History & Culture Thukkachi Temple - UNESCO Recognition Context: The 12th-century Abathsahayeswarar Temple at Thukkachi, Thanjavur district, Tamil Nadu, received the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Award of Distinction (2024) for heritage conservation. About Abathsahayeswarar Temple at Thukkachi The temple is a later Chola period monument associated with Kulottunga I and Vikrama Chola and is a living historic temple. It features a rare Kara Kovil architecture, where the temple sanctuary is designed like a processional chariot. The restoration used drone surveys, digital mapping, and anastylosis techniques to carefully dismantle and rebuild granite blocks in their original positions. The ₹5-crore conservation project combined traditional Sthapatya Veda and Agama Shastra principles with modern engineering methods.
