Jayalakshmi Vilas Mansion in Mysuru gets over ₹30 crore for restoration
The Hindu
The restoration will be carried out by Deccan Heritage Foundation, which specialises in conservation of historic structures and has worked on projects in Hampi, Hyderabad and Kalaburagi.
The nearly 120-year-old Jayalakshmi Vilas Mansion belonging to the University of Mysore will be restored to its original glory at a cost of around ₹30 crore.
While the Harish & Bina Shah Foundation (HBSF) has agreed to contribute ₹30 crore, the US government’s Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) will chip in with nearly ₹2.5 crore ($300,000).
The restoration will be carried out by Deccan Heritage Foundation, which specialises in conservation of historic structures and has worked on projects in Hampi, Hyderabad and Kalaburagi.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the varsity and the two funding organisations was exchanged in Mysuru on January 4 in the presence of Latha Reddy, Chairperson, Deccan Heritage Foundation India.
US Consul General Chennai Christopher W. Hodges said that the conservation project at the Jayalakshmi Vilas Mansion is yet another testament to America’s friendship and respect for the people of India and its rich cultural heritage. The US has partnered with India to support 24 such projects through AFCP in the past 20 years. The AFCP grant of $300,000 to the University of Mysore is the second-largest awarded in India in the last 20 years, he said.
The project will bring together conservation and museum experts, architects, designers and skilled crafts persons – all with a shared passion for preserving and protecting India’s cultural heritage in Karnataka.
Prof. N.K. Lokanath, Vice-Chancellor, University of Mysore, said the US AFCP is supporting the conservation work of the western wing of the mansion. The work is already underway. In 2012, the varsity had received another grant from the US Consulate General Chennai, for the conservation of the Oriental Research Institute, which has a collection of over 40,000 ancient palm leaf manuscripts.
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