The first phase construction works of the Kumkichira heritage museum project at Kunhome, near Niravilpuzha, was inaugurated by Minister for Welfare of Scheduled Tribes P.K. Jayalakshmi on Saturday.
The project envisages to set up a heritage museum, the fourth such a heritage museum in the State, on the banks of Kumkichira pond and renovate the pond that lays on the fringes of the Kunhome forest under the North Wayanad Forest division at a cost of Rs.10 crore.
Speaking after inaugurating the construction works, Ms. Jayalakshmi said the museum would be an asset to the tourism sector in the district.
The State government had earmarked Rs.4.25 crore for the first-phase construction works of the museum and Rs.1.56 crore for the renovation works of the Kumkichira pond.
The project would be completed in three phases in a time-bound manner, Ms. Jayalakshmi added.
The pond stretches on nearly one acre of land, has been renovated at a cost of Rs.50 lakh, and a statue of Kumki has been erected on the middle of the pond.
It is believed that Kumki, a warrior woman referred to in the Vadakkan Pattukal, lived at a fort on the banks of the pond, says O.N. Rajappan, a veteran journalist who had studied about the legend.
A temple was also situated on the banks of the pond. There is another version about the story it says that Kumki was the younger sister of Edachana Kumkan, an adroit warrior and the commander -in- chief of the Nair soldiers of Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja, he says.
However, the relics of the fort and the temple were found during the renovation works of the pond recently, Mr. Rajappan added.
The construction works would be carried out by the Kerala Artisans Development Corporation.
