Fri Jun 13 14:05:12 UTC 2025: Here’s a news article summarizing the provided text:
**Vijayanagara-Era Mandapam in Tirupati to Undergo Extensive Restoration**
**TIRUPATI, India – June 13, 2025** – The Alipiri Padala Mandapam, a historic structure dating back to the Vijayanagara period, will soon undergo extensive conservation and restoration work. The Mandapam, located at the foot of the Tirumala hills, serves as the first point of spiritual significance for pilgrims undertaking the trek to the Tirumala Venkateswara Temple.
The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which manages the site, has enlisted the expertise of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to oversee the project. An ASI team of conservation specialists recently inspected the dilapidated Mandapam, assessing the extent of the necessary repairs.
Director (Epigraphs) of the ASI, K. Muniratnam Reddy, emphasized the goal of reinforcing the structure to ensure its stability for the next three centuries. The restoration project is being funded by the Pune-based Lord Venkateswara Charitable and Religious Trust. Representatives from the trust accompanied the ASI engineers during the initial inspection. The focus of the restoration will be strengthening the existing Mandapam to ensure the need for future repairs is minimal.
First Piper 