Bhubaneswar, Dec 8: The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has initiated the long-awaited and historic process of removing sand from the sanctum sanctorum of the Konark Sun Temple, marking a major breakthrough in the conservation of the 13th-century UNESCO World Heritage Site. The monumental task began on Monday with the construction of a 4 ft × 4 ft access tunnel on the western side of the sanctum’s first platform, following detailed assessments of the stone walls.

This major operation comes after customary rituals were performed on Saturday, paving the way for the ASI to conduct a 17-inch core drilling exercise. The drilling marked the first physical intervention into the sealed chamber in over a century. The work is being closely supervised by ASI Superintendent D. B. Garnayak and Regional Director Dilip Khamari, supported by a 10-member expert team responsible for evaluating the temple’s structural stability.

The sanctum had been filled with sand and sealed in 1903 by the British administration to prevent further structural deterioration. For 122 years, the inner chamber remained untouched. To assess its present condition before opening, scientists from the Central Building Research Institute (CBRI), Roorkee, conducted advanced studies, including laser scanning, endoscopic inspections, and robotic camera surveys.

Powered by Froala Editor