KOCHI: Thani Illam, the homestay here is becoming second home for the foreigners. Thani Illam is always in search of newer ways of treating its guests. Thani Illam, the heritage garden, is only two-minute walk from Thottuva junction.Thani Illam gives a feel of traditional stay and is maintained by following rigorous rules. Smoking, alcohol consumption and non-vegetarian food items are not allowed inside the walls of Illam. Rooms are not air-conditioned but have wooden ceilings and cement flooring which gives a natural cooling effect even during extreme hot weathers. Also, it is mandatory for the guests to be neatly dressed. In spite of such strict rules, doctors, scholars, research students, writers and even celebrities opt to stay at Thani Illam.Hosts T S Parameswaran and Saradammal do not claim to provide any special facility to the guests but make sure that guests are treated well. They make sure that food for guests should be such that suits their tastes. Parameswaran was a Malayalam language teacher at St Joseph’s School, Pachalam and had later taught at St. Mary’s High School, Vallarpadam. He is fond of story-telling and has often attracted people with the talent. Also, what makes Thani Illam different is ‘padippura’ which can only be seen in old Brahmin homes. The guests can experience classical dance performances, ayurvedic treatments, yoga sessions, astrology and tantric rituals. “Once a family from America stayed here for five days. They were four people and a small child. We gave her a small ‘Pattupaavada’ to wear. She loved it so much that she refused take it off”, said T S Parameshwaran, owner, Thani Illam. “We have also had some bad experiences, but they came from domestic travellers and not foreigners. Foreigners are hundred per cent perfect regarding their manners,” he added.“People want to see and experience the natural Kerala and not the artificial beauty. They are burdened with the artificial things and they come here to relax. Some guests gave us the title of ‘international parents’ and we feel that they are our children living abroad,” said Saradammal, a writer by profession and wife of Parameswaran. “It is the third time that I am coming to Thani Illam. The loving parents, the fresh air and the climate always persuaded me to come here again and again. The temples and the people here always attracted me. I am become a naive human when I am in Thani Illam”, said Barbara Lamplaugh, Spain, who has been here for the last five days.The guests have to pay only 50 euro, around 3000 for their entire staying at Thani Illam which is usually five days but Parameswaran has the experience of guests staying for upto a month. Thani Illam is a Grihasthali project under Department of Tourism and had been operational since 1999. The project is intended for the conservation of the heritage building in its original location. Thani Illam was felicitated with the Most Innovative Project Award from Government of Kerala in 2002, and leap local award in 2009. It is Santhosh Thannikkat, son of Parameswaran, who told him about Grihasthali project. Thani Illam is the pioneer of the Grihasthali project. The reservations are made online and the guests are entertained only after screening. Originally, Thani Illam was the home of renowned Malayalam writer and director Malayatoor Ramakrishnan and the present owner bought it from his nephew in 1994. Malayatoor wrote the semi-autobiographical novel Verukal from here. Thani Illam is more than 100-years-old.
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