Assam’s revered shrine gets Rs 217 crore facelift

The Batadrava Than, a shrine in Bordowa, Assam, is set to undergo a Rs 217-crore facelift under the Batadrava Cultural Project. The project aims to transform the sacred shrine into a world-class spiritual and tourism destination, preserving and showcasing the religious and cultural legacy of Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardeva. The project, set to be inaugurated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on December 29, will be developed on 162 hectares of land that were freed from encroachment. The project includes the world’s tallest Guru Asana, guest houses with artistic elements, an art centre inspired by traditional cymbal, a research centre shaped like a khol, a skill development centre in the form of a boat, and a theatre modelled after a traditional japi. The project aims to blend traditional aesthetics with contemporary infrastructure, giving it a distinctive character.