Kottayam: A 150-year-old, timber-walled traditional naalukettu with open courtyards and a large granary in Kottayam,which was gutted in a massive fire on Tuesday, had long been a cherished symbol of a family’s agricultural heritage. The imposing structure, which sat on 1.5 acres of land near the Maniyassery Temple at Maravanthuruthu near Thalayolaparambu, was the ancestral house of Abhilash V of Kuzhikedathu house, an employee of the Law Department at the Secretariat. An eerie feel shrouded the lone structure on a sprawling acreage.

Recalling the history of the house, Abhilash said the roof tiles dated back to 1865 and were brought from Mangalapuram by boat. "According to historical records, the tiles were transported by boat to Maravanthuruthu. We had kept many historical records in the house," he said.

Though the exact cause of the fire is yet to be determined, the police and fire force have ruled out a short circuit. An officer from the Thalayolaparambu Police Station said that the blaze might have started from an oil lamp lit by a family member.

However, Abhilash dismissed the possibility that the fire was caused by the lamp. His family, who moved out of the ancestral house two years ago after building a new home nearby, continues to maintain the old property. His mother visits the house every evening to clean and light the traditional lamp.

"She is a staunch believer. She usually goes there around 6.15 or 6.30 pm and returns by 6.45 pm. After lighting the lamp, she makes sure it is completely put out before leaving," Abhilash said.

The house was built entirely of wood, including teak and rosewood, with intricately carved walls and a sloping triangular roof. The traditional naalukettu structure featured a central open courtyard, a spacious main hall flanked by two rooms on either side, and a cellar divided into two compartments. Beneath it lay a granary—a small underground storage space, just large enough for an adult to enter.

The wooden walls were adorned with artistic illustrations, and the ceiling, too, was made of polished wood. There is a serpent grove on the premises, adding to the heritage charm of the property. The house, located at one corner of the plot, stood close to the gently flowing Muvattupuzha River, which mirrored the lush greenery around it.

Situated at a small distance from the main road, the house was not easily accessible. Abhilash said that at times, staying there with his family felt eerie as there were no neighbouring houses nearby.

"That's why we moved to the new house. But we continued to look after our ancestral home with great care. Our entire family treasured it and regarded it as a part of our heritage," Abhilash said.

He added that he did not believe the fire was an act of sabotage. "I don't think anyone bears such enmity toward us to do something like this. It’s now up to the police to find out what really happened," he said.

Police officials said they had recovered a half-burnt flambeau from near the burnt house. "Nothing can be confirmed at this stage. Only after a detailed investigation can we determine the cause of the fire," a police officer said.