*Tourism development plan for Sithannavasal * M. Balaganessin * Rs.42.25 lakh sanctioned by State Government *
* GOOD START:A. Suganthi, Collector, inaugurating work on renovation of park at Sithannavasal near Pudukottai. *
PUDUKOTTAI: The State Government has sanctioned Rs.42.25 lakh for carrying out beautification works at Sithannavasal, near here, where the noted Jain temple is located.
First phase
This is the first phase of the beautification programme and will be utilised for the renovation of the park there.
The funds, sanctioned by the Town and Country Planning Department, will be utilised for providing amenities and infrastructure for entertainment at the park, official sources told The Hindu here on Saturday.
Frescoes
The district administration has chalked out a plan for providing additional infrastructure for promoting tourism development at Sithannavasal, which is also noted for frescoes, on the lines of the Ajanta paintings.
The ceiling of the ‘Arthamandpam' accounts for the frescoes of 9 {+t} {+h} century A.D. Jain sculptures
This apart, there are a few sculptures of the Jain Thirthankaras at the Arthamandapam and the inner shrine of the temple.
Since the rock-cut cave temple is under the maintenance of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the tourism development programmes would be executed well outside the jurisdiction of the ASI, sources added.
Collector A. Suganthi inaugurated the work on the renovation of the park at Sithannavasal on Friday.
S.S. Kumar, Project Officer, District Rural Development Agency; R. Chandrasekaran, Personal Assistant (Panchayat Development); and Dharmaraj, Tourist Officer; were among those who were present.