Renovated east gopuram of Sree Vadakkunnathan Temple in Thrissur.
| Photo Credit: K.K. NAJEEB
The restored east gopuram of the historic Sree Vadakkunnathan Temple in Thrissur, one of Kerala’s finest examples of traditional temple architecture, will be formally dedicated on Friday (June 26, 2026) morning after an extensive conservation project that has revived the structure’s centuries-old grandeur.The restoration, undertaken as an offering by the Venugopalaswamy Trust under the TVS Group, was carried out with the approval of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), following traditional conservation practices to preserve the monument’s original character.Believed to be over 500 years old, the east gopuram had deteriorated significantly over the years, with its roof leaking, intricate wooden carvings decaying, and structure weakened. The restoration, costing more than ₹4 crore, has now restored the gateway to its former splendour.The Vadakkunnathan Temple, a UNESCO-recognised heritage monument, adds another milestone to its conservation history with the completion of the project.According to M.M. Vinod Kumar, who was associated with the restoration work, nearly 1,500 cubic feet of teakwood, nine tonnes of limestone, and around 6,000 traditional roofing tiles were used for the project.
