Pune Vidhyapeet (Pune University) is renovating/restoring its 144 year old, grade 1-heritage, main building. The building, the official residence of the then governor was gifted to start the university for a princely sum of Rs. 1.
In the main building, in the utility room next to the main hall is the entrance to a 400 feet long underground tunnel. This passage is connected to the kitchen and passes under the garden. It has provision for natural lighting and ventilation. It served as an emergency exit for the governor. This will be opened for visitors after renovation work is completed.
I remember (as a young boy) seeing two 2ft square barred openings in the passage connecting two prakarams (2nd and 3rd, near the vishvaksenar sannidhi - well). We were told that one leads to Uraiyur and the other to Tanjore. Older boys claimed that they had walked a few yards inside, but could not proceed because of fear, lack of light and smell. Anyway these entrances are now sealed and plastered.
Of course all historical novels, PS, KM talk about 'nilavarai' and surangams. How wonderful it will be if even one of them could be located and renovated.
There is one such surangam in Tiruvarur temple, covered by a big boulder. People used to tell that it connects to somewhere near tanjore.But why do people close these? With the technology available now, they can first explore these tunnels using some small robots and see what they hold. Then they can go in for cleaning them and making them available for public to go inside the places and feel how the officials,spies and even the kings would have travelled through those passages during their heydays.
I remember (as a young boy) seeing two 2ft square barred openings in the passage connecting two prakarams (2nd and 3rd, near the vishvaksenar sannidhi - well), in the Sri Ranganathar temple Srirangam. We were told that one leads to Uraiyur and the other to Tanjore. Older boys claimed that they had walked a few yards inside, but could not proceed because of fear, lack of light and smell. Anyway these entrances are now sealed and plastered.
Yes, I have seen the opening in the building (some Archaelogy building) next to Saraswathi Mahal Library and as usual closed due to bugs, etc.,
>> > > Isn't there a Suranga Pathai in Thanjavur Palace? I have seen one > small opening somewhere(Don't remember where exactly) in current > Thanjavur Palace which they said leads to somewhere in Big temple > grounds. Is it true? I think this was closed with wire mesh. Perhaps > experts in this group who have visited Thanjavur palace could shed > some light. > > Cheers, > Shirley
Yes, few years back when i went to Manora near mallipatanam.....there is also surangam which was closed and somebodyeks there said that thsi surangam leads to tanjore temple and palace.I dont know whether it is true...
This reminds me about my native place, Sholavandan near Madurai. There was an entrance (a small gate sort of thing, now it is closed), We heard people saying it's surangam which leads to Meenakshi amman temple (near the theppam) in Madurai ( 25 KMs from here), was used by Pandias during emergency timings. Not sure how far it's true. Happy if someone throws light on this. - Palani Kumar