Nagpuri Tadka: Ramtek temple conservation plan tweaked again

RAMTEK NAGPUR RAMTEKGADMANDIR IS HOLLY PLACE OF RAMA

Ramtek
Location:     Nagpur district (Maharashtra)
Distance:     42 km northeast of Nagpur city
Highlights:     Shri Ram Temple

Ramtek is a small town, situated at a distance of approximately 42 km to the northeast of the Nagpur city of Maharashtra. It falls under the Nagpur district and is held in high regard by the Hindus. This is because this town is believed to be associated with Lord Rama. There is hill situated near Ramtek, known as the Ramgiri Hill. The hill houses a historical temple of Lord Rama, which is said to be more than 600 years old. This temple has greatly added to the travel attraction of the city.

The legend also goes that Lord Rama stopped at Ramtek, along with His wife Sita and brother Lakshmana, while on his exile. Another fact that adds to the attraction of the town, from tourism point of view, is its association with the Great poet Kalidasa. He wrote his excellent poem, Meghdoot in the hills of Ramtek only. Infact, it is often said that it was the beauty of Ramtek Hills that inspired him to write the poem. The town was also the constituency from where Late Indian Prime Minister Narshima Rao fought his election.

The major attractions of Ramtek comprise of the 27 Brahmanical style temple that have been constructed atop the hill. Amongst them is the Lakshmana Temple, which dates back to as far back as 1400 AD. The town serves as the venue of the Kalidasa Festival, held every year in the month of November. A fortnight-long festival, it boasts of performances by virtuosos in the field of music, dance and drama. Ramsagar Lake, a serene lake, and the Jain temple situated here are also worth having a look at.

The state department of archaeology has revised the proposal for conservation of the crumbling hill around the Gad mandir or temple at Ramtek. The public works department (PWD) has now included the Vidarbha Heritage Society (VHS) as consultant for the project expected to be taken up at the earliest following directives by the Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court in a PIL.

The new proposal suggests construction of just one retaining wall instead of the earlier suggested three level walls, and use of lime as against cement in the construction.

Anand Bhoyar, assistant director of the department's Nagpur office, told TOI that the department would be taking up the conservation work as soon as the rainy season ends. The fresh proposal has already been prepared and sent to PWD. "Though rocks from the hill are falling only on the south side, in a stretch of around 10 meters, conservation is urgently required. We have appointed VHS architects, who suggested use of lime instead of cement and single wall instead of three levels. This will reduce cost as well," said Bhoyar. The department has already received the money for the project.

VHS secretary Avantika Chitnavis says that use of lime would increase the life of the structure. "The retaining wall will be resting on a ledge. We would be using sandstone and lime for the wall. The work won't involve breaking any rocks and will prevent rocks or stones falling from the hill. We will also ensure prevention of water seepage," she said.

Pradumnya Sahashrabhojnee, an executive committee member of VHS, and Chitnavis are now jointly handling the project as architects. The new plan involves some minor changes which will be finalized soon before sending the proposal for government clearance.

State environment and cultural affairs minister Sanjay Deotale and Ramtek MLA Ashish Jaiswal held a meeting on July 11 on the Ramtek temple conservation issue with the department.

Bhoyar said after this meeting the department has forwarded a proposal to develop 12 sites including some gates and temples. These include the Varaha, Sirpur, Bhaisar, Gokud and Bhairav gates, and the Ramkund, Dashrath, Sumitramata, Kaushalyamata, Satyanarayan and Laxminarayan temples. The plan will also improve the fortification wall and the Karpur bawdi, besides developing pathways and beautification work.

The Ram or gad mandir is supposed to be about 800 years old while the Varaha, Keval Narsimgha, Rudra Narsimgha and Boghram temples are around 14-15,000 years old. Bhoyar said that at present conservation work on Ambala tank and monuments is going on.