’Hasta Shilpa Heritage Village’ may next week be opened to public
Mangalore Today News Network
Manipal, May 06, 2016: It is eported that he ’Hasta Shilpa Heritage Village’ near Mannupalla, Manipal, with the ancient structures that create a nostalgic ambience, would now be open for the spectators.
The six acres of land house intricately carved wooden pillars, polished wooden doors, elegant carvings, marvelous ceilings, open-sky courtyards and museums replicate the affluent inheritance of the legacy. The journey through the heritage village is a journey into the past which is reflected in the restored houses. As many as 28 structures have been dismantled from across Karnataka and meticulously reconstructed in the village. The flamboyance of Deccani Nawab Mahal with Belgium glassware all over, the anglicised posing of the novel affluent Mangalorean Christian House the folk lore museum, Ravi Varma lithos and Tanjavur paintings also add style to the village.
Hasta Shilpa Heritage Village Trust’s official Vijaya Nath Shenoy’s passion for things of the past has resulted in the endeavour. He began his work in January 1998. The earliest restoration work by Shenoy was at the Kunjur Chowkimane, which incurred him an expenditure of Rs 10 lakh. Shenoy says he has also collected the stories of each house. The historical structures reallocated to Heritage Village comprise Kuknoor House, Mudhol House, Maratha Peshwa Palace, Ramachandrapura ancient house, Nandikeshwara Shrine, gallery of cultural legacy of Raja Ravi Varma, Nelyadi Byndoor house, Harkuru inside house, Yerukone house, Harihara Mandir, Sringeri house, Bhatkal Nawaithi house and Basil Mission house. He has already spent 15 crore and above for the restoration process, while another five crore is required for the complete restoration works.
Shenoy said that Hasta Shilpa Heritage Village would be kept for public viewing on trial basis tentatively from the second week of May and continue till the end of the month. The village will be kept closed for a period of three months during monsoon.
A round of the village
“The tour of the heritage village is divided into two sessions daily of two hours duration and maximum of 15 persons for a session would be allowed. Children below 12 years of age are not allowed. The visitors would be shown the interiors of eight villages, including one open air museum, exteriors of 14 structures and several street scenes along the way,” explained Shenoy.
As a measure to ensure the security of the artefacts, the conservator adds that although CCTV cameras are installed, it will not be a substitute for complete vigilance. “The manpower is insufficient, to take care of security part,” he stressed.
Shenoy has plans to set up a museum of traditional folk paintings, gallery of artist Narendra Babu and museum of traditional textiles. He adds, “I tried saving many houses and artefacts which otherwise would have been melted down into the foundries.”