GUWAHATI, April 3 � Everywhere on the Rangpur (Joysagar) Talatal Ghar campus in Sivasagar district, barring the Talatal Ghar itself, indications of existence of some structures below the surface have been found during the preliminary round of the Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) Survey conducted by Kanpur IIT experts on the campus of this Ahom-era archaeological monument. Talatal Ghar is an Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) conserved monument of fame.
Speaking to this correspondent, ASI Guwahati Circle Superintending Archaeologist Dr Milan Chauley said that during the preliminary round of the GPR Survey, conducted to ascertain whether there exists any underground structure of the Talatal Ghar or not, signals of existence of some solid structures starting from 1.9 metre and continuing to 4 metres below the surface were received. This is to the left side of the main entrance of the monument campus and it is running towards the toilet complex set up by the ASI.
However, it is believed that the main structure of the Talatal Ghar spreads up to two metres below the surface, said the ASI Superintending Archaeologist.
He further informed that the duration of the GPR Survey project is one year and during this period the Kanpur IIT team will visit the Talatal Ghar and the Gargaon Kareng Ghar, another ASI conserved archaeological monument of fame in the same district, on two to three occasions to confirm the findings.
At present, the survey is undertaken in parts in the Talatal Ghar campus. For getting a comprehensive picture of the entire campus vis-�-vis the underground structures, the findings of such piecemeal surveys would be joined up. The findings would be analysed at the laboratory of Kanpur IIT and after full analysis of the findings, a comprehensive picture regarding the underground structures would come up, added Dr Chauley.
It is worth mentioning here that popular beliefs indicate that there are underground structures below the Talatal Ghar and the Gargaon Kareng Ghar (king�s palace). It is also believed by many that the Talatal Ghar and the Kareng Ghar were linked by an underground tunnel during the reign of the Ahom Swargadeos (Ahom kings were called Swargadeos).
In the face of such popular beliefs, the ASI Guwahati Circle has undertaken the GPR Survey to ascertain the genuineness of those beliefs. The ASI is taking the help of the experts of Kanpur IIT to conduct the GPR Survey. Today the experts are conducting survey at the Gargaon Kareng Ghar, added Dr Chauley.
