amã Stays & Trails Ambika Vilas, Trivandrum

A living heritage, Ambika Vilas was built in 1911 by Dr. N K Krishna Pillai, a young aristocrat, who trained as a surgeon, and served the government and the armies of the king of Travancore, Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma VI.

The house was planned and constructed according to the principles of ‘Thatchusastra’, an ancient science of carpentry. At its core, Thatchusastra is based on the premise that every man-made structure has a life and personality of its own, which is derived from inputs and materials that go into constructing it. The bricks for the walls and the clay tiles for the ceiling and flooring, were locally sourced and prepared on the premises itself. It is to ensure that the building materials used, harmoniously blend into the environment of the house.

The rooms are cool even in the hot summer months, due to the application of a paste of lime-based mortar, vegetable extracts, and eggs, to coat the walls. The verandahs that encircle the house, brings in the cool sea breeze and the long sloping roofs supported by wooden rafters and plinths protect the house from the heavy monsoon rains. The thoomanam, protects the terracotta roof and directs the rain water straight down to the earth,  to replenish the ground water.

As you walk into the house, you will find, small miniature gardens, open to the sky, at the center of the house. These courtyards, known as ‘anganam’ – are the heart of any Kerala house. It is here where family members gather for meals, celebrate festivals or socialise. It is also a perfect spot to watch the onset of the monsoon.

A unique feature of Ambika Vilas is the seamless way in which the interior of the house merges with the garden, to create one holistic living space. It is hard to tell where the house ends and where the garden begins.