The restored east gopuram of the historic Sree Vadakkunnathan Temple in Thrissur, one of Kerala’s finest examples of traditional temple architecture, will be formally dedicated on Friday (June 26, 2026) morning after an extensive conservation project that has revived the structure’s centuries-old grandeur.

The restoration, undertaken as an offering by the Venugopalaswamy Trust under the TVS Group, was carried out with the approval of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), following traditional conservation practices to preserve the monument’s original character.

Believed to be over 500 years old, the east gopuram had deteriorated significantly over the years, with its roof leaking, intricate wooden carvings decaying, and structure weakened. The restoration, costing more than ₹4 crore, has now restored the gateway to its former splendour.

The Vadakkunnathan Temple, a UNESCO-recognised heritage monument, adds another milestone to its conservation history with the completion of the project.

According to M.M. Vinod Kumar, who was associated with the restoration work, nearly 1,500 cubic feet of teakwood, nine tonnes of limestone, and around 6,000 traditional roofing tiles were used for the project.

Roof restoration

The roof restoration was executed by a 15-member team led by master craftsman Suresh Achari and took nearly a year to complete. The decorative lime plaster work on the walls was entirely redone using traditional lime mortar. A 20-member team of specialists from Thanjavur, led by Paneer Selvam, carried out the intricate plastering work using age-old construction techniques.

The ornately carved wooden ceiling of the passage beneath the gopuram was dismantled, repaired and reassembled after restoring damaged sections. A team of around 10 wood-carving artisans led by Elavally Dasan Achari completed the painstaking work over five months.

The old paint on the wooden members was carefully removed and replaced with natural oil-based protective coatings to ensure long-term preservation of the timber. This phase of the project was carried out over 10 months by a six-member team led by K.P. Sudheesh, who has extensive experience in conservation projects undertaken by the ASI.

The TVS Group assumed complete responsibility for funding and executing the restoration, which conservation experts describe as a model project balancing heritage preservation with structural renewal while retaining the monument’s traditional architectural identity.