Indian heritage homes: More photos of Thekkanattu Parayil

Photos by Dr. Sanjay Parva. All rights reserved

Click to enlarge.

Some related posts:

Kerala Architechture: Thekkanattu Parayil Heritage Home

Interiors

Kerala Architecture: Nalukettu for modern times

Kerala Architecture: The house where I was born

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.

Kerala Archutecture: Heritage homes

Another photo of
A Kerala Tharavad.

This picture of the Velliara Parayil 'ettukettu' was taken
by Ebbey Tharakan during the years the house was unoccupied.
Copyright reserved.
Click to enlarge.

Kerala Architecture: Another Parayil heritage home

Ayanat Parayil ‘ettukettu’ at Thycattussarry, about 3kms from Olavipe, is one of the oldest and largest among the Parayil heritage homes. Because of the length of the building, inner compound walls and the trees around, no photographer has been able to capture it in one picture.

The portion known as ‘Meda’ is believed to have been in existence for over 250 years. Though Velliara was the ‘Tharavad’ (see A Kerala Tharavad.), Ayanat was also occupied at least by the middle of the 18th century. (See A unique prayer.) The ancestor who built the St. Antony’s Church at Thycattussarry, which was consecrated in 1791, stayed at Ayanat to supervise the construction.

The ground floor of the ‘Meda’ is granary. The first floor has a drawing room and bedrooms. This portion which is connected to the main house by a curved corridor is due for periodic repairs. The house is well maintained. It costs a fortune of course.

My cousin Paul (PH Paul Tharakan) and his wife stay there – just the two of them!

The photographs below (copyright reserved) were taken by my nephew Ebbey Tharakan. He is a remarkable chap. I must write about him someday.

Eastern entrance

Another view from the east

View from the west.
Given below are photos of the 'Meda'.
Click on images to enlarge.

Also see: Kerala architecture: Mansion of the Marquises

Gate or compound wall?

Photo by Karthiki. Copyright reserved. Click to enlarge.
Also see:
Kerala Architechture: Thekkanattu Parayil Heritage Home

Kerala architecture: Mansion of the Marquises

Padippura malika (gatehouse) front view.

Gatehouse side view.

Main house front view.

Main house side view.
Photos taken by me on October 18, 2008. Copyright reserved.
Click to enlarge.

Into this ettukettu were born the two Marquises, both brothers, of the Parayil Family - Avira Varkey Tharakan (1836-1905) K.C.S.S, K.C.S.G. and Hormis Tharakan (1842-1904) K.C.S.S., K.C.S.G.

It is Puthenveettil Parayil, the first of the Parayil Family houses at Ezhupunna. Even though nearly two centuries have passed since it was built, the house is still known as Puthenveettil (New House).

Another ettukettu was built for the younger brother, Hormis. Between the two mansions is the St. Raphael’s Church (1859).

This building is almost identical to the Velliara Parayil house shown in

A Kerala Tharavad.

Also see:

Kerala Architecture: Another Parayil heritage home

Astrology: Horoscope for houses?

Yesterday I came across A TEMPLE WITH A MUSICAL HISTORY, AND A VISIT TO THE PAST in Raji’s Ramblings. It is an interesting post, well written, and includes two photographs. One is of a vast expanse of green rice fields and the other of an old house which has certainly seen better days and now lies unoccupied.

The second image reminded me of an evening in the early 1990s at my lawyer friend K. Vijayakumar’s house in Cherthala, Kerala. He had one of the most brilliant legal brains that I have come across, internationally. He was also well informed on many subjects.

We got to talking about Vastu (the science related to buildings). Vijayakumar told me that a house could have a horoscope which would indicate births and deaths that take place there, periods when it would be vacant, how and when the building comes to its own end, and several other things.

There is logic to this. If horoscopes of human beings are drawn up based on planetary positions at the time of birth, why can’t it be done for houses though they are considered inanimate? After all, in the olden days, houses were constructed based on Vastu Shastra. Now there is a resurgence of Vastu.

Evolved during the Vedic times, Vastu is a combination of astronomy, astrology, art and architecture. It is meant to harness the positive energies from the elements and create the perfect ambiance for physical and mental health, and prosperity and happiness of those who stay in the house. Feng Shui, the system practiced in China and Japan, it is said, had its origin from Vastu.

There is a belief that if the design of a building is not in conformity with Vastu, calamities can befall the person who built it and those who live there. I know two cases which indicate this could be true.

A cousin of mine had the outhouse shifted to a new location within the compound to remodel his house. Soon his family ran into a series of major health problems. On the advice of Thomas George (“Shilpi” Babu), a senior Architect and Vastu expert of Cochin, the outhouse was brought back to the original location and the troubles vanished.

The second instance again involves a cousin, who built a beautiful new house. I drew a rough sketch of it and showed “Shilpi” Babu. He took one look and said, “The man who built this won’t live for long.” Actually, the cousin had died the same night the house was occupied.

How do you explain these? I didn’t have much faith in astrology but a few meetings with the famous astrologer Mithran Namboori made me think that there is substance to the system. (See: Three predictions.). I also wrote a short fiction piece (The story of a story.) with a strong astrology background.

If you have any information on horoscope for houses, can you share it with us?

Ends.

Kerala architecture: Verandas, corridors of a nalukettu house

Images from Thekkanattu Parayil Tharakans' heritage home at Olavipe.

Gatehouse corridor. Photo: KO Isaac

Eastern veranda downstairs. Photo: AT.

Western veranda downstairs. Photo: AT

Eastern veranda upstairs: Photo: TP

Corridor to the nalukettu. Photo: AT

Ends.
Also see:

Kerala architecture: Mansion of the Marquises

Kerala Architecture: Interiors

Kerala Architecture: Exterior of a heritage home

Kerala Architecture - Olavipe Heritage Home

Kerala architecture: More on nalukettu

My post Kerala Architecture: Nalukettu, ettukettu, pathinarukettu keeps on attracting so many visitors that I thought more information on the subject would be appropriate. For the benefit of those who are not familiar with the term, nalukettu means an open inner courtyard (nadumuttam) with built up area all around. The literal translation of nalukettu is ‘buildings on all four sides’.

The photo above is that of our nalukettu at Thekkanattu Parayil, Olavipe taken from an upstairs window. It gives a fairly good idea of the layout. The traditional nalukettus were either rectangular or square. I have not come across nalukettu of any other shape in old houses.

What is the purpose of a nalukettu? I can only comment based on my experience. The functional parts of it are the verandas on the western and eastern sides. Because of the excellent cross ventilation these always remain cool. Another reason for this low temperature effect could be that the hot air keeps escaping through the open roofless space in the middle.

There is an old neem tree opposite to the western door across the outer courtyard and the breeze that blows in from the Olavipe Lake carries the faint smell from its leaves. That is supposed to be healthy. Normally there would be a medicinal tulasi (basil) plant in the inner courtyard. We don’t have tulasi in the nadumuttam because it is there in the front of the house.

The nadumuttam is an excellent place for little children to play safely, say, like a large pen. It is also used to keep vessels like cauldrons which are not in regular use. Those which are in constant usage would be at the places where they are required, and those which are rarely needed, would be in the attic. The nadumuttam also provides good lighting to the built up space around it.

But above all, nalukettu is the living area, traditionally for the ladies and children. Now of course men also use the comfortable verandas. I am giving below two photos to indicate the use of nalukettu as the living room.

My wife Annie and brother Joe

That's me relaxing

Photos: Top - AT, last two - KO Isaac
Click on photos for enlarged view.

Ends.

Also see:
Kerala architecture – ‘Ara’ in heritage homes

Kerala Architecture: Exterior of a heritage home

Kerala Architecture: Interiors

Here are some more pictures of the interior of the Thekkanattu Parayil Tharakans' heritage home.

Photo credits: top 3 TP, 4th Karthiki, last KO Isaac.
Also see:
Interior of a heritage home.

Kerala architecture: Verandas, corridors of a nalukettu house

Kerala Architecture: Exterior of a heritage home

Kerala Architecture: Nalukettu, ettukettu, pathinarukettu

A number of people seem to be fascinated with traditional Kerala nalukettu houses. Nalukettu means a residence with one inner courtyard. Ettukettu would have two such courtyards, and ‘pathinarukettu’, four. I found all kinds of statements about these on the Internet. I am not commenting on them but feel that it may be worthwhile to record my personal knowledge of several such houses and how life was in them.

My mother’s house, Konduparambil, and my home, Thekkanattu Parayil, are both nalukettu. Five other Parayil heritage homes (100+ years) which I know well from childhood are ettukettu. All these buildings are east facing. In our ettukettu houses the smaller of the two quadrangles is located at about the centre of the building and the larger one in the north, near the kitchen.

The construction of Thekkanattu which is the smallest among the Parayil heritage mansions started in 1890. It blends the traditional architectural style and the concepts of the modern house designs that were to follow in 20c. Here also the nalukettu is located at the north end – the single-storied area in the photo below:

Photo: TP

Now, about the inside layout. There are two broad, well-ventilated verandas on the western and eastern sides of our nalukettu and two narrower ones connecting them. The eastern veranda which is near the kitchen is not used much by the family.

The western veranda gets good breeze that blows in from the lake 500 yards away, and, with wood ceiling and tile roofing, is always cool. That was the living area where the ladies and children spent most of their time. When we bought a TV set, it was kept in the nalukettu and not in the drawing room.

Interestingly, the men did not use this part of the building. Likewise, the women did not normally go to the southern portion of the house. That was the way it was till my generation.

Here are two photos of our nalukettu:

Interior corridors leading to the nalukettu
Photo: TP

The quadrangle
Photo: KO Isaac

Having a nalukettu in a new house is fine provided it is functional and blends with the ambiance. The Parayil mansion shown below, which was built in 1940s, has a comfortable and practical nalukettu

Ayanat Parayil (Middle)
Photo: ayanathouse.com

A good example of adaptation of nalukettu in non-residential construction is the canteen at the Centre for Development Studies, Trivandrum, designed by Laurie Baker.

Ends.

Also see:

Kerala architecture: More on nalukettu

Kerala Architecture: Exterior of a heritage home
Kerala Architecture: Prayer room of a heritage home

Kerala Architecture: Another Parayil heritage home

Kerala heritage home: grill-work

Details of grill-work at Thekkanattu Parayil, Olavipe, are shown in the following pictures:

Gatehouse
Photo: Karthiki

Western veranda
Photo: Karthiki

Front veranda - wood work
Photo: Karthiki

An entrance to nalukettu
©Thekkanattu Parayil

On a compound wall
©Thekkanattu Parayil

Also see:

Kerala Architecture - Olavipe Heritage Home

Kerala Architecture: Exterior of a heritage home

Kerala Architecture - Olavipe Heritage Home

Recently a viewer pointed out that all the photos I've uploaded so far, like the image on the left, show only the front (east) of the Thekkanattu Parayil Tharakans' heritage home at Olavipe. His observation is correct and I'm grateful to him for that.

All the five Parayil Tharakan heritage homes existing to day, are east facing. I suppose that this has something to do with vasthu. For old houses, every calculation was based on this system. It was, and still is, believed that any mistake in the calculations could bring dire consequences to the building and the people who dwell in it.

Given below are two pictures of Thekkanattu Parayil seen from the west:



© Thekkanattu Parayil

Click on the last two photos to enlarge.

Ends.

Also see:
Lions that guard Thekkanattu Parayil

Interiors