Temples of Kerala
Guidelines for Conservation
Project Overview
A bilingual publication with guidelines to conserve Temples of Kerala.
Published by INTACH( Indian National trust for art and Cultural Heritage)
Role: Co-Author
Timeline: September 2020 - April 2021
Background
The structural temples of Kerala come within the mainstream of Indian temple building tradition but in its articulation, it follows its own indigenous method. Compared to the other temple styles of Nagara, Dravida, and Vesara, Kerala temples have an inherent simplicity. The climatic factors - two heavy monsoons per year, a high rate of humidity, and harsh tropical summers made significant contributions to developing the architecture style. The abundance of timber made it the primary building material together with laterite, stone, and lime.
It is important to preserve these temples in their original form just as they were passed on to us by our ancestors and we have the duty to pass them on to the next generation. We need to exhibit a certain kind of care, caution, and restraint as temples are considered to be living entities that have immense historic and educational values associated with them. .
The need
There are more than 4000 temples in Kerala, managed under different Dewaswom boards and private trusts. The additions and alterations happening in Kerala temples, many times do not fully respect the ecological, spiritual, and aesthetic principles on which they are rooted. It is important to maintain a disciplined approach whilst doing any restoration work in temples. With insufficient technical staff, It becomes inevitable for the individual temple managers and staff to be aware of the basic dos and don’t regarding repair works.
The Content
This publication includes a set of guidelines intended for the preservation and conservation of Kerala temples. It is intended to assist Devaswom Boards and private temple authorities to ensure that their sacred temple structures respect nature and natural forces in any construction or restoration activities. It is a non-technical read in both English and Malayalam language written for every common man associated with the Kerala temple- may it be a temple trustee or a devotee. The first chapter deals with traditional building materials and issues in conservation. The second chapter is dedicated to common issues and their corrective measures.
