CHENNAI: The iconic Shore Temple of Mahabalipuram has been an UNESCO world heritage site for over 35 years. The 7th to 8th century temple, thought to be the only surviving one of seven built on the Coromandel Coast, might be the centre stage of a Modi-XI summit next month. Built during the rule of the Pallava king Narsimha Varma, the ‘poetry in stone’ is to get even higher quality lights on site to enhance the photo opportunities as the leaders of the world’s two most populous countries meet.
The second informal meeting between PM Narendra Modi and Chinese premier Xi Jinping will take place in October. Ahead of the meet, a Chinese delegation had visited the site on Friday. Top officials of Tamil Nadu including Chief Secretary K. Shanmugham and DGP J.K. Tripathy visited the venue and inspected the arrangements. The entire area has been brought under CCTV surveillance and multi-layered security has been put in place.
About 10,000 policemen will be deployed for security. The inspection teams also visited the other tourist locations in Mamallapuram where the delegates are likely to stay. As per a tentative itinerary of their visit, the two leaders are expected to circumambulate the Shore Temple and walk up to an adjoining spot for a photo-opportunity.
They may choose to walk on the sands abutting the five rathas, a group of monuments resembling processional chariots of a temple and may sit on a bench to be put up overlooking the rathas.
Officials from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) too visited the site to take up illumination, installing new stone flooring wherever required and sprucing up the location, so as to enhance the ambience of the venue.
According to sources, drones would be used to monitor the area and the coastline, as well. The monuments in this heritage town close to Chennai is also likely to come under tight security as the dignitaries are likely to pay a visit to them.
The team of officials inspected the monuments such as Krishna's butterball - the giant rock in Mamallapuram, the shore temple, the Pancha Rathas and other monuments. Thereafter, the Chief Secretary and DGP held a meeting with the officers to discuss arrangements.
The police have asked the lodges and local residents to ensure no suspicious persons stay or move around. Residents have also been warned not to let tourists stay without showing valid documents.
