What was once known as ‘Mathamangalam thadankal palayam’, a place of confinement built by the British in the village of Kandonthar here to incarcerate freedom fighters in the region has now been turned into a heritage monument as part of a conservation project of the State Archaeology Department.
The two-room building near the Kandonthar school was built 150 years ago and it served as a jail during the British rule for the detention of the freedom fighters, especially those from the hill areas of the region, in the days when roads and vehicle facilities were limited.
With the renovation of the ‘thadankal palayam’ as a historical monument, the structure is set to be a destination of history buffs. The Archaeology Department had taken over the structure in 2016 and declared it as a protected monument. The heritage building, restored by the department for ₹19.75 lakh, was inaugurated by Minister for Museums and Archaeology Ramachandran Kadannappally, at a function on June 9.
The Minister announced that a museum and library would be constructed near the monument to showcase the legacy of the land. The ₹20 crore museum and library project was already granted administrative sanction, he informed. A heritage festival would be organised at Chanthappura in the Kadannappally-Panappuzha panchayat as part of the initiatives to preserve the heritage of the area, he said.
The erstwhile jail is near the Kaithapram village known for its age-old ‘illams’ or vintage houses, which, if properly preserved, are expected to attract tourists. The idea of preserving the building was announced by Mr. Ramachandran while addressing a public reception at his first visit to his native place after he was sworn in as Minister.
At the function on Saturday, Madakka Kunhikkannan Velchappad, who had been incarcerated in the jail, was felicitated. T.V. Rajesh, MLA, presided. Director of Archaeology Department J. Rajikumar was present.