115-year-old well gets a rebirth in Thrissur

Colonial-era well had fallen into disuse after railway station stopped using its water

The ancient well was cleaned at a programme organised by INTACH in connection with World Environmental Day on Monday.

A 115-year-old well, built during the colonial times, has been given a rebirth.

The well was the main source of water when the Thrissur railway station came into existence in 1902. It provided water for both passengers and steam engines. A special kind of hand pump installed at the well was an engineering wonder. But ever since Railways started using the Peechi dam water, the well and its surroundings were abandoned and they soon turned into a dumping yard. Water weeds filled the well and the hand pump stopped working.

An eye-opener

The severe drought of the last season was an eye-opener. Many a time the Thrissur railway station had to bring water from Aluva for daily needs.

This neglected well was identified as an important part of the history of the railway station, during a heritage walk conducted by the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) last year. Understanding its heritage value and scope for tourism development around it, Minister for Agriculture V.S. Sunil Kumar allocated ₹21 lakh for its conservation. The Nirmithy Kendra renovated the well in six months.

The age-old well, adjacent to the Vanchikkulam situated near the goods shed, is 10.5 metres deep and 40 ft wide. The walls are made of granite stones. At a programme organised by INTACH in connection with World Environment Day, Mr. Sunil Kumar offered flowers to the well as a token of respect. He said the scope for tourism development connecting the Vanchikkulam and the ancient well would be explored. Efforts to repair the hand pump were on.