Mangalore: Rains Damage Ancient Mantrady Palace in Moodbidri

Daijiworld Media Network - Moodbidri (MB)

Mangalore, Aug 14: Non-stop, torrential rains in and around the Jain temple town of Moodbidri in the taluk has resulted in heavy damage to property here.

The damaged Mantrady palace (Pic Udayavani)

The latest to be affected is the centuries-old Mantrady palace which has partiially collapsed in the rain effect.

The first floor and kitchen have totally caved in and, given the dilapidated state of the heritage house, there could be further collapse. The loss so far has been estimated at Rs 2 lac.

The palace is built entirely of mud, yet it has survived the vagaries of nature throughout the past centuries. Now it needs urgent restoration work.

The house belongs to Vrinda Nabhiraj, closely related to the Dharmadhikari Heggades of Shri Kshetra Dharmasthala. It had been bequeathed by erstwhile Dharmadhikari the late Manjayya Heggade to his daughter Vimalamma. Jayakumar Shetty is the caretaker of the property, who also looks after the adjacent agricultural land.

Moodbidri is regarded as the 'Jain Kashi' which is visited by Jain pilgrim from all over India and abroad throughout the year. The thousand-pillared basadi and other monuments attract tourists from all religions.

The town is located 36 kms from Mangalore on national highway 13 en route to Karkala and onwards to Bajagoli, SK border, Malleshwara, Chitradurga and Sholapur.