Skillfull hands are carefully chipping away extraneous elements and roitly removing graffiti to reveal original beauty of -old murals in 17th century-era Leh Palace. A painstaking restoration work currently underway at monument. Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which maintains famed palace nestled in mountains of Lakh, recently began restoration of -old wall art located on its sixth floor, officials said.

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Archaeological Survey of India to restore Leh Palace murals

" murals are me of natural colors, and that is one of reasons it has survived ravs of time and inharmonious interventions over deces. It is perhaps first time such an extensive restoration on murals have been taken up in last 30 years or so at Leh," a senior ASI official told press.

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official, part of core team of eight members working on preservation, said, murals h been defaced by visitors with graffiti, some of which date back to late 1960s.

"About two weeks ago, project began at palace. Experts in chemical techniques have come from Chennai, Indore and Agra, assisted by or local staff members and labourers. layering of extraneous elements, like plasterwork h to be carefully removed," he said.

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Leh Palace- A brief history

An architectural masterpiece and an engineering feat of Namgyal dynasty, second dynasty of Lakhi rulers. It was built in Tibetan style with materials such as stones, sun-dried mud bricks, woods of poplar, juniper and willow procured from different areas of Leh, according to ASI. " construction of palace was completed in a short span of only three years during reign of Senge Namgyal (c. 1590-1635), most illustrious king of Lakh. palace, overlooking Leh city, has nine levels and an exquisite entrance gateway," it said. Asked about design and span of murals, ASI official said, paintings are spre across walls measuring an area of about 32 sqm. "As per design, se murals done in a series of sorts, depict Buddhist symbols, like spinning wheel, flowers, and or religious motifs. It is beautiful, and people of Leh, who are rejoicing creation of a UT, are also delighted to see old glory of palace murals being brought back," he said.

Sources said restoration work is likely to be completed by mid-September. Lakh will assume a new identity of a Union Territory on October 31. palace is being maintained by ASI's Leh Mini Circle, constituted some years ago. Earlier it fell under Srinagar Circle of ASI. On sixth level, team can be seen carefully chipping away plaster work laid on murals over deces or putting daubs of paint on fed artwork with needle brushes. Asked if re is any documented work on se arts, ASI official said:

" documentation as such is re but we are taking reference of ancient Tibetan Thangkas, which are also painted with natural colours".

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He said an ASI team h worked on a restoration project some years ago at Thiksey Monastery in Thiksey area of Leh district, one of most iconic buildings in Lakh. Leh Palace comprises nine levels with over 100 rooms, however, purpose of only a few of considerable importance are kwn. rooms in lower level served for use by staff, servants, and as stor silos. " palace is entered through an elaborately embellished wooden portico gate, kwn as Singe-sgo ( lion gate) at level two. At level four is a large open courtyard kwn as Khatok Chenmo, a platform for social and cultural activities of royal family, as well as a royal shrine.

" minister and or members were dressed by king in hall of audience on level five and living quarters for royal family were reserved on level six," res ASI plaque near entrance. palace was in a ruined state when ASI declared it as a Monument of National Importance in 1982. Since n, ASI has carried out restoration and conservation work in a phased manner to revive glory of palace, visited by a large number of tourists daily.

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