CHENNAI: Tourists exploring the Shore Temple at Mamallapuram can, in about a year, view the pristine beauty of the beach promenade directly from the world heritage site.
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is looking at the possibility of opening access to the shoreline to facilitate an unhindered view of the promenade from the monument. Currently, boulders and fencing divide the Unesco notified site with the seashore at Mamallapuram, which is located about 50 kilometres south of Chennai.
ASI, custodian of centrally protected monuments, has one and half acre of land on the southern side of Shore Temple that would be utilised for the purpose. While grilled fencing will done about 50 metre before the seashore, seating arrangements will be made available inside so that visitors can watch the beach promenade. Fencing is being done to restrict entry from the seashore to the monument.
According to official sources with ASI, the move is part of a detailed project report (DPR) prepared by a private firm to improve tourist amenities in the three ticketed monumentsFive Rathas, Krishna Butterball and Shore Temple. In the present scenario, people planning to visit beach promenade from the Shore Temple must exit from the monument and enter through a pathway adjacent to the monument leading to the sand dunes. "A garden would be developed in the land parcel with seating arrangements. Visitors can have the view of the beach from the garden," an official source said.
As part of the DPR, battery cars would be offered to shuttle tourists, particularly senior citizens, between the entrance of the Shore Temple and the monument. Solar panels will be installed to make the world heritage sites self-sufficient in power. The facilities are likely be created within the next one year under CSR funds for which the DPR is under discussion, sources added.
On an average, the ticketed monuments records a footfall of anywhere between 800 and 1000 visitors during weekdays. It is about 3,000 on weekends. The Pallava era monuments at Mamallapuram were reopened in December last year almost nine months after being closed in the wake of Covid-19.