A little about the architecture
When you think of a traditional Kerala home, you would imagine it to be a nalu kettu (4 buildings) built around a central courtyard open to the sky, residences of the gentry. There are verandas on all four sides of the courtyard and rooms leading from them. The courtyard serves to adjust light and ventilation inside the house. You may also, rarely, find ettu (8)  and pathinaru (16) kettus across the state. The number of courtyards is proportionate to the number of buildings.  A  nalu kettu will have one courtyard, an ettu kettu two, and so on. An intriguing fact is that each building around the courtyard usually has a separate first floor with a staircase leading to it, although the buildings together look a composite whole. The courtyards have solid pillars made of teak and mahogany, with intricate carvings, holding the roof up. The roof is also made of wood and has carvings. You will find intricately carved wooden furniture and panels in many of the old homes. Homestay options in such residences are available, and the Kerala Tourism Department's website provides you with a list.

Bathrooms were just an appendage to residences about 10 years back — even now in many places — as people took their baths in rivers and ponds. Temples had ponds where the populace met for their daily ablutions and local gossip. The traditional houses would have at least one pond in their premises. The kula puras (pond buildings) with tiled roofs sloping to almost touch the water and the pond's edges paved with stones with steps leading to the depths are also an interesting sight.

(See: Off the beaten path in Kerala / The warrior ascetic / Basic info)