# ASI to conserve fading 16th-century Nayaka murals at Dharmapuri temple 2026-08-10T05:57:34+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet The Archaeological Survey of India has sent a proposal to conserve fading 16th-century Nayaka-style murals at the Chennraya Perumal temple in Adhiyamankottai, Dharmapuri. History enthusiasts and experts told New Indian Express that nearly 50% of the roof paintings, which depict scenes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata, have been lost due to water seepage, smoke from rituals, and heavy lighting. The temple, originally built by the Nolamba king Mahendra between the 8th and 11th centuries, features unique plant-based pigments and lime mortar. Experts urge softer lighting, lime mortar renovations, and restricted visitor movement to save what remains. ASI officials were unavailable for comment. ## Coverage - newindianexpress.com Tags: ASI, Chennraya Perumal, Dharmapuri, heritage, Nayaka murals, temple conservation Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/asi-to-conserve-fading-16th-century-nayaka-murals-at-dharmapuri-temple/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/asi-to-conserve-fading-16th-century-nayaka-murals-at-dharmapuri-temple/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.