rest house, courthouse, shed, inn or caravanserai, pillared hall or temple colonnade.

See also

• Caravanserai
• Colonnade

References