Mandapam to be ready by March

Warangal: The restoration works of ‘Kalyana Mandapam’ at the historic Thousand Pillar Temple have picked up momentum and are expected to be completed by March 2014. It might be noted that the task of restoring the Kalyana Mandapam, which was built in 1163 AD by Rudra Deva of Kakatiya kingdom, was launched in 2005. A decision in this connection was taken at a meeting on ‘Geotechnical Appraisal and Evaluation of Kakatiya Monuments’ on February 24 in 1991.

Archeological Survey of India (ASI), INTACH and NIT Warangal have been working together in the restoration works. Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) convener Prof M Panduranga Rao said about 70 percent of work was completed. As of now ‘Pradakshinapada’ consisting of seven layers, ‘Kakshashana’ consisting of four layers and cavity wall were completed. As many as 32 pillars out of total 132 pillars were erected and 100 pillars would be erected in a couple of months.

According to him, Kalyana Mandapam restoration work is stated to be the biggest project in South India. A skilled sculptor (Stapathi) M Siva Kumar of Tamil Nadu, assisted by about 70 workers including 45 sculptors, has been working on the project.

The project has faced lot of criticism due to the delay in the work since its dismantling. “It is not a small task we have removed about 2595 pieces and inventory was made. We are not allowing even a one millimetre deviation and to work with such precision takes time,” Panduranga Rao explained.

Of the total 160 beams, 28 were missing. Similarly 13 pillars were missing out of the total 132 pillars. The missing pieces were being carved by Stapathi Siva Kumar and his team. The use of reinforced cement concrete (RCC), steel and cement was strictly kept away. A mixture of Karakkaya (gal nut), black jaggery and lime which was originally used by Kakatiyas has been used in the restoration. After the restoration was finished entire structure would be given a chemical treatment to make it look new.