The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Sculpture park inside Nayak Palace in Madurai planned

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Dec 30, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Sculpture park inside Nayak Palace in Madurai planned

T. Saravanan

Department of Archaeology sends proposal to Government

— Photo: G. Moorthy.

STANDS TALL: A view of Tirumalai Nayak Palace.

MADURAI: The Department of Archaeology has planned to set up a sculpture park on the premises of Tirumalai Nayak Palace.

According to an official source, a proposal has been sent to the Government to create the park with the funds sanctioned for renovation of the Palace.

The park will serve as a museum under nature cover with timeless and priceless statues, discovered during several excavations carried out by the department team and other materials of historical importance literally picked up from the streets, displayed prominently to attract more number of visitors to the Palace.

“Already we have an on site museum inside the Palace, where around 85 exhibits are displayed. There are a lot more loose sculptures locked in a place used by the King as bedroom. We wanted to display those rare statues of immense antique value to facilitate the public to feel proud of their culture and history,” said the source.

The park will be designed without compromising on the historical significance.

Impressive ambience

Every exhibit will be placed on a pedestal where all information pertaining to it like name, period and place of discovery will either be embossed on a vitreous enamel quoted plaque or engraved on the stone pedestal quoted with enamel.

“The vitreous enamel quoting acts as a protective shield against miscreants who tamper with the information and mar the beauty of the exhibit. We are trying to create an impressive ambience for the park. Already tenders have been called for and in all probability the work will be finished by March 2008,” the source added.

The park will be established on the lawn on the northern side of the Palace.

The grass will be pruned and maintained well.

The department also plans to permit visitors to go around the Palace, which is restricted at present.

With more number of foreign visitors expected during this season, which extends up to March, the sculpture park will definitely prove to be an added attraction for the Tirumalai Nayak Palace.

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