Thiruvananthapuram's tourist hotspot Madavoorpara sinking into oblivion

POTHENCODE: Madavoorpara, the quaint location in the capital city, also home to a historic cave temple is facing ignorance from authorities. Renovation and development works remain empty words while locals too are perturbed over the constant ignorance shown to one of the city's most sought-after locations.

The government had issued a notification to acquire 1.28 acres of land as part of the comprehensive tourism development of the Madavoorpara tourist centre. Subsequently, documents were obtained from the land owners and Rs 3 crores were allotted as compensation to owners, who agreed to give up their land.

When the compensation was about to be paid, the government went back foot and stopped the land acquisition procedure. The development projects were put to rest when the government issued a circular cancelling the notification. Earlier it was agreed to acquire nine people's land on both sides of the entrance gate of the tourism centre. The locals still demand immediate development of the Madavoorpara tourism centre.

• History and legend go hand in hand

• Historians have recorded that it was built in AD 850

• The Madavoorpara cave temple and its surroundings are more than 12 centuries old and are an archaeological protected monument.

• Located at an altitude of 750 feet above sea level

• If you look from the top of the rock, you can see Mount Sahyadri in the east and the Arabian Sea in the west

• People come in flocks to the spot to enjoy a perfect evening that offers a lucid view of the setting sun.

• Madavoorpara was declared a protected monument in 1974 under the Antiquities Preservation Act, 1960.