Lok Sabha Question No. 2551 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-09
Subject: Preservation and Maintenance of Ancient Temples
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: Km. Sudha R

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2551 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.03.2026

## PRESERVATION AND MAINTENANCE OF ANCIENT TEMPLES

## 2551. KM. SUDHA R:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  of  temples  along  with  funds  approved  and  disbursed  for  preservation  and maintenance  of  ancient temples and  cultural sites in Tamil  Nadu  especially  in the Mayiladuthurai Lok Sabha Constituency;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  any  plans  to  provide  special  recognition  or  packages  to  the Cauvery delta's temple architecture for promoting spiritual and cultural tourism;
- (c) if not, the reasons therefor along with alternative support for spiritual and cultural tourism in the said region; and
- (d) whether the Government plans to declare Mahamaham  Theerthavari celebrated at Kumbakonam as a national festival?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF CULTURE AND  TOURISM (SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SHEKHAWAT)

- (a) There are 412 centrally protected monument/sites including temples under the jurisdiction of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in Tamil Nadu State including 04 monuments in the Mayiladuthurai Lok Sabha Constituency. ASI takes up conservation and maintenance works as per the need and availability of resources subject to the National Policy for Conservation and it is a continuous  process. The details  of funds  allocated  and expenditure incurred  for conservation, preservation and maintenance of monuments/sites including Temple in Tamil Nadu including Mayiladuthurai Lok Sabha Constituency during last three years are given as under:-

## (Amount in Crores)

|   S. No. | Year    |   Allocation |   Expenditure incurred |
|----------|---------|--------------|------------------------|
|        1 | 2022-23 |        19.95 |                  19.95 |
|        2 | 2023-24 |        22.5  |                  22.5  |
|        3 | 2024-25 |        18.95 |                  18.94 |

Further, the details of expenditure incurred for conservation, preservation and maintenance of 04 monuments in Mayiladuthurai Lok Sabha Constituency during last three years are given at Annexure-I.

- (b) Yes, there are 3 temples in the Cauvery delta region under the jurisdiction of ASI. They are
- & having UNESCO World Heritage Status namely, Brihadisvara temple Thanjavur;
- (c) Airavatesvarar temple Darasuram and Brihadisvara temple Gangaikondacholapuram. ASI in collaboration with various governmental and non-governmental agencies, organizes cultural programs and heritage walks, special cleaning campaigns during the World Heritage Week, World Heritage Day, World Museum Day, International Day of Yoga for promoting spiritual and cultural tourism.

The Ministry of Tourism regularly promotes diverse tourist destinations and experiences of India  including  spiritual  and  cultural  tourism  through  various  initiatives  including promotional events, participation in travel exhibitions and fairs in domestic and international markets, familiarization tours, assistance to State  Governments/Union Territories for organizing fairs and festivals, website, amplification through social media handles etc.

- (d) At present, there is no such proposal under consideration.

## Annexure - I REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  OF  THE  LOK  SABHA  UNSTARRED

QUESTION NO. 2551 FOR 09.03.2026. The  details  of  expenditure  incurred  for  conservation,  preservation  and  maintenance  of  04

monuments in Mayiladuthurai Lok Sabha Constituency during last three years

(Amount in Rs.)

|   Sl. No. | Name of the Monument                                                                                                    | Expenditure incurred in 2022-23   | Expenditure incurred in 2023-24   | Expenditure incurred in 2024-25   |
|-----------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
|         1 | Town Gateway, Tranquebar (Tharangambadi), Tiruthuraipundi, Mayiladuthurai                                               | 165898/-                          | 196009/-                          | 153286/-                          |
|         2 | Excavated Remains Of Buddhist Vihara And Temple At Pallavaneswaram, Melaiyur (Kaveripattinam), Sirkazhi, Mayiladuthurai | 907574/-                          | 392016/-                          | 998496/-                          |
|         3 | Kambarmedu, Melaiyur, Sirkazhi, Mayiladuthurai                                                                          | 623066/-                          | 433815/-                          | 680954/-                          |
|         4 | Airavatesvarar Temple, Chattram Darasuram, Kumbakonam , Thanjavur                                                       | 2207966/-                         | 2486192/-                         | 4629936/-                         |

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