Finding of treasure trove: Temple security to be stepped up

Thiruvananthapuram, July 1: Kerala Government has decided to step up the security of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple here, which houses priceless treasures running into hundreds of crores of rupees in its secret cellars and underground chambers.

The decision to tighten the security of the grand temple built by the erstwhile Travancore Royal house was taken in view of the onging preparation of inventory by a panel of observers appointed by the Supreme Court, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said today.

"We have been taking a serious view of the development. Security is already strong there. However, instructions have been issued to authorities concerned to further tighten it," Chandy told reporters.

The opening of the cellars in the sprawling temple complex, some of them remaining shut for over a century, has revealed that they contain invaluable jewels, ornaments, stone-studded crowns, vessels, platters and many other costly curios, stashed away in them.

Though the observers, two of them former High Court judges, have so far refrained from making any public comment on the money value of the precious objects they have verified and listed, temple sources said by modest estimates their market value would run into hundreds of crores of rupees.

Cultural historians, however, are sceptical about putting price tags on such invaluable articles of great heritage and antique value.

PTI