The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) will soon begin urgent repairs at the 1,000-year-old Tabo Monastery in Spiti valley to fix structural damage and protect its ancient wall paintings.
“We will shortly make an estimate and float a tender for the conservation work at the 1,000-year-old monastery,” an ASI official said.
The caretakers of the monastery had recently appealed to the ASI to take on preventive measures, citing increasing damage caused by harsh weather, cloudbursts, and flash floods which had become quite frequent in the hill state over the last few years. They also requested the ASI to provide a retractable roof and better drainage system to prevent water-logging and protect the fragile buildings from irreversible damage.
“Our immediate intervention will address structural problems like cracks in walls, tilting of pillars and waterproofing of the roof. In the second phase, our science branch will try and conserve the paintings in the monument. The work will be done strictly as per our conservation policy,” the ASI official further added.
About the monastery’s request for setting up a temporary retractable roof over the structures at the monastery, he said that it was a big project and the proposal would be sent to the headquarters. “Such huge interventions by the ASI are rare, but our higher-ups will take a call,” the official said.
Regarding the retractable roof request over the structures, the official said it’s a major project and the proposal would be sent to the headquarters. Such huge interventions by the ASI are rare, but our higher-ups will take a call,” he added.
Monastery caretakers stressed that protecting the structures during the monsoon is critical. “If we are not able to save the structures, there is little point in conserving what’s inside the monuments,” said a priest of the monastery.
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