It was the year 1870 when Valiyakunju Shankaran Channar made the bold decision to relocate a grand Nalukettu, a traditional Kerala-style mansion, from Adoor to Alummoottil. This was no ordinary house. Built in 1746 by the Nellimoottil family, the Nalukettu was originally a gift from Maharaja Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma. Its relocation to Alummoottil was an audacious undertaking that would cement Shankaran’s legacy as a visionary leader.
The negotiations for the house had taken months. Shankaran, dressed in his traditional white dhoti and angavastram, stood under the sprawling banyan tree at Nellimoottil, speaking with the elder of the family. “A thousand raashis,” he declared, placing a pouch of coins on the table. “Your Nalukettu deserves nothing less. It will become a jewel in Alummoottil’s crown.”
The deal was struck, and preparations began immediately. Craftsmen and laborers from across the region were summoned. Shankaran personally oversaw every detail, ensuring the wooden panels, intricately carved beams, and roof tiles were dismantled carefully, transported, and reassembled without damage.
On a crisp autumn morning, a caravan of bullock carts laden with the dismantled Nalukettu began its journey to Alummoottil. Villagers gathered along the roadside, marveling at the spectacle. Among them was Velumbiyamma, Shankaran’s wife, who watched with a mix of pride and trepidation. “This is a monumental task,” she remarked to her eldest son, Keshavan. “Your father’s vision is unmatched, but such risks…”
Shankaran overheard her words and smiled. “The greater the challenge, the sweeter the success,” he replied, his voice tinged with determination.
The reconstruction at Alummoottil took nearly six months. Every day, Shankaran walked among the workers, offering encouragement and occasionally lending a hand. One afternoon, as they struggled to fit a massive wooden beam into place, he joined the laborers, his hands gripping the rope alongside theirs. “If this beam holds, so will the legacy of Alummoottil,” he declared, spurring them on.
When the Nalukettu was finally completed, it stood as a masterpiece of architecture. The central courtyard gleamed in the sunlight, and the carved wooden pillars seemed to whisper tales of the past. Shankaran arranged for a grand feast to celebrate the occasion, inviting family, friends, and even the villagers who had watched the journey of the Nalukettu.
During the inaugural ceremony, Shankaran stood at the threshold of the Nalukettu, addressing the gathered crowd. “This house is more than bricks and wood,” he said. “It is a testament to our family’s resilience, our heritage, and our unity. May it stand as a beacon for generations to come.”
Velumbiyamma, standing beside him, beamed with pride. “You’ve done it, Shankaran,” she whispered. “You’ve given us a home that is not just grand but meaningful.”
The Nalukettu became the heart of Alummoottil, a place where decisions were made, festivals celebrated, and traditions preserved. For Shankaran, it was a symbol of his ability to transform vision into reality—a legacy that would endure far beyond his lifetime.
