Kings' mausoleum gets new door

Miscreants torched the door of the monument

The door of the mausoleum of Lingarajendra and Devammaji, constructed in the Indo-Sarcenic style by Lingarajendra in 1820, had been set on fire by miscreants, gutting it almost completely.

Police had arrested four people in this connection.

Work completed

Artisans from Mysore, who worked on the new door for the last one week, completed the job on Wednesday.

The new door has cost about Rs 1.6 lakh. The artisans, who have handled intricate wood work in the Mysore Palace with finesse in the past, have done a good job with the new door at the mausoleum.

The 69 sparrows made of ‘panchaloha’ (an alloy of five metals), which were in the old door, have been incorporated in the new door.

The other ‘panchaloha’ sparrow is with the police.

Security provided

The department of archaeology seems to have woken up after the February 22 incident and has posted security personnel to guard the mausoleum. Police are also keeping vigil on the mausoleum.

Archaeology department director Dr R Gopal has promised that an amount of Rs 20 lakh would be released for the development works at the mausoleum under the 13th finance plan.

There are also plans to install solar lights at the mausoleum with the amount, said B P Rekha, curator of the archaeology department.