Tharavad houses in Kerala are a treat to watch. Built without much machinery, they are monuments demonstrating the skill and artistry of the carpenters and masons of the time.
Here I have some pictures of my grandfather’s house (also in Thidanad).
This is the varanda (sit out) on the upper floor. A completely wooden structure
A liberal use of brass giving decorative beauty to the rosewood and teakwood walls, doors and ceilings
The furniture has the elegance of the times. The staircase to the upper floor is a bit steep without the usual middle landing and bend.
Also we can see that, part of the ground floor is renovated and modernised. That’s the hall area. But gatherings now prefer the upper sit out.
Luckily it’s not the stuffed heads, but the horns are probably collected.
The carpentry skills are evident on the ceiling. A different but uniformily flowing designs are hand carved.
Designs
The elevation
Built in 1909.
P.S. My grandfather had a pet elephant. (Entappooppakkoru Aanaondayirunnu).
Kurian 
very nice
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much
LikeLike
✌
LikeLiked by 1 person
Amazing !
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Megala
LikeLiked by 1 person
love the house pics.. 💙
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you very much Panchali
LikeLike
Lovely description and images
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful pictures 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Moushmi
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a beautiful house it is. Such intricate carvings on the woodwork. I’ve always admired Malyali architecture. My mausi (maternal aunt) is married to a Malyali Officer and she tells me that her in laws too, at one point, had a pet elephant. In fact she told me how elephants were kept as pets the same as we keep other animals as pet and it’s care was a matter of great pride for that household.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Pradita. The Malayalam of the mention ‘my grandfather had an elephant’ is the name of a famous novel by a famous author
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, I see 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
How gorgeous. I have never seen anything like these.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Elizabeth. These ancestral houses in Kerala have large compounds and family get togethers are easily accommodated. Our family meet is on every Boxing Day the venue is alternated among some ten such houses of different branches of the family. That helps to keep the family tree members close to each other
LikeLiked by 1 person
How wonderful that you don’t have to rent a hotel!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s true. Thank you Elizabeth
And it may be mentioned that these locations are in remote areas, practically unpolluted with very good air quality.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful Tharavadu ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you
LikeLike