In Kerala's Vadakkunathan temple where Lord Shiva is worshipped, the authorities have preserved the murals, idols and wood work as it was in ancient times.
The famous Vadakkunathan temple in Kerala has brought international fame by winning the UNESCO's 2015 Asia-Pacific award for conservation efforts, the temple in Thrissur is more than 1200 years old, but has still preserved itself in its original form.
Lakhs of devotees and tourists gather every year to witness the famous "Thrissur Pooram" at the temple premises, where ceremoniously decorated elephants are paraded amidst much fanfare and reverence.
A member of the temple conservation committee, Hariharan told NDTV, "We've won this for using ancient conservation means to preserve this temple. The vastu of the temple remains untouched."
In this temple where Lord Shiva is worshipped, the authorities have preserved the murals, idols and wood work as it was in ancient times.
No cement has ever touched the three floors of the traditional entrances called gopurams, or the rest of the temple premises. A mixture of natural lime with herbs and jaggery, with special ayurvedic oils have been used to preserve this cultural heritage. This unique effort has been consistently going on for the past 13 years.
Suresh Babu, a devotee said, "This award is a matter of great pride. And will encourage other people to conserve other ancient structures and temples."
The temple is a classic example of Kerala's rich cultural heritage, and has one of the largest complexes in South India.