The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has urged the government to conserve the historically significant structures, including the 600-year-old ‘Vilakkumadom’, an exquisite granite structure, at the Sree Mahavishnu Temple at Thirunelly in Wayanad district during the on-going renovation of the temple.
- The renovation is being done by the Tourism department at a cost of Rs. 3.8 crore.
- Its history traces back to the 15th century AD involving certain stories related to the architecture and style of the temple.
- The possible completion of the Vilakkumadom structure and the total destruction of ‘Chuttambalam’ had resulted in a loss of heritage creating a gap in its value and importance that could be forgotten or misinterpreted in the future.
- Chuttambalam is the building constructed around the sanctum sanctorum shrikovil (sanctum sanctorum) of Kerala temples. It is the outermost periphery of the temple through which the devotees circumambulate the main shrine. It is also known as nalambalam.
- The incomplete structure that stood as testimony to a rich cultural heritage has been remodelled in an insensitive way.
- It is said that the work was launched by the king of Coorg without the permission of the temple’s custodian, the Kottayam Raja. Later, the Kottayam Raja ordered to stop the construction work, and the structure remained untouched afterwards.
