The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has taken up restoration work on several ancient structures at Nalanda University ruins.

New walls are being constructed at temple No. 12, believed to have been used by teachers and students at the ancient Nalanda University for offering prayers.

Similarly, steps at monastery No. 1 are being restored after they recently got displaced.

A number of bricks have also fallen from the rear wall of monastery No. 1 and its adjoining room, for which the ASI is expected to undertake a major restoration exercise.

“We have taken up the restoration work in temple No. 12 because of deterioration on its outer wall. The restoration work is aimed at strengthening the ancient structure and it does not envisage much alteration to the original structure. The restoration is being done at different places inside the ruins based on requirement. The work on restoration of the rear wall of temple No. 12 has been completed and the same on the front wall is going on at present,” said a senior ASI official, adding that the work was stopped for a couple of weeks in August because of heavy rain.

With regard to the fall of large number of bricks on the rear side of monastery No. 1, the ASI official said: “It requires comparatively complex nature of restoration, thus, it would be taken up in later stages.”