The monument, Sri SangameshwaraTemple, but with softest stone chloride schist, was in a dilapidated condition due to heavy growth of vegetation over the monument, leakage of rain-water from the roof and negligence shown in maintaining the temple for a Long period of time. In fact some of the portions of the temple had fallen down, the outer veneering stones of the walls had bulged in many places and some of the architectural members had developed cracks and some had broken to pieces.

The methodology adopted in conserving the stone temple Sri Sangameshwara Temple is according to the time tested Principle of Conservation of ancient monuments in India. According to the principles, as a first step the area around the monument should be brought to its original working level by systematically removing the debris around it. The same was done in this monument. The result was rewarding, because the beautiful platform (jagati), which was buried under the debris, rising to a height of nearly 1.5 meters was exposed. While clearing the debris, many important architectural members were unearthed. They were identified and stacked properly for using them in the restoration of the fallen portions of the temple.

Fortunately it was found that the foundation of the temple had not failed, but had been disturbed in several places due to vegetation growth. There was no sign of settlement in the adhisthana or the base of the temple. But it was necessary to strengthen the foundation, where there was disturbance, as a precautionary measure. By adopting the under pinning method, the disturbed portions of the foundation was strengthened by providing three courses of chloride schist blocks, as per the original foundation. The jagati or platform was infested with vegetation growth, and the roots had penetrated deep into the joints of the masonry. Therefore, the joints were raked thoroughly with suitable wires to remove the roots after clearing the vegetation growth. Then the joints were washed with clean water. The joints were then grouted and were closed by recess pointing. The disturbed portion of the jagati were reset as per the original.

After conserving and restoring the jagati, the Adhisthana or base of the temple was taken up for conservation. The disturbed and dislodged portions of the adhisthana were brought to original condition by resetting and fixing the disturbed and dislodged architectural members in their original portions. Then the joints in the masonry were recess pointed. The bulged portions of the outer veneering stones of the walls were dismantled and it was found that the roots of the vegetation growth had played havoc with the core which was made up of fine soil, between the outer and inner veneering of the wall. The filled up core was removed and the roots that had penetrated into the masonry of the inner veneering were thoroughly removed. Then the outer veneering was rebuilt as per the original and the gap between the outer and the inner veneering was filled with mortar as core, with a view of preventing the growth of vegetation in future.

It is interesting to know that the temple has a ceiling which can be called as double roof/system. In this system there are two roofs, one above the other with a gap of nearly one meter between them. This system not only solves the problem of leakage of rainwater but also keep the interior cool in the summer. As there was leakage in the ceiling, the upper roof was dismantled. Then the lower roof was cleaned and the joints in the slabs repointed. The whole roof was made watertight and proper arrangement was made for the easy flow of rainwater through outlets, if there would be leakage in the upper roof in future. The upper roof was reset as per the original and the joints in the roof slabs were pointed. The outlets which had been blocked with mud and vegetation, were cleaned and reconditioned. Then the whole roof was water tightened. Then the hara (parapet) portion, which had been dismantled for the conservation of walls and roof, was reset with the same architectural members as per the original.

Fortunately, the interior of the temple was in a good condition. Even the walls had no sign of any problem and they were in perfect plumb. However, the pillars in the navaranga or front ball were showing tendency to sink. But the sinking had stopped and there was no immediate danger to the structure. But as a precautionary measure, the bases below the pillars were strengthened. This was done without removing the pillars but by lifting the pillars in situ. In addition, introducing a concealed I-section girder, one of the beams in the navaranga, which had developed cracks, was strengthened.

The southern porch of the temple, though showing disturbances was almost in good condition. Therefore, it required only resetting properly. The architectural members that had been dislodged were reset in position, and thus reconditioned. But the northern portion had suffered the maximum. Some of the portions had fallen down and some architectural members were either damaged or missing. Fortunately many of the missing architectural members could be retrieved from the debris. The extant portion of the porch was dismantled up to the adhisthana, and after reconditioning, the adhisthana the pillars were reset in their proper position. Then the beams were fixed in their position. Before doing so, one of the beams, which had broken into two pieces was mended with epoxy resin and strengthened by providing concealed I-section girder. Then using old slabs and the new ones the roof of the porch was reset. Many of the architectural members of the chajja and a capital of a pillar were missing. The missing architectural members were prepared, as per the original by the expert sthapatis, who are proficient in carving stone architectural members of the temple. They were used in the missing places and the chajja was reset as per the original. Likewise, the hara portion was also reconstructed.

The roofs of the southern and northern porches were re-laid with the original stone slabs and were water tightened. Thus the whole temple built in soft variety of stone, chloride schist, was conserved, restored and strengthened by adopting time tested conservation principles and methods that are used in the conservation of stone temples all over India. There is no doubt that this beautiful temple of 12th century will majestically stand for several decades if not for centuries in future, heralding the achievement of the architects of the ancient past.