Pond built by Krishnadevaraya being rejuvenated in Mandya

MANDYA: A historical monument — believed to be a kalyani (holy pond) built during Krishnadeveraya’s period — is being rejuvenated under Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA) at Kirangur village, on the outskirts of fort town Srirangapatna.
The Kirangur gram panchayat has taken up rejuvenation works of the holy pond under preservation of natural water resources scheme.
According to local officers, the kalyani, which was in dilapidated condition, is being rebuilt with the help of archaeological experts at a cost of Rs 3 lakh.
According to officers of state archaeological experts, the kalyani is said to have been built by Krishnadevaraya of Vijayanagar dynasty more than 400 years ago.
“When we decided to rejuvenate this ‘kalyani’ little did we know about its history. When we consulted the state archaeological officers, they told us that it was an archaeological site and they offered their help to rejuvenate it,” said Prasanth Babu, PDO of gram panchayat.
The silt has been removed from 20-ft deep pond and its wall has been restored without harming its original structure with the help of archaeological experts, said Babu.
District in-charge minister K C Narayanagowda, who became curious about rejuvenation of the holy pond of Vijayanagar dynasty, visited the site a week ago and instructed the district administration to develop the place as a tourist spot by constructing a park and providing other amenities.