A palace in Tiruvannamalai district, crying out for attention

A winding lane, from Arni Road by a forest, results in Poosimalai Kuppam, a village in Arni, which homes a dilapidated outdated British-style constructing — the Poosi Forest Palace.

Located near 35 km from Vellore, this construction, which is over 170 years outdated, is an attraction for many architects and heritage fanatics. However, the constructing is crying out for attention and has now turn out to be a haven for anti-social components.

With a construction about to crumble, villagers and heritage fanatics need the federal government to take care of it. Mohan Hariharan, an architect and a local of Arni, has began a ‘Save Arni Palace’ marketing campaign.

“This palace was built after 1850 by the 10th Arni Jagir, Srinivasa Rao Sahib. The architect was William Pogson, a Britisher who has constructed many famous buildings in the Madras Presidency including the Spencer’s showroom,” explains Mr. Hariharan. He stated that Mr. Pogson had termed this palace the taking pictures field, as it’s believed that the British pals of the Jagir used to remain right here and hunt foxes and hogs. “There is a rumour that it is a French Castle that the then Jagir built for his French mistress. This is wrong,” he provides.

The palace has two bedrooms on the bottom ground and two on the primary ground with hooked up bogs. “This is probably one of the few palaces in the region with chimneys for a fireplace. Though it was not required in a place with a hot and humid climate, the Jagir was adamant about having British-style construction,” he says.

Mr. Hariharan stated that one other distinctive function of the palace is that the ceiling is a type of Madras Terrace, however made with metal joists and brick jelly — lime concrete. “It also has a structural steel pillar brought from Britain, which is also used for rain water disposal. Mr. Pogson seems to have incorporated South Indian style construction too, in the building as seen in certain parts of the palace.”

To save this palace from full ruination, Mr. Hariharan began the marketing campaign just a few years in the past. “I grew up in this place and have come for excursions to this palace during my school days. There used to be stained glass windows which earned the palace the name ‘Kannadi Maligai’,” he explains.

Mr. Hariharan has been bringing many heritage fanatics to this palace over the previous a few years. “There are two other buildings near the palace. One seems to be the kitchen and servant quarters and another circular structure, with many pots, seems to be for pigeons. They would have been used for hunting or for sending messages,” Mr. Hariharan stated.

Residents need the palace saved

“This palace has become a hangout for anti-social elements. People drink here and create a ruckus. When we ask, they verbally abuse us,” stated a resident of the Poomalai Kuppam village.

Krishnaveni Thangaraj, panchayat president, Poosimalaikuppam village, stated that it will be useful if the federal government makes it right into a vacationer attraction. “A lot of people come here. It is an ideal tourist spot as the palace is surrounded by forest,” she stated.