The Thiruvananthapuram Fort, which stood guard against possible enemy invasions of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple and the city for centuries, has been losing the battle against the elements for some time.
The construction of the present fort began around 1747 during the reign of Marthanda Varma and completed in 1787 during the rule of Karthika Thirunal Dharmaraja. The 3.65-km fortification comprises a granite part and a laterite part. The laterite fort on the southern side at Attakulangara has been at the receiving end of various development works and the lime mortar plastering has chipped off at many places.
Use of excavators and heavy machinery for developing the road abutting the fort wall literally shook the fort’s foundations, dislocating the laterite bricks and exposing the age-old structure to the vagaries of the weather. It was then the Kerala Archaeology department stepped in to renovate this part of the protected monument under it.
Finishing touches being given to a portion of the under-renovation Fort Wall at Attakulangara. Once polished the walls will have a marble-like shine. | Photo Credit: SREEJITH R. KUMAR
But restoring a fortification from another era, situated in the middle of a bustling city, poses unique challenges. One is the encroachments on various parts. Another is that the building and plastering techniques used are different from the present cement plastering methods and finding labourers skilled in the work is not easy.
“To take up the fort wall renovation, we needed to surmount many obstacles,” says E. Dinesan, Director, Department of Archaeology, Kerala. He adds, “While the fort is a protected monument, there is no prohibited area around the fort wall. Although we have declared a three-metre restricted zone around the fort, in many parts, we do not have access to the fort as its wall serves as one of the walls of the buildings built near it. There is not even space for labourers to stand and work on.”
Nevertheless, renovation work is now under way on 383 metres of the fort wall, from Attakulangara Junction to Azhikotta, estimated at ₹64.9 lakh. “The work is expected to be completed by October, weather permitting. The lime plastering method needs lot of curing time,” says Dinesan.
The ancient plastering method using lime mortar is no more practised commonly and requires skilled hands. At the go-down of Hi-Elect Enterprises, which has been awarded the work, workers mix lime and river sand in a specific proportion and leave it to ferment for 21 days. After this period, if the mixture is ready, it has a gooey consistency; otherwise, the process is repeated.
The mined lime and other ingredients needed are mostly sourced from places in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
After applying the first coat of the mixture on the cleaned wall, six more layers are added. The mixture is ground to a batter-like consistency and applied as a second layer. Then a coat of lime is given.
“Nearly 23 substances, including palm jaggery, kadukka (Terminalia chebula), chenninayakam (dried Aloe vera gum) and several secret ingredients are used in the plastering process. Once complete, the walls will have a marble-like finish,” says H Dileep Kumar, managing director, Hi-Elect enterprises.
“Creating heritage awareness among the people living near any historic monument is important in conserving it, because they are the ones who associate with it on a daily basis. While heritage walks are one way of creating such awareness, better results can be obtained if schoolchildren from the area are made aware of the history and importance of such structures,” says Sharat Sunder Rajeev, conservation architect.
Once the restoration is complete, the wall will stand as a proud reminder of the city’s rich history. The Archaeology department has also moved for administrative sanction for restoring the East and West Forts.
Anoop (name changed), a resident of an Agraharam inside the fort, admits that waste dumping and encroachments lead to the ruination of the historic walls, but adds that local people are also the victims of the garbage menace. He says even waste from outside used to be stored near the walls at one time. Improved surveillance such as fixing AI cameras will act as a deterrent to waste dumping, he feels. He adds, “It is a part of our legacy. We have a responsibility to preserve this part of our heritage.”
