Yamesvara Tank (Nala Kunda) Explained

Yamesvara Tank (Nala Kunda)
Country:	India
State:	Odisha
District:	Old Town Bhubaneswar
Location:	Yamesvara Patna

Yamesvara Tank is a historic water reservoir situated in Yamesvara Patna, within the Old Town of Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India. It is positioned on the left side of the Yamesvara Patna lane, which branches off from Badheibanka Chowk towards Kapilesvara. The tank is affiliated with Bharati Matha, a local monastery. Over time, the tank has been abandoned due to contamination from sewage discharge from the surrounding area, leading to its colloquial name, Nala Kunda, meaning "Drain Tank." The tank is surrounded by a masonry embankment constructed from dressed laterite blocks.

Name

i) Present Name: Yamesvara Tank (Nala kunda)

ii) Past Name: —

Location

Lat. 200, 14’ 41" N.,

Long. 850, 49’ 90" E.,

Elev. 86 ft

Ownership

Single/ Multiple: Multiple
Public/ Private: Public.

Any other (specify): Though the tank was originally under Bharati Matha, now no body claims ownership or looks after its maintenance.

Age

Precise date: —
Approximate date: 11th Century A.D.

Source of Information: In view of its close proximity to Bharati matha, the tank may go along with Bharati matha which is assigned to 11th century A.D.

Property Type

Precinct/ Building/ Structure/Landscape/Site/Tank: Tank
Subtype: Spring
Typology: Embankments.

Property use

Abandoned/ in use: Abandoned.
Present use: Nala kunda.
Past use: Ritual and normal bath.

Significance

Historic significance: Somavamsi epoch.
Cultural significance: —
Social significance: —
Associational significance:—

Physical description

Surrounding: The tank has embankments on all the four sides. The temple of Maitresvara stands near its south eastern embankment within a distance of 10.00 m, Yamesvara temple in north-west, private buildings on its northern and southern embankments. Now it is almost a dead tank.

Orientation: —

Architectural features (Plan and Elevation): Square on plan measuring 38.60 m² with a depth of 4.00 m from the present ground level.

Raha niche & parsva devatas: —

Decorative features: —

Doorjambs: —

Lintel: —

Building material: Laterite

Construction techniques: Dry masonry.

Style: —

Special features, if any: —

State of preservation

Good/Fair/ Showing Signs of Deterioration/Advanced: Advanced state of deterioration because of the growth of wild vegetations on the both walls of the tank and inside the tank. Encroachment is another big problem the tank is facing.
State of Decay/Danger of Disappearance: —

Condition description

Signs of distress: Private residential building on all sides of the tank discharge their waste water and through into the tank.

Structural problems: Private residential buildings have been erected over the embankment walls of the tank.

Repairs and Maintenance: Though the tank was originally under Bharati Matha, now no body claims ownership or looks after its maintenance.

Grade (A/B/C)

i) Architecture: A

ii) Historic: B

iii) Associational: C

iv) Social/Cultural:C

v) Others: —

Threats to the property

Conservation Problem and Remedies: Encroachment, growth of wild vegetations and discharging of sewage and drain water and trash into the tank. Southern embankment has partly collapsed. Encroachments from all sides prevent access into the tank.