By: TB team Aug. 18, 2022 | 12:34 AM IST |
Archeology Survey of India (ASI) has now declared the 12 submerged temples as monuments of national Importance and has begun working on its plan to relocate these temples. A few days ago at a meeting the ASI suggested the state government should rope in an expert agency to conduct a feasibility study on the scope of work about relocating the temples.
Meanwhile, Upma Chaudhary, additional chief secretary (language, art & culture), said her department was working on restoration of these temples. “At a meeting with ASI we decided to conduct a study for which an expert agency will be roped in. before starting the relocation we have to be sure about the condition of these temples,” she added. old town of Bilaspur was doomed. In the mid-1950s, the construction of the Bhakra Dam began across the Sutlej River dividing the town into two parts. The resulting huge Gobind Sagar reservoir (named after the tenth Sikh guru Gobind Singh) extends over 90 km along the gorges going along the river channel, and its total area is about 170 sq. km. The town was in the upper floodplain. Of course, during the decade required for the construction, the residents moved to higher places. But everything that they could not carry with them was swallowed up by the water. Along with the houses, 28 ancient Hindu temples disappeared under the water, the oldest of which date back to the 6th century A. D.
Now, some of these shrines can only be touched during the dry season when the water level gradually becomes lower revealing the bottom of the Gobind Sagar reservoir. But many temples remained buried forever under many metres of silt and sand.
Everyone admires the beauty of views from the mountain spiral highway going from the mountain pass to Bilaspur. In autumn, after the monsoon season, only the very tops of the ‘submerged’ temples can be seen above the water surface. From a distance, it may seem that these are small haystacks stuck in still water. In spring, in this part of the water reservoir, the Sutlej River seems to return to its previous river course. And its banks turn into the barren land cut by deep cracks. At this time - for two or three months - it is possible to get to the Bilaspur temples without even getting your feet wet, on dry land.
The temple of the blessed God Vishnu located almost at the coastal edge of the Gobind Sagar reservoir was more fortunate than others. The periods it spends in water captivity are not very long. However, the temple also suffered greatly from water. The sand and pebbles carried by the Sutlej River have worn out the magnificent stone bas-reliefs on its basement, damaged the sculptures framing the entrances, the niches and window frames.
Walking on the dry bottom cut by deep cracks, one can get to some more temples. Even after the ‘low tide’, the temples remain almost half-buried in water. On the dense surface of the bottom consisting of a grey mixture of silt and sand, there are deep holes – the traces of whirlpools. In some places, a grass is often seen as the seeds of plants brought by water and wind sprout up.
Many residents of Bilaspur living on the opposite bank of the Sutlej River prefer to get home on foot passing the temples while walking along the temporary paths. Otherwise, they have to travel a long way along the bypass road. The locals take advantage of the seasonal fluctuations in the water levels to cultivate fertile fields and vegetable gardens on the coastal land. During the Hindu festivals, the crowds of believers go to the temples that emerged from the water. The pilgrims put the burning incense sticks at the empty altars and leave their altarage to the invisible gods including garlands of flowers, fruits, coconuts wrapped in red cloth.
The dozen temples have been submerged in water for years and a few of them may have been damaged by remaining covered under silt for months. “We want to ascertain how many temples are in a condition to relocate from the existing site to another one,” an ASI official said. ASI superintending archaeologist KC Nauriyal said efforts were on to relocate these temples. “These are of national importance as it belongs to our rich history and we have suggested a study on the scope of work, so that further work would be executed,” he told this reporter.Tor.To restore the lost glory of the ancient town of Bilaspur, the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) has suggested conducting a technicality feasibility study about the condition of ancient temples that are proposed to be relocated. In 1954, the town of Bilaspur along with several temples was submerged in the Gobind Sagar reservoir of the Bhakra Dam. Of the 30 temples that were submerged a dozen of them, built in Nagara style and dating back to the 8th and 19th centuries, were of great archaeological importance.
The state government has envisaged a project of Rs 1,400 crore for the repair of the temples submerged in the Govind Sagar Lake that were built in 1963 after the construction of the Bhakra Dam on the Sutlej.
Pankaj Rai, DC, Bilaspur, said that a team of L&T visited various sites. He added that a detailed project report would be prepared before starting this ambitious project. Geotechnical Investigation work is going on with LNTIEL -sub agency Indian Geotechnical Services.
He said that Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur had announced that Bilaspur town would be restored to its former glory and a provision of Rs 1,400 crore had been made for the purpose. He added that besides L&T, some international companies would also be roped in for the effective execution of the project. Rai said that the project would not only beautify the old town but also bring alive historical art, culture and tradition. This would also make Bilaspur a new tourist destination, he added.
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