South Gopuram of revered Vadakkumnathan temple in dilapidated state; archaeology dept blames scant funds

THRISSUR: The South Gopuram of the revered Vadakkumnathan temple in Thrissur is in a dilapidated state, such that the authorities have found a major leak from the roof. Department of Archeology did not take action despite noticing the incident. Rainwater falls to the base of the three-storey tower. If the renovation works gets delayed, the possibility of the building failing the durability test looms large.

The Department of Archeology has repeatedly pointed out the scant availability of funds which they blame to have delayed the renovation works. The Devaswom Manager had already informed the Cochin Devaswom Board about the leak, and as a response, the middle floor of the tower was restored with new tiles.

Officials say that the leak may have happened on the upper floor. The ‘gopuranada’ is locked from inside to prevent devotees from seeing the leak. In many places, the wooden planks are in rotten condition. All such matters were duly communicated to the concerned authorities by the supervisor of the Department of Archaeology but to no avail.

Except for the preservation of the mural painting around the deity of Sri Shankaranarayan in the Vadakkumnathan temple, there exists no contract of preservation with the archaeology department. Earlier, when the Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu Devaswoms took over the work of the gopuram, the Archeology Department intervened saying that they would fix it. Despite the promise, the word has not been kept.

Five years have gone since the work of laying stone around the ‘Chuttambalam’, and surprisingly, the work has not been completed yet. Officials have not permitted the ‘Koothambalam’ renovation despite the availability of sponsors.