The history of this exotic backwater village revolves around the "Baker House" (also known as the "History House"), which was built by the British missionary Alfred George Baker, whom the locals called "Kari Saipu" (possibly an elision from "Baker Sahib"). Four generations of Bakers lived in the house until 1962. It is reported that they spoke Malayalam, the local language, and even wore the "mundu", which is the traditional formal wear of the people of Kerala (a plain white "dhoti", with golden silk lining). The Baker Memorial School in Kottayam, was started around 1825, by members of the same family. The Baker House itself was in ruins, until it was taken over by the Taj Group and restored into a luxury heritage hotel. http://wikitravel.org/en/Kumarakom