ASI Restores Historic Draksharamam Temple

Fast Summary

• The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has completed restoration work on the 9th-century Bhimeswara temple at Draksharamam village in Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Konaseema district.
• Built by the Eastern Chalukyas, the Bhimeswara temple is a protected monument under ASI.
• Restoration efforts commenced between 2021-2022 and were carried out over four years.
• Conservation measures included:

– Restoration of the damaged flooring and conservation of Nivedhan sala.
– Chemical cleaning and pointing to ancient stone walls and ceilings inside goddess Manikyamaba temple.
– Erection of a stone apron around Somavarapu Mandapam and inner prakara restoration work.
– Chemical conservation for the main deity (Sivalingam) and also preservation of goddess Manikyamaba’s srichakra.

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Indian opinion Analysis

The completion of restoration work on the historically significant Bhimeswara temple highlights India’s commitment to cultural heritage preservation. As a monument built during the Eastern Chalukya period, its architectural uniqueness holds immense historic value for scholars, tourists, and devotees alike.

From ensuring proper chemical treatments for ancient artifacts to structural repairs, these extensive conservation efforts by ASI have restored integral parts of this heritage site while possibly enabling future revenue through tourism in Draksharamam village. Given its status as an ASI-protected monument, maintaining such sites boosts India’s image globally in heritage conservation practices while nurturing local pride in historical roots.

End-to-end completion within four years signifies efficient implementation despite potential challenges posed by time-sensitive deterioration risks for such ancient structures. This mirrors broader attention toward safeguarding monuments amid increasing urbanization pressures being seen across India.