US team gives a face-lift to Kerala's rock garden

Palakkad (Kerala), Nov 24 : When we talk about a rock garden, the first picture that comes to mind is Chandigarh's famous rock garden. Now, Kerala too has come up with its own rock garden, though less famous.

In an effort to restore it, a US team has arrived here.

The Malampurzha Rock Garden, located in Kerala's Palakkad District, attracts few visitors due to its inaccessibility and dilapidated condition.

Nek Chand Foundation Coordinator Professor Tony Rojer has arrived with a four-member team from University of Colorado, USA to repair statues that have been spoiled.

The team includes Cory Philipps, Nancey Seghetti, Bren Swason and Nicole Banowetz.

There are hundreds of sculptures of birds, animals, folk art-forms created from waste ceramic pieces, broken crockery, mosaic, glass, electricity fuses and recycled materials in the garden.

"The statues were first subjected to pressure wash, and subsequently, they will be chiselled and the broken portions would be restored in their original form, which will take a lot of time and effort," said Rojer.

The tourism department had sanctioned Rs. 45 lakhs for the renovation of the garden.

The garden is the only one of its kind in South India and showcases the cultural heritage of Palakkad District. By Juhan Samuel

ANI