The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Thousand Pillar temple in Warangal to stand on its feet again

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Tuesday, Dec 30, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Thousand Pillar temple in Warangal to stand on its feet again

Gollapudi Srinivasa Rao

Architectural marvel from Kakatiyas to be restored in 2 years

Photo: M. Murali

Architectural splendour: The inner part of the ancient pond at the historic Thousand Pillar temple in Warangal.

WARANGAL: The much delayed work of reconstruction at the ancient Thousand Pillar temple has picked up a little pace rising hopes of the heritage lovers of seeing the great monument in place once again.

The Kalyana Mandapam of the temple which was crumbling was dismantled in 2005 with a view to reconstruct the whole again. However, the experts differed on the nature of foundation to be laid before embarking on putting in place the architectural marvel of great Kakatiya rulers. A section of experts wanted the Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC) foundation while another section favoured granular pile foundation. After elaborate deliberations , it was decided to go for granular pile foundation, avoiding use of steel, cement and concrete.

INTACH convenor Prof.M.Panduranga Rao accompanied by technical team of the project, NIT faculty members Prof. V. Ramanamurthy, Dr. Deva Pratap, Archaeological Survey of India officials and others inspected the ongoing reconstruction work here on Monday.

Speaking to The Hindu, Prof Panduranga Rao said the project envisaged laying 310 granular piles of which 231 were completed as on date. “The granular pile is digging of a hole of 400 mm of 7.5 metre and filling it up with sand and coarse aggregate of granite. It will be packed compactly. In next stage, alternate to each of pile, we will go for grout holes 150 in number with 75 mm diameter and each will be filled with lime mortar to fill any void between the piles in foundation and to make it almost monolithic sand stone with lime matrix,” he explained.

According to him, the foundation work would be over in six months. Putting the dismantled pieces of the Kalyana Mandapam together would begin then. It is expected to take two years to complete the whole structure. Prof Rao said steel, cement and concrete would wither away in course of time but the granular pile would not. “This technique is on par with the international standards followed in reconstruction of ancient monuments across the globe,” he added.

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