Floodlights add to the magnificence of Brihadisvarar temple at Gangaikondacholapuram

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has installed LED floodlights at the Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikondacholapuram in Ariyalur district.

An evening visit to the Brihadiswarar Temple at Gangaikondacholapuram in Ariyalur district will leave a lasting impression on the minds of the tourists as the precincts now looks magnificent under the LED floodlights installed by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

The lights have been fixed on the existing poles which all these had solar lights. However, the tourists complained that solar lights low power and they could not enjoy the visit to the magnificent temple monument, according to ASI sources.

Last week, a senior official of the India Tourism Development Corporation Ltd., had visited the temple to assess the availability of infrastructure for installing floodlights. The visit came in the wake of calls for improving illumination of the famous temple built by Rajendra Chola I.

The Union Ministry of Tourism, through the ITDC, is likely to fund the project to illuminate the temple. This project would be pursued separately and the LED lights installed now have been provided as a temporary measure, the sources said.

The ASI has requested the Tangedco to ensure uninterrupted three-phase power supply to the temple to operate the motors and lights at the temple. A tender has been floated to operationalise the cafeteria at the complex, the sources added.