This is my mother’s house, Kallivayalil Konduparambil. She was not born here, but it was home to her till her marriage at the age of 15. But I was born in this building though it was Thekkanattu Parayil that I called home.
This may sound a bit complicated to non-Keralites. In the Christian community of Kerala, a lady would have at least her first confinement in her father’s house. Therefore Ammachi. was born in her maternal grandfather’s house, Tharappel.
The entire family is grateful to my youngest maternal uncle Michael A. Kallivayalil (see: An Indian village remembers its Irish ‘father’.) Aunt Mary, their son Joseph and his wife Preethi for maintaining this 140/150 years old house so beautifully though they normally stay at the hill station Peermade (see: Travel: Mist covers the mountain tops)
Photos by me. All rights reserved.
Click to enlarge.
16 comments:
What an exquisite property. So beautifully maintained. Does anyone live there?
Thanks for the wonderful blogsite-so cool to be able to see places I can't go to myself! Thanks for the great pictures-Francis http://www.geothermalquestions.net
Thanks for the wonderful blogsite-so cool to be able to see places I can't go to myself! Thanks for the great pictures-Francis http://www.geothermalquestions.net
What a beautiful house! I love the woodwork everywhere and am especially fascinated by that seat fixed to the pillars in the verandah. What a great place to sit and yarn awhile or just to day-dream.
The old house looks very clean and well kept.Lot of wood work have gone into construction of the house,a luxury they could afford nearly 150 years ago due to low cost and better availabilty of wood and good carpentors to work on.
Now a days wood and carpentors have become costly and quality is a bit difficult to find on both material and worker capability.
We have adopted those woodden Thoomanam in present day houses.Instead of wood it is now coming in precast concrete.
Had just cancelled my plans to come to Kerala over the weekend.
Think I'll have to change plans again.
:)
A really lovely home, this.
I have always thought that Kerala houses were among the most beautiful in the world. These photographs just confirmed that! It is so nice to see the house being beautifully maintained, and thank goodness it has not been demolished.
Yes, islandgal246, it is a beautiful property. As far as I know, no body is living there regularly.
Francis Bell, thank you for the comment.
Yes, Sunita, there is so much of woodwork and places to sit and chat or listen to music, or quietly read a book.
Thomas Viruvelil, thank you for the knowledgeable comment
perumalythoma, thanks.
Kamini, that is a great compliment. Thank you very much.
Achen, I don’t know whether you noticed the small cross carved on top of the door in photo No.8, either that door or on top of the one straight inside - ‘Ara’. It’s an exact replica of the one the Syrian Catholics, especially the churches under the Archdiocese of Chenganacherry started to use lately. Called differently according to ones allegiance as Manikeyan Cross, Marthoma Cross, and by some satirically ‘Klavar Kurissu’.
When this cross started to appear in our churches I viewed it with much trepidation, that’s until I saw it at Kondooparambil Tharavad. Isn’t it surprising that this type of cross which was not seen until recently was carved on it when the house was built almost a hundred years ago?
Sir,
What a wonderful house you got from your parents. All new technology will not success infront of your house. I can imagine how quiet is there. Could you please give me full address of your house. Hence I can visit once in my life............
abdul wahab, sorry, I don't own the house.
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