“During my studies, the Markanda restoration was part of my project work. In our research analysis, we cross-checked our inferences for which we studied the nearby temples. When we got the same results, we collected that data and developed our techniques. We are finding majority of those techniques helpful while handling the Markanda temple restoration work,” said Shivani Sharma, the Conservation Architect with Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Shivani is from Nagpur. She studied the specialisation as Conservation Architecture from Bhopal’s National Institute. ASI is revivifying the ancient Markanda group of temples at Chamorshi in Gadchiroli district. It has restarted the conservation work to rejuvenate the National Heritage monument. A month ago, Chief Secretary of Maharashtra Sujata Sounik had visited and reviewed the overall work.

 

During her visit, Shivani Sharma interacted with Sounik and explained to her the details of the project and its progress. Sounik took stock of the progress of temple’s restoration as well as the village development. The project involves two works -- restoration of Markanda group of temples being handled by ASI and the development of the village that houses the temple, the project is undertaken by Maharashtra Government. She is working as Consultant in association with DRONAH, Gurgaon since December 2021 for Area Development of Markanda village around the temple for Maharashtra Government. In 2017, Markanda group of temples’ restoration was undertaken by the ASI. It was stopped for reasons best known to the authorities.

 

The temple is situated on the bank of river Wainganga. The Markanda group of temples were built in 9-12 centuries AD. Sharma shared with ‘The Hitavada’, “We are supposed to do the restoration of the temple without disturbing its originality. Our team of Collective Praxis, a unit of Dronah, is working under the leadership of Director Dr Shikha Jain on the village development project. The village needs to be developed in such a way that it may become a major tourist spot.” Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister who is also the Guardian Minister of Gadchiroli, is paying special attention to this district. During the Winter Session of State Legislature, Fadnavis had announced that Gadchiroli would become steel city of India. With the industrial growth, the village near Markanda too is undergoing development. “Maharashtra Government has planned the development of the village with a view that Markanda temple is going to become a major tourist attraction.

 

The village needs to have the facilities while welcoming the tourists. We have undertaken the ghat development, the facilities that may need while welcoming increasing number of tourists etc. At the same time while developing village, we have to take the rules and regulations of the ASI into account while developing the village,” pointed out Shivani Sharma. The project is likely to take 2 more years to complete. Once ready, it will add value to the culture of Gadchiroli.