Mr. Kurian Pottenkulam and Tessy, the owners of Ellamthottam bungalow are the most gracious hosts one would have the pleasure of coming across. Belonging to one of the close knit Syrian Christian families of Kanjirapally, Mr. Kurien has opened the doors of his home to people from world over to savour the simple joys of living with a traditional Syrian Christian family. To understand the relevance of this community one has to understand the place Kanjirapally. Located in Central Kerala, in the heart of Kottayam district, the land of letters and latex, Kanjirapally is famous for its rubber plantations. Inhabited by a peaceful intimately bound community, which consists mainly of traditional Syrian Christian families, almost all of them are related to each other, directly or through marriage.

What is appealing about these communities are their unique relaxed lifestyle which pretty much rotates around their plantations. Majority of the homes are located in rubber estates, this makes them ideal for a peaceful holiday away from the pressures of the world. The Ellam Thottam Bungalow was built in 1945 by Kurien’s father. A blend of local and colonial architecture. The word Thottam in Malayalam means an estate. As the name itself suggests the mansion is also an estate bungalow. Since it was built while the British still ruled in India there is some Western influence in the architecture of the building - though in essence it retains its local atmosphere.

Website: www.elamthottam.com