Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple, Thiruvananthapuram, the richest Temple/Religious Centre in the World.

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Source: Metro Manorama

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Amicus Curiae moots heritage status

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government has initiated the process for the inclusion of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in the 'World Heritage Site' list. A rough draft of the proposal is expected to be prepared in a month.

The movefollows a suggestion in this regard by advocate Gopal Subramaniam, the amicus curiae appointed by the Supreme Court.

Stating that the temple is undoubtedly a world heritage site by virtue of its archaeological and historical significance, the amicus curiae had suggested that Archaeological Survey of India director (conservation) Janhwij Sharma to carry forward the proposal in consultation with Dr M Velayudhan Nair, the coordinator of the SCappointed expert committee. Nair is also the head of the department of conservation of the National Museum Institute (NMI).

"The process to propose the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple for inclusion in the World Heritage List has begun. It would go a long way in conserving the heritage monument. Prof N Ramaswamy of the department of archaeology at the Kollam-based TKM College of Engineering will support us in preparing the rough draft of the proposal in about a month," Nair told TOI on Monday.

After preparing the rough draft, it will be dovetailed into a suitable proposal and sent to the state government. It will have to be accepted by the Indian Heritage Committee before being forwarded to the UNESCO for inclusion in the tentative list for World Heritage Sites.

"Initially, a preliminary report of 25 pages will be prepared and sent to the Indian Heritage Committee and after its approval, it will be forwarded to UNESCO. Following that, a detailed report will to be sent to UNESCO. If the suggestion fructifies, after being placed in the tentative list for one year, the temple will be placed in the final list for inclusion in the World Heritage Sites," Nair said.

Meanwhile, a UNESCO team of heritage experts will inspect the temple to ensure that the proposed site is well conserved as per its standards, he said.

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Shot Using Samsung Galaxy SII on 03.12.2012

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Shot Using Samsung Galaxy SII on 03.12.2012

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Source: Mathrubhumi

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Source: Metro Manorama

[ASGeorge]

Source : Kaumudiflash

[psanthosh]

Conservation of walls around Padmanabha Temple set to start



The forts in the city which bear the mark of a bygone era have been longing for a redemption for sometime now. Even the new found treasures in the abode of Lord Padmanabha couldn’t save them from the ill-fate. But after much delay, almost one-and-a-half years after the initial plans were drawn up, the Kerala State Archaeology Department is all set to undertake the conservation of ‘kotta vathilukal’ (fort gates) and ‘kotta mathilukal’ (fort walls) surrounding the Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple from next week.

The Department of Culture had sanctioned a Rs one crore project for the conservation of the heritage structures that run almost 3 km within the purview of the Lord’s temple. Among the forts - East Fort (directly opposite to the main entrance of Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple), Pazhaya Angadi Fort or the Ganapathy fort (Vadakke Kotta), Vettimuricha Kotta, West Fort and Thekke Kotta (which is a miniature fort) - only East Fort looks better off. Even there, the decorative fencing on its sides have come off.

‘’The side protection has come out at many places in the case of fort gates. We will use plastered lime or whatever traditional materials that have been used in the structures to conserve them. In the case of fort walls also, the granite has come off at many places as in the walls covering the Central Archives office or the ‘pazhaya jail’ compound,’’ said V S Satheesh, conservation engineer with the Archaeology Department.

The plight of Vettimuricha Kotta is more pitiable. The huge carrier lorries, transporting vehicles from other states, which make a turning here have been the reason for bringing down many a brick on its sides. With no night patrolling now, (earlier, the Department used to carry out patrolling) things are even more messy. The interlocking granites which have been fixed using earth filling have come off at many places, which would be restored.

‘’Owing to some technical snags, the conservation was held up. But we have awarded the work now and it will start next week itself. We need the help of the Police, the Corporation and the Traffic to carry out works at many places. We are communicating with them in this regard,’’ said J Rejikumar, Director-in-charge of the State Archaeology Department.

The footpaths that once used to surround the fort walls have also gone missing at many points which would be restored. There is water seepage at many places which would be dealt with. According to historians, there are nine openings or fort gates similar to the ‘navadwarangal’ - nine openings in the human body. But some are miniature structures and do not fall under the protected monuments of the Department.

http://newindianexpress.com/cities/t...cle1411925.ece

[Tri Man]

Archaeological Society of India(ASI) should take over the fort and conserve it in a decent manner as it is doing in Tajmahal,Redfort,....

Ticketing should be made whereever feasible to generate revenue for upkeeping and maintenance.Ticketing will also prevent tresspassers and encroachments.

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image hosted on flickr


image hosted on flickr


© bootchec @Flickr

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image hosted on flickr


© Pappadi @ Flickr

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image hosted on flickr


© akhil sreedhar @Flickr

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Source: Kerala Kaumudi

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Source: Mathrubhumi

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Clean temple pond by Mar 13, says SC

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The row over the cleaning of Padmatheertham pond in the precincts of the SreePadmanabhaswamy Temple continues, despite repeated directives from the Supreme Court.

Following a report in TOI on November 22, last year, the Supreme Court had issued a directive on December 12 to clean up the pond and the temple premises. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court issued another directive and asked the state to get the pond cleaned up by March 13.

The temple expert committee members said that the state government and the city corporation are equally responsible for cleaning up the temple surroundings including the pond.

"When the apex court of the country has directed the state government, corporation and temple administration to clean up the pond, why is the city corporation shirking its responsibility to clean the pond which is at the heart of the city," said VK Hari Kumar, temple executive officer. "We are willing to take the lead in cleaning up the Padmatheertham pond but it has to be with the support of the corporation and government as directed by the Supreme Court," he said. The cleaning of the pond will incur a huge expenditure as it is in an expanse of seven acres, he said.

But, the Corporation authorities are of the view that the temple administration should clean up the pond as it is within their limits and they collect revenue from devotees who use the pond. City mayor K Chandrika said, "The corporation will supervise the work, but it is the responsibility of the Temple Trust to clean up the pond as it is within their limits".

Corporation deputy mayor G Happy Kumar reiterated that cleaning the temple precincts and the pond is the responsibility of the Temple administration or the Devaswom Board. "The pond is within the purview of the Temple administration and they receive massive funds from the temple, it is their responsibility to clean that," he said.

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Source: Malayala Manorama

[ASGeorge]

[rajesh_raman73]

http://www.thehindu.com/news/nationa...?homepage=true

Panel to seek National Geographic Society’s help for inventory of temple treasure

Of the l.05 lakh items documented so far (till mid-March), about 500 were embedded with gems.
One single locket alone contained 997 gems. Together, these jewels accounted for 60,000 gems.

Committee has decided to extend a special invitation to the NGS to demonstrate the technology it uses for studying artefacts.

Along with jewels, plenty of ancient coins have been found. Of them, Venetian and late Roman coins are of extensive academic interest.

About 1,95,000 of Raasippanams(small gold coins), weighing more than 600 kg, have been documented.
Along with the coins, 14,000 Arka flowers — gold-covered objects used as votive offerings — have been found in the kallaras.