Century-Old Travancore Kingdom Building Collapses

Quick Summary

• Heavy rains caused the collapse of a past building, ‘Thottapura,’ in Peerumade, Idukki.
• The building was originally constructed around 100 years ago during the rule of Maharani Sethu Lakshmi Bayi as an explosives store for temple and road construction.
• Made using stone and surkhi, it featured a magnet on its roof to protect against lightning.
• Over time, the structure became encased by banyan tree roots; thes roots recently withered, leading to sudden damage and collapse on Tuesday.
• Residents have called for measures to safeguard such historical structures.
• Other Raj-era buildings in Peerumade remain standing; notable examples include the 130-year-old Kuttikkanam Palace (Ammachi kottaram).
• Tourism officials suggested transferring ownership of such historical sites to their department for inclusion in heritage tourism projects.

Indian Opinion analysis

The collapse of Thottapura highlights a growing concern over neglect of historically significant buildings in India.Such structures serve as valuable cultural artifacts that connect us with past architectural practices and societal narratives. The disrepair seems attributed not just to age but also environmental factors like banyan tree encroachment-further worsened by heavy rainfall.

Tourism department proposals to incorporate similar sites into heritage tourism projects could offer a lasting solution. It would integrate preservation efforts into economic ventures while imparting historical knowledge to younger generations. Recognizing and acting promptly could prevent further loss of india’s architectural heritage in vulnerable areas like Idukki.

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