CINTEC to restore Konark Sun Temple in India

Words: Robert Lloyd-rees, Peter JamesCINTEC Worldwide, a structural masonry retrofit strengthening, repair and preservation company, has secured a Konark Sun Temple restoration contract in India. CINTEC has secured a contract for initial restoration work on one of India’s most famous temples. The Archaeological Survey of India has appointed CINTEC International to carry out detailed laser scanning of the 13th Century Konark Sun Temple in Orissa. The scanning process, which will allow the monument’s current structural condition to be ascertained, is expected to take around six weeks to complete. It is the first stage in an overall restoration contract that could be worth millions of pounds to the business.

CINTEC says it has an extensive amount of experience in preserving historical structures. The structural repair and reinforcement systems have been used in Buckingham Palace, The White House complex and the Canadian Parliament Buildings. The Sun Temple is on India’s east coast, around three kilometers from the Bay of Bengal.

The historic building is a UNESCO world heritage site and a popular tourist attraction, highly regarded for its impressive dimensions, balanced architecture and intricate decoration with detailed stone carvings. The temple’s now-collapsed tower is estimated to have been around 200 feet tall — taller than any other tower in India.

Preparation of such historically significant sites for repair work is an intricate and often lengthy process. Robert Lloyd-Rees, the CCO of North America, first traveled to the temple site in 2006 with members of staff from the Indian office. Several previous conservation and repair attempts have been initiated, dating from as early as 1838. The most serious took place between 1900 and 1905, where the temple porch was filled with sand to prevent its collapse.

The restoration project now being proposed by CINTEC would be the most in-depth ever attempted at the temple. Peter James, managing director of CINTEC, says, “We are delighted to be able to announce the start of this project to determine the Sun Temple’s current condition, and how it is to be repaired. CINTEC has worked on projects around the world, and I am pleased to be able to bring this global expertise to India. We are confident that this initial screening will be the first stage of an ongoing contract to preserve this iconic temple.”
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