The Hindu : Boathouse renovation to begin soon

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jan 09, 2004

Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Boathouse renovation to begin soon

By T. Nandakumar

The Vallakadavu boathouse... waiting for a new lease of life. Photo: S. Mahinsha

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JAN. 8. The Thiruvananthapuram Development Authority has cleared the decks for the second stage of a project to renovate the Vallakadavu boathouse, one of the prized heritage monuments in the city. The restoration of the substructure has been completed and tenders have been invited for the reconstruction of the docks, sheds and other buildings which form the superstructure.

Based on a design approved by the Tourism Department, the work involves replication of the original structures which had fallen into disuse after years of neglect. The TRIDA chairman, P.K. Venugopal, said the tenders for reconstruction of the superstructure would be finalised in two weeks.

The project was taken up in 2002 after the Kerala Sports Council handed over the possession of the boathouse to TRIDA. The Government has sanctioned an amount of Rs.10 lakhs for the renovation work.

In the first phase of the project, the dilapidated structures were demolished. While the docks and sheds have been dismantled for reconstruction, the graceful arch sporting the insignia of the Travancore monarchs which straddles the entrance has been preserved as such. The work which began in 2002 was held up by repeated technical snags.

After the pile drivers ran into a wall of debris, excavators were pressed into service to remove the underground layer of rubble. Fresh problems caused by tidal ingress and rain-induced soil erosion affected the piling work again forcing TRIDA to commission the use of specialised equipment.

The boathouse which fell into neglect was the hub of hectic commercial activity in its heydays during the Travancore era. A stone's throw from the International Airport in the city, it was built in the 1820s as an important link in the waterway for travel and cargo transport from one end of the princely State to the other. Historical records reveal that the `boattupura', as it is known to the locals, was used by the stately barges of the Travancore kings. The royal parties which went picnicking in the Veli Lake used to set sail from the boathouse. The priests, scholars and nobility who used to come to Thiruvananthapuram from far and near, used to alight here.

Over the years, the high roof lost its tiles and the massive carved rafters started rotting. There were four docks inside the boathouse, parallel to one another, about 25 metres long and five metres wide. The docks were deep enough to accommodate heavy barges filled to the brim with cargo. At the time of demolition, they were clogged with sand and silt.

The exact replication of the original structures is a major challenge for the restoration team. TRIDA officials said the old buildings were photographed in detail before they were pulled down. They said every detail including the pillars would be reconstructed with precision.

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