A Centre for Performing Arts and a traditional ‘bali mandapam’ (where rituals are performed to propitiate the spirit of ancestors) will be set up at the famed pilgrim and tourist centre of Varkala at a cost of Rs.11.43 crore.
The Rs.10-crore centre and the Rs.1.43-crore bali mandapam on the Papanasam beach will be set up by the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for Varkala utilising the funds provided by the State and the Central Planning Commission.
The Empowered Committee of the SPV for Varkala had given the nod for the two projects, official sources told The Hindu . Minister for Tourism A.P. Anil Kumar will lay the foundation stone for the bali mandapam on January 16. The work is expected to be completed within a year. It will have two tiers, spread over 3,000 sq ft.
The mandapam will come up to the left of the Papanasam beach where the road adjacent to Janardana Swami Temple ends. The work will be executed by the Habitat Technology Group.
“The design of the traditional mandapam has been finalised after consultations with Kanippayyur Krishnan Namboodiripad,” said architect Sankar.
The temple, which has a history of 2,000 years, is located on a steep hill facing the Papanasam beach. The bali mandapam has been designed keeping in view the architectural splendour of the temple and without marring the beauty of the beach. The mandapam is being set up under the scheme for upgrading/creation of infrastructure facilities at tourist centres.
KINFRA will prepare the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Centre for Performing Arts. The Centre was mooted by the Central Planning Commission under the one-time additional Central assistance for 2012-13.
