Long, long ago, in God's own country, Kerala, a small island emerged from the depths of the Kaithappuzha backwaters. There was lots of sunshine, lots of rain, lots of green and lots of breeze. So the natives called it 'Olavipe'- 'gift of the waves', in the local language.

Down the centuries, many people from far and near came looking for the fabled spices of Kerala. The Arabs, Chinese, Portuguese, Dutch, French, and the British – they all came to 'Gods own country' and left their footprints on the Malabar Coast.

Through it all, time stood still at Olavipe- a village of smiling faces, shimmering waters, wide open blue skies, gentle breeze, birdsong and green of every hue imaginable… Olavipe remains the quintessential idyllic Kerala village.

Olavipe is also home to this branch of the 'Parayil Tharakans', a land-owning Syrian Catholic family. Research into the history of the clan is ongoing. Traced records take us back 250 years. The 13 known generations include a Marquis, two Grand Chevaliers, three members of Kerala Legislative Assembly, several senior government officials and social leaders who have left their mark on the fabric of their times.

The present incumbent, Parayil Kochupappu Jacob Tharakan is the sixth son of the house. His career years were spent in London, Moscow and the Middle East before he opted to return to roots. He then decided to open this beautiful, serene home to the more discerning traveler. This aspect of the house was named the ‘Olavipe Homestay’ to focus attention on this charming little corner of the world.

Parayil Varkey Varkey Tharakan (1826-1892) sent his eldest son across the waters of the Koppai Kayal to start yet another home of the Parayil clan at Olavipe. Towards the end of 19th century, the son Parayil Varkey Mathu Tharakan (1851-1919), commissioned this graceful mansion - ‘Thekkanatt Parayil’.

This ancestor died young and the mantle fell on the young shoulders of his only son – the teenaged Parayil Avira Kochupappu Tharakan (1903 -1959).Kochupappu gave up his studies and came home to take on the care of his mother, sisters and the land. He married Kallivayalil Abraham Rose in 1925 and brought his bride home to Thekkanatt. In time, it was here that they brought up their 12 children. These were very turbulent times. Sweeping land reforms of the nineteen fifties saw all the 8 sons of the house step into the new world order and take up careers in different parts of the world.

The house took nearly 13 years to be built. This was probably because all the construction material had to be ferried across the Kaithappuzha backwaters in large rice boats. His young son brought in influences of other architectural styles he admired. The house conceived on the lines of traditional Kerala tharavads of the period, took on the high ceiling and arches from other styles. Work on the house was finally rushed to a conclusion, to bring his new born grandson – Kochupappu - to the new home. After Varkey Mathu’s times, the house passed on to his son Parayil Mathu Avira Tharakan (1881-1922).