Muthu Mandapam, Vellore
Muthu
Mandapam is a memorial built around the tombstone of Sri Vikrama Rajasingha, the last ruler of Sri
Lanka. It is the resting place of the
last ruler of the Sri Lankan kingdom of Kandy, Sri Vikrama Rajasingha, since
1832. The tomb of this king stands tall inside this pearl-shaped structure that
was raised in 1990. It also houses tombs of seven of his family members. This
King was known as Prince Kannasamy, Sri Vikrama Rajasingha, a king of the
Nayaka dynasty, was sworn in during 1798.
He ruled
Kandy till 1815, after which he was exiled by the British. He, along with a few
of his family members, were taken as royal prisoners and imprisoned in Vellore
Fort in 1816. He was the Sri Lanka’s last Tamil King. He was housed in a room
inside the fort for 16 years. This room later went on to be used as the
Registrar’s office of the Vellore district. He died on January 30, 1832. Among
his family members, who were laid to rest here, are his queen Savithri Devi and
other spouses.
The
Tamil Nadu government had constructed pearl-shaped structure over the tombs,
which were earlier in the open amid huts in the area, at a cost of Rs. 7 lakhs.
Former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi inaugurated Muthu Mandapam on July 1,
1990. The pearl-shaped structure was known to be designed by him. The chess
board and boomerang used by the king are on display at the museum. While the
chess board is made of wood, the chess coins and boomerang are made of ivory.
The
Muthu Mandapam is under the maintenance of the Public Relations Office. Staff
said that every year, the descendants of the king living in Madurai and Chennai
visited the memorial on his death anniversary. This Memorial is situated near
the banks of the Palar river, off the busy Katpadi Road.
Muthu
Mandapam is located at about 1 Km from Vellore New Bus Stand, 2.5 Kms from Vellore
Old Bus Stand, 3 Kms from Vellore Fort, 3 Kms from Vellore Town Railway
Station, 4 Kms from Vellore Cantonment Railway Station, 6.5 Kms from Katpadi
Railway Station, 137 Kms from Chennai and 128 Kms from Chennai Airport.
