During the structural restoration of a neglected 10th-century temple in Karnataka’s Mandya district, conservationists discovered two zinc-lined subterranean reservoirs. These ritual tanks, associated with the Western Ganga Dynasty, appear to have been used for medicinal bathing. The use of zinc as a lining material is a significant find, as it suggests an advanced understanding of the metal's antimicrobial properties in the medieval period.
The restoration project, led by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), has also uncovered several granite hero-stones (virgal) that describe the consecration of the water source by royal decree. The discovery of these tanks adds a new dimension to our understanding of the 'step-temple' typology, where water management was as much a ritual priority as it was a functional one.