TTD begins documentation for Alipiri Padala Mandapam restoration

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) has undertaken the meticulous process of documenting the restoration of the historic Alipiri Padala Mandapam, located at the beginning of the Alipiri footpath in Tirupati.

The initiative is being undertaken by the Pune based Lord Venkateswara Charitable and Religious Trust, marking a decisive step towards preserving one of Tirupati’s most spiritually and architecturally significant structures.

The documentation exercise, a precursor to the physical restoration, comes against the backdrop of an earlier and much-debated controversy surrounding the proposed demolition of the mandapam. Conservationists, devotees, and heritage experts had then raised concerns over the sanctity, originality, and methodology of restoration, prompting calls for a transparent, scientifically grounded approach.

The TTD on its part defended its decision citing structural instability and pilgrim safety but subsequently sought the intervention of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and decided to adopt internationally accepted heritage conservation practices, placing documentation at the heart of the project.

Speaking to The Hindu, Director (Epigraphy) Archeologial Survey of India (ASI) Mysuru, K. Muniratnam Reddy said that the project is estimated to cost ₹4–₹5 crore and that the restoration is being anchored in a meticulous recording process designed to ensure that the mandapam’s historical integrity remains inviolable.

Every architectural component-roof slabs, beams, wall members, flooring stones, and structural joints, will be individually identified, assigned a unique documentation number and marked with visible, non-invasive paint. Crucially, each element will be recorded with its original orientation, ensuring that dismantling, if required, is entirely reversible and faithful to the original design.

Equally critical is the scientific mapping of levels. Benchmarks for floors, beams and roof heights will be carefully established and referenced against adjacent permanent structures using temporary benchmarks, creating a precise architectural fingerprint of the mandapam before any intervention.