A major restoration project at a secluded Later-Pandya dynasty temple in Tamil Nadu's Thoothukudi district has led to the discovery of critical inscriptions on the temple's outer granite walls. These 11th-century records detail the temple's role as a maritime checkpoint and a donor-hub for merchant guilds trading across the Indian Ocean. The inscriptions provide a rare list of commodities, including pearls and spices, that were offered as taxes to the shrine.
Conservationists are using advanced laser cleaning to remove layers of lichen and soot without damaging the stone. The project aims to stabilize the structure's massive monolithic roof slabs, which had shifted due to environmental wear, ensuring the architectural integrity of this rare coastal Pandya monument.