What lies within?

In a landmark exercise, ASI has begun conservation work in Konark’s Sun temple, carefully removing an unusual protective measure which has kept a part of the shrine’s grandeur hidden for centuries. TOI looks at how this has opened a new chapter in preservation of Odisha’s only Unesco World Heritage Site Konark’s Sun Temple, Odisha’s only Unesco World Heritage Site, has long stood as a symbol of the state’s cultural brilliance. Yet, for over a century, part of its grandeur has remained hidden behind an unusual protective measure, a massive sand filling. Now, as the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) begins the careful process of removing this sand, a new chapter is unfolding in the life of the 13th-century architectural marvel.Six years after the then Union culture minister, Prahlad Singh Patel, announced that sand would be removed from the sealed interiors of the Jagamohan (assembly hall), ASI has now initiated the process of evacuating it through the western side of the centrally-protected monument. The exercise is being regarded as a defining moment in Indian archaeology.ASI records show that from the 17th century onwards, the monument began to deteriorate structurally, while the main Sikhara collapsed in stages until 1848. By the early 19th century, the plinth on which both the main temple (now completely collapsed) and the Jagamohan stand had been buried under sand dunes.While temple conservation efforts span nearly two centuries, significant structural work only began in 1901 under Governor Sir John Woodburn. Initial excavations revealed intricate carvings, yet the Jagamohan’s restoration remained difficult due to extensive damage on the southern side and around the northern and eastern doorways.While stones from the interior portion of the Jagamohan roof had begun to fall, damage to the walls led to uneven pressure on individual stones, causing them to crack and crumble.Historians said an initial proposal suggested filling the interior up to a height of 40 ft with stones and constructing a central pillar to support the roof. The idea was later abandoned. Instead, British engineers decided to fill the interior with sand and seal the doorways. The inner walls were lined with 15-ft-thick dry-stone masonry to counterbalance the horizontal thrust.Over the years, archaeologists from India and abroad repeatedly demanded the removal of the sand to assess the health of the existing structure. Central Building Research Institute’s endoscopy investigation of Jagamohan had revealed that there were fallen stones from the top of the Jagamohan over the sand filling at a depth of approximately 12.5 metres. The proposal received approval from the then Union culture minister in 2020.Former ASI superintending archaeologist D B Garnayak, who initiated the current phase of work, said, “The process began after approval from ASI director general Yadubir Singh Rawat.”IIT-Madras, which is collaborating with the ASI to assess the monument’s structural stability, also examined the quality of the stones and sand removed during two core drillings conducted on the western wall last Dec. The materials were reportedly found suitable for structural intervention.Over the last few years, the national conservation agency has erected a 65-ft to 70-ft-high working platform from the 4.2-metre-high sculpted pedestal on which the Jagamohan stands. Using this platform, a 6 ft by 5 ft passage into the Jagamohan was drilled through the western wall using a diamond drilling method under RPM-controlled conditions. The opening was created near the Sukhanasi vent, located between the first and second pidhas, which had earlier been used by the British to pour sand into the structure. The wall will be cut through up to a depth of 10 metres to reach the sand surface.To remove sand untouched for 123 years, a 9-meter horseshoe-shaped iron tunnel featuring trolley tracks and gantries will be installed. Mechanized trolleys will then be used to extract the sand, stone blocks, and debris in a phased operation.Officials stated the mechanized tunnel enables controlled sand removal, minimizing manual risk to structural integrity. The process integrates evacuation with simultaneous conservation rather than treating it as a subsequent task. This phased approach gradually exposes the inner structure, allowing teams to document and repair stones in stages as sand levels decrease.