The Department of Archaeology and Museums is giving a facelift to its assets in Rajahmundry to attract the pilgrims visiting the city during the ‘Godavari Pushkaralu.’ Renovation and repair works are in progress at Rallabandi Subba Rao Government Museum, Sir Arthur Cotton’s residence, Cotton’s tomb and the houses of Kandukuri Veeresalingam and Kandukuri Rajyalakshmi. Works are expected to be completed by June last week.
“The idea is to attract more and more visitors to the museum and other places during the Godavari Pushkaralu. Besides taking up repair works, we are focusing on improving amenities such as drinking water and washrooms,” Director of the department G.V. Ramakrishna Rao told The Hindu on Wednesday.
On his way to Rajahmundry to inspect the ongoing works, Mr. Rao had a brief halt at Andhra Sahitya Parishat being maintained by the department here and inspected the ongoing chemical treatment to the age-old palm scripts. “A landscape is under way at the Cotton’s house at Bommuru. We are also giving a colourwash to the monumental house with an estimated cost of Rs. 12 lakh. A photo gallery of the late Cotton will be set up. Similarly, a facelift is also being given to Cotton’s tomb near Chitrangi Guesthouse by raising the height of its compound wall and arranging a gate,” he said.
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Similarly, life size idols of Kandukuri Veeresalingam and Rajyalakshmi would be installed at Veeresalingam’s house.
Renovation and repair works are in progress at Rallabandi Subba Rao Government Museum, Sir Arthur Cotton’s residence, Cotton’s tomb and the houses of Kandukuri Veeresalingam and Kandukuri Rajyalakshmi