Ancient 'mantapa' found in lake yet to be repaired

The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) has not yet cleaned the ancient ‘mantapa’ which had resurfaced during the dredging of Hosakerehalli lake last month.

The emergence of the ‘mantapa’ had drawn large curious crowds to the lake. Believing it to be a ‘gopura’ built by Bengaluru’s founder Kempegowda, they had put up his picture atop the ‘mantapa’.

R Gopal, the director of Archaeology Department, however, said that going by its architecture and carvings, the ‘mantapa’ was built by Chola kings. He said that unless the ‘mantapa’ is cleaned, it will be difficult to trace its historicity.

BDA engineers supervising the lake’s rejuvenation had agreed to restore the ‘mantapa’ so that the inscription could be visible, but didn’t keep their word. There are fears that the ‘mantapa’ could be damaged if it is not immediately restored. Another ‘mantapa, which was damaged during the cleaning of a lake, has not been repaired yet.