Withering Heritage

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Reams have been written about heritage and its importance. While discussions vary about our culture, monuments and its preservation, nothing much happens in reality. This World Heritage Day, Express takes a look at the various heritage sites and monuments in the city that are in a state of neglect.

Trivandrum Fort

The fort is a historical site considered the face of the city. Built in 1747 by King Marthanda Varma, East Fort is one of the most happening areas in the district and is famous for being home to the historic Sree Padmanabha Swami Temple. Bustling with tourists, shops and a plethora of commercial sites, it has witnessed the rise and fall of the Travancore rule.

Near it is Vettimurichakotta Gate where the famous school of kalaripayattu CVN Kalari is located. The fort is built in a traditional Kerala and Dravidian style and houses the unique Methan Mani.

The entire area has been declared by the State Government as a heritage site, but nothing has happened so far in terms of renovation.

Dr S Hemachandran, former director, Archeology Department says: “All historical monuments are not protected. This is the only fort with a township inside it, but waste is strewn on the roads. Nobody respects its heritage and the fort, with all its cultural importance, is largely ignored.” He adds the monuments in the area are also ignored and is facing a slow death.

Vizhinjam Cave

Considered to be smallest and earliest rock-cut shrine in South India, the Vizhinjam rock-cut cave was build in the 8th century. The shrine has a central cell with a sculpture of akshinamurthy and on either side of the cell are unfinished sculptures of Siva and Parvathi. This cave, declared as a protected monument, is under the control of Archaeological Survey of India since 1965 but is in a state of neglect. Waste piles are formed, thanks to careless tourists. The once-sacred place is left to ruin.

Reptile House at Museum

The reptile house at the Museum, which exhibits both poisonous and non-poisonous snakes, was built some 100 years ago. This building was considered as the most elegant monument by the tourists owing to the red tile used to construct it. Presently, it is being restored, but these tiles have been removed and replaced by ordinary ones.

“The reptile house makes the Museum more elegant. There is no use reconstructing the structure if the tiles are replaced. Only if we use the same kind of tile will the place be revered.

Actually, in the name of restoration, this site is being

destroyed,” said Ajayakumar, former dean of visual arts, World University of Design, New Delhi.

Arattu mandapam and Kalmandapam at Shangumugham beach

Arattu Mandapam and Kalmandapaman are the ancient and historical stone structures used for arattu (holy bath or ceremonial bath) of deities of Padmanabhaswamy Temple. The structures situated at Shangumugham beach are now in a state of neglect. Built in two time periods, they were constructed according to the landscape. Today, the mandapams cut a sad figure with heaps of waste lining it, and two-wheeler

parked on the either side. Though there was a plan to preserve it, nothing happened so far. Ajayakumar says: “One reason the structure is neglected is that people who visit the beach, flock to these sites without understanding its importance. Though there are talks about renovation, we need to understand that renovation doesn't mean restoration.