Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal hands over 9th to 10th century Nataraja idol to Archaeological Department official in Chittorgarh Fort

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Union Minister of State for Culture Arjun Ram Meghwal has handed over the 9th to 10th century Nataraja statue to the Archaeological Department of Chittorgarh Fort, Rajasthan.

• The statue, which dates back to the 9th to 10th centuries, was stolen from the Shiva temple at Badoli in Chittorgarh district in 1998 and sold to a museum in London.

• After a long legal process, in the year 2020, it was successful in bringing this statue to India from a private museum in London.

• Now this statue will be kept under the protection of the Archaeological Survey Department in Kumbha Mahal.

• From the year 2014 till now, 229 idols of ancient importance have been brought back to India by the Government of India.

• On this occasion, the Union Minister of State for Culture, Arjun Ram Meghwal has also assured the construction of a ropeway on the Chittorgarh Fort and to connect Chittorgarh with the Bharatmala Yojana.

• Chittorgarh Fort

• Chittorgarh fort is the largest fort in India. It is located in Chittorgarh, Rajasthan.

• Chittor was the capital of Mewar.

• Chittor Fort was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site on 21 June 2013.

• This fort was built by the Mauryan dynasty king Chitrangad Maurya in the seventh century.