Vizhijam: The historical temples here, which date back to the Chola dynasty, are in a dilapidated condition with creepers covering major portions of these age-old structures.
Though the Devaswom Board authorities had taken an initiative a few years ago to clean these temples in Thiruvananthapuram district, nothing constructive ensued. The archaeology department too came forward to preserve these temples, which come under the Veganoor sub-group of the Devaswom Board, but its effort was also in vain. It is believed that these places of worship are part of the 54 temples that were built here during the Chola dynasty.
One temple has Lord Shiva as the main deity, and another’s chief deity is Lord Vishnu. Historical records show that poojas were performed at these temples, and the hearsay is that religious rituals were stopped as the shrines became ‘impure’.
The local residents are of the opinion that either the Devaswom Board or the Archaeology Department should take concrete steps to preserve the temples.
