Indian experts help restore and embellish My Son World Cultural Heritage

Vietnamese and Indian experts survey the Mukhalinga statue in group E, My Son Cultural Heritage Complex. (Photo: Doan Huu Trung/ VNA)

On the morning of February 21, at the My Son World Cultural Heritage, Duy Phu Commune, Duy Xuyen District, the People's Committee of Quang Nam Province and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) launched the project to preserve, restore and renovate towers E and F in the My Son World Cultural Heritage complex, phase 2025-2029.

The E and F temple complex consists of 11 towers, of which tower group E includes 8 architectural works (from E1-E8), tower group F includes 3 towers F1, F2 and F3, which are relics that are assessed by Vietnamese and Indian experts as needing urgent restoration and embellishment.

In tower group E, according to experts, tower E1 dates back to the 8th century, is the earliest remaining relic, and is the main tower of area E in the My Son temple complex.

Tower E1 was built on a foundation combining brick architecture with wood, tiles, and low masonry walls. Inside there are still 4 stone blocks, the brick connection is not high, almost bricks stacked on top of each other, no mortar joints.

Vietnamese and Indian experts examine the degradation level of the oldest remaining stele in the My Son Cultural Heritage Complex. (Photo: Doan Huu Trung/VNA)

Tower E2 is a nearly square gate tower, quite badly damaged, the remaining part of the tower is 2.2m high.

The architecture of E2 tower is currently cracked in many horizontal and vertical lines, the mortar joints are very weak, many loose bricks easily fall out of the architectural block. The two stone pillars of the West gate and the two stone pillars of the East gate are separated from the architecture.

Tower E5 is almost a ruin, quite damaged, collapsed walls are only 1.2m high, many cracks, rotten bricks in some places are at risk of separating from the current architectural block.

Area F includes 3 structures F1, F2 and F3, in which tower F1 is the main temple of area F, dating from the 8th to 9th century, in the hybrid style, this relic was excavated in 2003, there are no traces of restoration, currently still in a state of being covered by a house, the surface of the tower has many cracks, pale bricks, the wall panels are at high risk of collapsing, have been supported by iron bars.

Tower F2 is the gate tower that has collapsed, only the southern wall is 3.2m high, leaning about 3 degrees to the south, with some deep cracks. The northern wall is still a few meters high and in the same condition as the southern wall. These two walls are supported by iron bars.

Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Quang Nam province Phan Thai Binh thanked the Indian Government and experts for helping Quang Nam restore and embellish the My Son Sanctuary in recent times.

At the same time, it is proposed that, based on a comprehensive and detailed assessment of the current status of tower groups E and F, Vietnamese and Indian experts agree on the main viewpoint throughout the restoration process which is to best preserve the original values of the monument. The restoration must be done with utmost care in every detail, especially the use of replacement materials.

The Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Quang Nam province requested Duy Xuyen district, the My Son World Cultural Heritage Management Board and relevant sectors to create all favorable conditions for the restoration and embellishment of the relic to go smoothly and ensure the set progress.

Vietnamese and Indian experts affirmed that during the restoration of the relic, experts and scientists will mainly implement the method of reinforcing and preserving the original elements firmly, ensuring accuracy.

Experts conduct measurements and carry out restoration and embellishment work at tower group E. (Photo: Doan Huu Trung/VNA)

Director of the Archaeological Survey of India, Shri Azmira Bhima, hopes that the project will help protect the values of the E and F towers, while also contributing to improving the management and professional capacity of the staff, creating conditions for building and forming a skilled workforce in relic conservation.

The implementation of conservation and restoration of towers E and F contributes to overcoming the damage and degradation; restoring and perfecting the architectural space of My Son Temple Complex - a unique world cultural heritage in the Central region./.