Safeguarding vulnerable heritage sites from extreme and erratic weather

-

 

by Manu Moudgil


An aerial view of Tabo village in Spiti, with the monastery visible on the right. Image by Manish Pathak via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).


  • Extreme and erratic weather events are damaging India’s cultural and religious heritage    sites.
  • The structures are witnessing water seepage, crumbling building materials and the risk of flooding, prompting urgent appeals for protective measures.
  • The Archaeological Survey of India is undertaking restoration work at some of the damaged sites.
  • The damage affects tourism and the local livelihoods connected to it.

Monks at the 11th century Tabo Monastery in Himachal Pradesh’s Spiti Valley have written to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), seeking urgent protection from the increasing number of cloudbursts in the arid, cold desert region. They have asked for protective roofing, early warning systems and improved drainage to prevent water from entering and damaging the mural-lined interiors of the monument.

Lama Kunga, a monk at the monastery, in conversation with Mongabay India, said that given the fragile nature of the 1,000-year-old structure and the rise in frequency and intensity of rainfall, immediate interventions are crucial. “We feel that a retractable protective roofing and improved drainage infrastructure are immediately required to avert any potential calamity,” he said.

“The structure and the murals have already sustained some damage because of water seepage from cracks in the ceiling whenever there is heavy rain. The wooden beams and pillars are rotting while some of the walls have swollen due to moisture.”

Centuries-old cultural landmarks at risk

The Tabo Monastery, established in 996 AD, is revered for its religious manuscripts, mud-brick architecture and ancient murals. However, the cold desert region of Spiti has been increasingly facing higher temperatures, retreating glaciers and erratic rainfall. In July 2023, it received a third of seasonal rain in a single day. In 2024, there were multiple instances of cloudbursts and associated flash floods in the Pin Valley and Shichling area, approximately 30 kilometres from the monastery. These incidents led to loss of life and property, washed away bridges and disrupted access routes.

In the letter to the ASI, the monks requested immediate action to prevent further damage to the monastery during the monsoon. They also sought long-term permanent measures, including improved drainage, structural assessment of the monastery’s heritage structure, and installation of early warning and weather monitoring systems. In response to the letter, the ASI officials who visited the site agreed to take on the conservation work.

to continue Reading click on the link to original source:  https://india.mongabay.com/2025/07/safeguarding-vulnerable-heritage-sites-from-extreme-and-erratic-weather/

Courtesy and Credit to: https://india.mongabay.com/2025/07/safeguarding-vulnerable-heritage-sites-from-extreme-and-erratic-weather/ 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Epics for children: Birds of divine feather

-
Image
  By  Gaurav Yadav Of all the birds that are considered divine, the hamsa or hansa has the most exalted position as it is identified with Brahman—the Supreme Spirit. Of all the birds that are considered divine, the hamsa or hansa has the most exalted position as it is identified with Brahman—the Supreme Spirit. It has also been used as a representation of the individual soul; its pure white complexion denoting the pristine soul, before it is tarnished by worldly things. It is the vehicle of Brahma and Saraswati. The epics claim that hamsa eats pearls, and is able to separate milk from water. Saints are sometimes referred to as paramhamsa (supreme hamsa), implying that they have the ability to separate the good from the bad. The hamsa is also revered in Buddhism as a symbol of wisdom. There is a controversy over which bird is referred to as hamsa in the epics. Most scholars believe it to be a swan as it flies high, remains alone, is graceful and pure white-coloured, just l...
Read more

Religious syncretism and 33 million deities

-
Image
 by  Nanditha Krishna Illustration: Amit Bandre The  Rigveda  enumerates 33 devas or ‘shining ones’, representing primarily the forces of nature. Of these, three were important: Agni or fire, Indra or rain, and Soma, a plant. The popular deities today are two Vedic gods—Vishnu combined with a non-Vedic Narayana, and Rudra combined with a non-Vedic Shiva—and the many forms of Shakti, the supreme goddess. Agni, Indra and Soma, along with 28 others, became ‘minor deities’. Later, more minor deities were added to the Hindu pantheon: ashtadikpalas (the eight guardians of directions), navagrahas (nine planets), vasus (eight attendant deities), adityas (12 forms of the sun), rudras (11 forms of Shiva), avataras (10 incarnations of Vishnu), along with river goddesses, lesser-known forms of the main deities, village gods and goddesses and demi-gods of Buddhism and Jainism. The original major deities of the Vedas became minor over time, while the minor...
Read more

Green Skill Development Programme (GSDP) – Valedictory Function of Bamboo Crafts Training

-
  Source: https://www.andamansheekha.com/137565/ MARCH 5, 2025 bY   SANJIB KUMAR ROY Sri Vijaya Puram, Mar 05: The CPR Environmental Education Centre (CPREEC), under the Environmental Information, Awareness, Capacity Building, and Livelihood Programme (EIACP-RP), successfully concluded the two-month Certificate Course on Micro-Entrepreneur – NTFP (Non-Timber Forest Produce) Plant Origin: Bamboo Crafts. Sponsored by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India, the program aimed at equipping trainees with sustainable livelihood skills in bamboo craftsmanship. The valedictory function was held at the Auditorium of TGCE, Sri Vijaypuram, graced by esteemed dignitaries, trainers, and trainees. The event commenced with a welcome song by GSDP trainees, setting the tone for the occasion. Dr. P. Sudhakar, Director & EIACP Coordinator, CPREEC, Chennai, delivered the Welcome Address, emphasizing the role of skill-based environmental education in fost...
Read more