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Govindji temple, Manipur. designconsortiumindia.com
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| Govindji temple, Manipur. en.wikipedia.org/ |
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| Bell tower, Govindji temple, Manipur.en.wikipedia.org/ |
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| Govindji temple, Manipur.indianmirror.com |
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| Govindji temple, manipur designconsortiumindia.com |
Nestled in the midst of surrounding hills Sri Govindji temple in Imphal, Manipur state is a quiet destination for people who seek nature and peace of mind in an old temple that was recetly renovated back to its old glorious days.
Sri Govindji temple in Manipur, adjacent to the palace of the former rulers of the Manipur Kingdom is dedicated to Sri Krishna and his consort Radha. The idols are enshrined in the central part of the sanctum/garbagriha flanked on either side by chambers; one for Krishna and Balarama (south chamber) and the other for Jagannath, Subhadra, and Balabhadra (north chamber). First built in 1846 during the reign of Maharajah Nara Singh, it was later rebuilt in 1876 by Maharajah Chandrakriti. It is the largest Vishnu temple in this part and has been popular for a long time.
Unlike the Dravida or Nagara style of architecture, this temple, rectangular in plan (as per Vastu Shastras) follows a simple design with tall big pillars in the façade quite similar to the ruins of Parthenon in Greece, The hut-shaped roof of this temple is the reflection of elements of West Bengal architecture. The temple is set within the confines of a big Kangla Fort of Imphal guarded by a pair of elephants at its site.
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| .Location map of Imphal, Manipur. mapsofindia.com |
In the construction of temples in West Bengal terracotta was widely used as it was a tradition. The temple built in 1842 has features like portico, sanctum and prathakshana path. The brick-lime masonry building is on a raised platform. Burmese teak is widely used in the building, particularly in the open verandah which has thick quality wooden rafters to support the ceiling. Structurally it is similar to what was called in the 19th and 20th centuries in south India ''Madras terrace.'' The cylindrical columns support the beam above on the structure. The cornice above is adorned with three tiers of railings. At the four corners of the roof above the verandah are mini shrines. Sanctum is close to the hall which opens out on three sides into the verandah. It raises up to the the terrace of the first railing. The peculiar feature is the cuboidal sanctum garbagriha is divided into chambers, but the partition is not visible outside.
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Govindji temple, Manipur. designconsortiumindia.com
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Two gold multi-arched plated domes in this temple suggest incorporation of various styles of design. The parabolic-shaped dome of Bengal architectural style and the railing ornamentation which is typically Islamic shows the blend of two different styles. Atop the crown are Amalica-sila and kalasa with long pinnacle carrying the temple flag, a tradition quite common in the northern states.
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| Govindji temple, manipur dsignconsortiumindia.com |
If you go back on the colonial time under the English company, when Manipur was annexed, not content with land-grabbing, the British removed the original quality marbles laid in several parts the temple and the gold leaf on the dome. In 1869 the temple was damaged due to a severe earthquake including three early tremors. (this part is geologically prone to tremors and earthquakes). Later the temple became a neglected site and lack of periodic repairs accelerated its dilapidation. This led to cave-in of barrel-shaped roof, In the aftermath, continuous weathering impacted the structure, promoting growth of weeds, bushes and vegetation on the walls. The damages to the temple were widespread. Because of dampness
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GovindJi temple, manipur restoration in progress.designconsortiumindia.com
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on the walls and floor stucco plaster on the external walls suffered a lot. Flooring in the corridor, wooden rafters, beams and balusters were in various stages of ruin. The temple almost lay bare. The moisture-induced cracks and masonry joint damage were taken care of ingeniously. So were the sculpted motifs on various walls that were replaced in a smart way.
The restoration work on the highly damaged structure was a tough one. The underlying task is this old monument has to be conserved for the posterity. Conservationists took particular care in choosing right construction materials in sync with those used centuries ago Besides, they also employed experienced artisans and craftsmen who are well-versed in traditional old techniques and and creation of old art forms. An interesting part of the conservation work was careful removal of undamaged old bricks that were sundried and reused in the work. In the place of damaged teak wood, they used bamboo (widely grows in this state). Apart from being light weight, it has high flexibility and tensile strength. These characteristics will make the roof strong and earthquake-resistant. But bamboo needs periodic check has to be made resistant to termite attack. At the plinth level water proofing was done to prevent dampness Vault was strengthened by a grid of bamboo similar to basket making. Corners are supported by steel reinforcements The renovated Govindji temple that has been here for a long time is an epitome of devotion to Sri Krishna and Radha in this part of India and its new look has attracted large number of devotee. Photo credit: designconsortiumindia.com
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shree_Govindajee_Temple
https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/shree-govinda-temple-in-manipur-stands-as-epitome-of-devotion-116030600407_1.html
https://www.indianmirror.com/temples/shri-govindji-temple.html
