Work to lift gopuram of Sri Kalikambal Temple in Chennai begins

To prevent flooding at the Sri Kalikambal Temple in Mannady, Chennai, the five-tier Rajagopuram is being lifted by three feet. Work to elevate the structure using jacks began on Sunday (December 7, 2025). Already, around 25 temples in the State, including the Raviswarar Temple in Vyasarpadi, have been or are being lifted to prevent flooding.

The Kalikambal Temple is 1.5 ft lower than Thambu Chetti Street, on which the gopuram is located. After the work, the first step of the temple would be more than a foot above the height of the busy thoroughfare.

Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Minister P.K. Sekarbabu, who laid the foundation for the work, said the lifting would help extend the life of the uncut granite structure, and prevent water from entering the temple, which is located in a very congested locality, from where rainwater flows into the temple owing to the height of the road having been increased over the years.

The work is being carried out as part of the renovation of the temple – where Maratha ruler Chhatrapati Shivaji is said to have prayed – at a cost of ₹2.33 crore.

Works, such as the renovation of the main shrine, water-proofing, cleaning, re-laying of flooring, and painting, are to be completed before the Kumbabhishekam slated for March 2026.

The lifting alone will take about two months and cost ₹40 lakh. According to Surender Kumar of Mamchand House Lifting Company, the gopuram is made of granite and is estimated to weigh around 500 tonnes. The main mandapam of the temple is connected to the gopuram. That will be dismantled before the lifting commences.

“To maintain the original character of the heritage structure, we will not use cement mortar but only red bricks, lime, jaggery and kadukkai powder. At the bottom of the entrance, only rough uncut granite matching the rest of the gopuram will be used,” he explained.