The monolithic statue of Nandi atop Chamundi Hills, a major tourist attraction here, was found vandalised on Thursday. The damage is minor in nature.
The statue, reckoned to be at least 350 years old, was sculpted during the period of Dodda Devaraja Wadiyar — who ruled from 1659 to 1673 — and is the only one of its kind in the State.
R. Gopal, Director of Archaeology and Museums, told The Hindu that the main structure was intact and there was no significant or even visible damage to it.
“Our staff and engineers visited the site and there is nothing to be alarmed about. The damage can easily be repaired since there is no disfigurement of any kind to the main statue,” he said.
The precincts around the statue has a few retail shops whose doors were smashed open while a few idols placed around the statue too were found to have been vandalised. The cloth adorning the statue was partially burnt.
Meanwhile, the police said patrolling would be intensified in and around Chamundi Hills and there was a proposal to install CCTV cameras around the statue. They have taken into custody a person, said to be mentally ill, in connection with the incident.
Though Nandi is found adorning Shiva temples, this is one of the few standalone statues, measuring about 15 ft in height and carved out of a single boulder, Mr. Gopal said.
