With a past rooted deep in history and a present circumscribed by the quirky fingers of fate, the sleepy

hamlet of Thazhathangadi reminds one of a bonsai township.

Here, Hindu, Christian and Muslim places of worship, tracing their history back to half a millennium or more,
are scattered around and families, who still live in the row houses on either side of the Meenachil river like
their forefathers did in their ancestral properties, narrate their history back to a few centuries.
In Thazhathangadi Theruvu, they count time not in days or years, but in centuries.
This tiny settlement, less than 3 km west of Kottayam town, was once a bustling port-market. In fact, it was
the political and business headquarters of a vast hinterland, rich in spices, ebony and sandalwood at a time
when Malabar coast ruled the global markets. The rise of Thazhathangadi (which literally means the market
down under, or more aptly, given the importance of the Meenchail river in transportation, market
downstream) coincides with the fall of the Kulasekhara Empire (12th century AD) and the advent of the
Thekumkoor and Vadakkumkoor dynasties. The Thekkkumkoor kings made the strategically placed
Thazhathangadi their political and business capital.
The growth of Thazhathangadi as an inland port brought the Arab merchants who ruled the waves of the
Arabian Sea. They were followed by the Europeans: first, the Portuguese followed by the Dutch, both of
whom wooed Thekkumkoor in their own way with pepper and other spices, being the main attractions.. The
dynasty was soon sucked into the power struggle in Europe among the colonial powers which reflected in
the war for supremacy in India. The trade was affected and with the rise of new ports and the rise of
Alappuzha as a major trading centre, the halcyon days were over for Thazhathangadi. The final blow came
with the fall of Thekkumkoor to the armies of Marthanda Varma in his campaign which resulted in the
acquisition of the principality into Travancore.

A lot of Christian and Muslim community mostly intermingle as fisherman and also traders. Most of this
community is Christian for which reason is called Christian Syrian houses. Christian family mostly occupy
coastal area portion, especially near coastal seaboard. Old Mosques and Churches are landmarks that
mark the settlement.

As thazhathangadi lost its former grandeur, the new town of thirunakkara advanced to become a major
dwelling and trade centre an evident transformation can be seen today in the lifestyle of the people of
thazhathangadi as they are no longer engaged in trade .but the residents still maintain their ancestral homes
and safeguard the architectural and cultural traditions indigenous to thazhathangadi.

Evolution of settlement

PUTHEN VEED

Puthen veedu is one of the oldest houses in the settlement. it is believed to be about 250 years old. This
house is one example of Ekasala with a little extension made for living room. Nadirsyah is the head of the
Muslim family living in their veedu that they purchased from the former owner.

Single storeyep resipence which comprises of an ara (storage space) in the centre The building attributes
mainly wooden construction.
Stages of evolution
The house previously belonged to a hindu family engaged in trade.Belived to be constructed 250 years
ago,it was an ekasala type with thatched roof.
As trade was the major means of livelihood , the grain store (ara) has become an important structure in the
house.

The house had a typical single hall partitioned into three arrayed rooms, enriched or fronted by a
gallery/veranda. The middle room is thus regarded the most important part which is utilized as ara. Ara is a
4-5 feet platform. Ara or the grain store is becomes the very soul of the house since it is put in the middle
room, and is considered sacred. The two other rooms flanking ara are called Kalavara. The rooms were
multifunctional and were used as bedroom, storage and kitchen.
The Ara has two doors. One faces the interior and is for daily use while the other side faces the exterior.
The house is made of laterite walls plastered with lime mortar and the roof was thatched which was later
replaced by mangalore tiles. The wooden elements of the superstructure are made of teak and Anjili, the
attic floors in the houses, which are made of wooden planks on beams called Machu, is connected
vertically using wooden stairs.

Nadirsyah kept and maintained the original wall made of nira construction ( the panelled walls)and still
function attic space as storage room and activate the ladder behind ara. The kalavara are functioned as
bedroom and living room. Dining room is put on space of alindam that connect the main house and
kitchen, and encircle the house as gallery. The arrangement of building in compound left moderate size of
land behind at the back of house that is developed

The current sitting space used to be an open space with ara (granary room) exposed towards exterior.
They dont functions the ara for storing grain nor function the front space of ara for doing rituals as done by
previous family. They altered it into storage, and spaces in front ara is currently functioned as sitting places
and guest room.

Old veranda-like space ara facing entrance and the current situation where the veranda- like space
has been covered by lattice wood and constituted covered reception hall

The eldest member of the family is Mr.Mohammed (80)who owned a shop in the
neighbourhood.The house was converted into dwishala durning his fathers time.
Durning his childhood the front verandah was used as an interaction space and
as an entry into the ara.It was also a place where religious rituals would take
place.The main room of the house was the room near the ara. This was a large
rectangle room which was mulitifunctional.It was used as living and dining room
during the day time and at night people used to sleep there.20 years back the
front verandah was covered and converted into a living room.
The main room is now converted into a bedroom and kitchen is build as an
extension .