Conservation Plan for Ayyappa Swami Temple

Institutional / 2nd Quarter 2023

Conservation Plan for Ayyappa Swami Temple

June 19, 2023

The temple was constructed in 1955 and is one of the oldest Ayyappa Swami1 Temples in Northern India. It was constructed by Swami Vimochanandaji (known as Govindan Nair in his Purvasram or pre-monastic life) with an aim of spreading the message of Sabarimalai Sri Ayyappa2 and giving his devotees a place of worship outside Kerala. Thus, today, it is visited by many Southern Indians residing in nearby cities such as Delhi, Roorkee, Dehradun and Rishikesh, who find a deep sentimental and cultural connection with the temple.

The architecture of the temple is a unique blend of the north and south. Taking key elements of a typical Kerala-styled temple, the structure is designed in response to the Haridwar climate and streetscape.

Several additions were made to the temple complex over time—it is evident that the kitchen and the eating area were added later and so was the residential block. The two blocks are separated by a central courtyard. The precinct can be described as comprising two parts: the temple with the eating area on its edge as part one and the accommodation block as part two. Both the buildings are built along the edge of the street and are entered through two gateways, the main gateway leads into the temple mandap (altar) while the secondary gateway leads into the courtyard.

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PROJECT DATA

Project Name
Conservation, Repair and Infrastructure Improvement of Sri Ayyappa Temple

Location
Haridwar

Status
Preparation of the final conservation plan with tender document underway; all documentation, condition mapping and conservation planning in consultation with structural engineer has been completed for Phase I

Expected Completion
2024

Site Area
401.83 square metres

Gross Floor Area
495.55 square metres

Number of Rooms
19

Building Height
8.26 metres

Client/Owner
Sri Ayyappa Trust

Architecture Firm
CRCI India Pvt Ltd

Principal Architect
Gurmeet S. Rai

Civil & Structural Engineers
Shashank Mehendale; SMC

Images/Photos
Gurmeet S. Rai


Related stories:

In Conversation with Gurmeet S. Rai

Read more stories from FuturArc 2Q 2023: Old is Gold!

1 Ayyappa Swami, or Lord Ayyappa, is a Hindu deity that is mainly popular in South India.
2 Sabarimalai is a hill where the most significant Ayyappan temple is located in the Western Ghat mountain ranges of the Pathanamthitta District of Kerala, India. The Sabarimala Sri Ayyappan Temple is a major pilgrimage centre that attracts 10–15 millions of devotees every year.

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