A mansion, designed and built by renowned painter Raja Ravi Varma at his native place at Kilimanoor, near here, is all set to get a facelift without it losing its old world charm and grandeur.
The State Archaeology Department has launched a renovation programme to protect ‘Puthenmalika’ (new mansion), the sprawling structure built by the artist on the premises of his ancestral home Kilimanoor Palace.
The tile-roofed mansion, one of the recent structures in the palace, had once housed some renowned paintings of Ravi Varma before they were shifted to State-run museums.
Though the two-storey building houses no paintings at present, the structure itself is an archaeological treasure, a top official said.
“The entire Kilimanoor Palace complex is a protected monument under the State Archaeology Department. The Puthenmalika is also a part of it. A portion of its roof and walls are damaged and we are now concentrating on the mansion’s renovation,” State Archaeology Department Director G. Premkumar said.
Leaking roof
To check leakage of the roof, the department plans to fix aluminium sheets in between the tiles.
The walls, made of lime, would be repaired appropriately.
“We are planning to restore the structure without affecting its original texture. The renovation is expected to cost Rs.40 lakh,” he said.
Some artefacts, including decades-old mud jars in the building, would also be given a facelift as part of the renovation, the official added.
Though Kilimanoor Palace is a protected monument, the royal family members still own it.
Located about 50 km away from here, the palace complex houses a number of traditional structures, ponds and art gallery.
