Where Kerala’s Nazrani Spirit Still Lives On
Ask anyone in Pala where to find the Kottukapally ancestral home. You won’t need an address. Locals will tell you, just head to the gate illatha veedu or the gateless home. Past a row of towering palms, you enter a peaceful two-acre compound where time seems to slow down. Three buildings stand under the sun, each with its own story. The standout is the ancestral home, an L-shaped, over 200-year-old structure that evolved with the family. You can see the blend of Kerala architecture and European influence, shaped by the Nazrani way of life. This is where the Syrian Christian community, Nazranis, adapted Western customs, unlike any other group in Kerala. The heritage homestay opened in December 2023, with three airy bedrooms and a calm, rooted feel. The façade is classic Indo-Dutch, from the 1930s, with balanced symmetry and tall white pillars. Step inside, and every corner speaks of a family that has preserved its past with care.
The hosts, John and Thressi Kottukapally, are the soul of this place. John, once a dynamic presence in Kerala’s plantation circles, is now retired but remains a treasure trove of stories and insight. His passion for politics, history, and the region's rubber chronicles reveals itself in conversation. Thressi, his wife, is known across Pala for her food, which is authentic Syrian Christian dishes. She once cooked for Gordon Ramsay, no less. Breakfast here is a heritage experience. Think of appam and stew, idiyappam and egg roast. Nazrani Tharavadu is a living legacy. From the days when John’s forefathers arrived in Pala to set up the pepper trade to the family's deep roots in Kerala’s rubber plantations, this is history you can walk through, sleep in, and taste on your plate.
The Tharavad offers three uniquely designed rooms for guests, all on the same floor. The wraparound verandah leads to the accommodations, where each airconditioned room carries the grace of old-world Kerala craftsmanship, with wooden ceilings, original laterite walls, and period furniture lovingly preserved over generations.
The spacious King Suite features an ensuite bath and minimalist decor highlighted by blue pottery wall plates.The contemporary twin room,with its elegant wallpaper, offers separate beds. The traditional Tharavad-style four-bed chamber comfortably accommodates up to four adults. While both the twin room and the four-bed chamber share a common bath, each has its own private entrance.
Garden View
3 rooms
8 + 0
Price Description: The price displayed is for the whole property and includes all taxes and accommodation with the meals mentioned below.
Meals: Breakfast
Extra Note: Driver’s accommodation or meals are not available.
Third Person/Child: The price displayed above will remain the same regardless of the number of guests, up to a maximum of 8 adults. With Rs.800 per child (Up to 10 years), a total of 3 kids can be accommodated with extra mattresses.
Raahghar Payment Terms: Reservation is confirmed with an advance payment of 50% of the total amount at the time of booking. The balance payment is to be made 7 days prior to check-in.
Cancellation Policy (Indian Passport Holders Only):
In case of a cancellation due to any unforeseen circumstance a credit note will be issued by the property to the guest for the amount paid till date.
The credit note will be valid for use within one year from the period of booking. The guest can redeem the credit note against the amount of any future booking within a year and pay the balance if any as per the rates applicable on that date. This credit note is also transferable and can be used by the guest/transferee only once within the stipulated date.
Raahghar would keep your credit card information secured with us and it won't be charged unless needed.
Cochin International Airport is 2 hrs away (70 Kms).
Kottayam is the nearest main railway station, 1 hr away (28 Kms). Ettumanoor railway station is the nearest with fewer trains, 40 mins away (18 Kms).
Well connected road networks, located in the heart of Pala town. 2 hrs drive from Kochi (65 Kms).
Stepping into parlour feels like entering a time capsule,with antique wooden furniture, brass heirlooms, and shelves lined with classic books, including literary works from the 1880s and a 1930s edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica - collections passed down from our host’s father.
The oldest part of the home, a traditional Kerala-style wooden section,dates back to the early 1800s. In those days, homes like this featured granaries to store pepper and grains. The original granary still stands, weathered yet proud, beside a rustic reading nook created from a former room.
In 1902, the Periyar Syndicate was founded by a group of Europeans,including John Joseph Murphy, known as the father of Indian rubber cultivation. They established India’s first rubber plantation in Kerala, using seeds imported from Brazil.This 122- year old estate was later passed on to our host, John’s father, who served as an advisor to the Nehru government.
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