Muziris Conservation Plans: Preserving Heritage and Promoting Community Harmony

The Muziris Conservation Plans, part of the State Tourism Department's Muziris Heritage Project, are designed to protect heritage monuments while tailoring conservation efforts to the needs of local communities. Several key heritage sites were recently inaugurated, including the renovated Cheraman Juma Masjid building and the Kodungallur Temple Museum building. The project aims to efficiently and conveniently recover heritage sites for the benefit of local people.A significant investment has been made in the conservation work, with 1.13 crore rupees spent on the famous Cheraman Perumal mosque, believed to be the first Muslim mosque in Kerala and 93.64 crore rupees spent on the construction of its surrounding wall. Additionally, 3.23 crore rupees have been allocated for conserving the Ootupura and Bhandarapura mansion complex at the Kodungallur Sri Kurumba Bhagavathy Temple, a renowned heritage site in Kerala. The project also includes the construction of the Balikallu mandapam at the Kizhthali temple, a protected monument under the Kerala Archeology Department, built in the style of Chera period temples. The conservation of the Dutch-built canal office at Thiruvanchikulam was also completed.Further infrastructure development has been carried out at sixteen places of worship, including the Pradakshina padams and Altharakal at Trikulasekarapuram Sri Krishna Temple, Shringapuram Shiva Temple, Trikulasekarapuram Azhwar Temple, and Patakulam Ayyappa Temple, at a total cost of 3.29 crore rupees.The Muziris project emphasizes regional cooperation to preserve historical heritage and promote religious harmony within the community. A new initiative called Muziris Passport has also been launched, allowing tourists to visit thirty monuments and museums in the Kodungallur and Paravur regions for a fee of 500 rupees. Participants receive a Muziris Passport and are declared ambassadors of Muziris within six months.