Walking into the Olappamanna Mana, one will be greeted with the fading smell of a bygone era. Reflections of the feudal times still linger, yet what stands out are the memories of a scented heritage that once saw art and literature blooming here. This traditional Kerala house was home to several generations of “Namboothiris” (upper caste Brahmins of Kerala) who were the lords of the land back in the day. Located on the banks of river Kunthipuzha in the village of Vellinezhi in Cherupulassery of Palakkad district, this ancestral home has made significant contributions to the socio-cultural fabric of Kerala.
Built as a traditional “Ettukettu” (8 sections linked by two courtyards), Olappamanna Mana is a classical example of traditional Kerala architecture. Believed to have been built in the 18th century, the mana has made many contributions in the fields of classical Carnatic music, Kathakali, percussion, literature and Sanskrit. Many renowned artists and scholars used to visit the mana, where discussions and famed performances were common. The mana also gave birth to several renowned personalities such as Olappamanna Subramanian Namboothirippad and Sumangala.
The mana is now a homestay and continues to contribute to the nourishment of Kerala’s cultural tourism.
