Maluti temples near Dumka and the idol of goddess Mauliksha. Pictures by Rajesh Kumar Pandey

Dumka, Dec. 30: Five hundred years of history are in danger of getting reduced to rubble, just because of state apathy.

Famous for its 16th century temples, Maluti in Shikaripara block of Dumka has no tourists and no infrastructure.

Situated about 55km from the district headquarters bordering Bengal, Maluti is a land of legends — the only place in the country where 108 temples are clustered in a radius of just 350 metres.

But now, it has only government apathy to boast. In a 2010 report titled Saving Our Vanishing Heritage, Global Heritage Fund identified Maluti’s temples as one of 12 worldwide sites “On the verge” of irreparable loss and damage, citing insufficient management as the primary cause.

Though the state government tried to develop this ancient village, referred to as the village of temples, most facilities remain defunct.

The fact that thousands of pilgrims from across the country visit pilgrimages situated in the area — Baidyanath in Deoghar, Basukinath in Dumka and Tarapith in Bengal— but ignore Maluti, exposes its pathetic state.

A pilgrim said: “The dilapidated condition of Dumka-Rampurhat road and lack of other facilities discourages us from visiting Maluti.”

“Had the government been serious enough to develop Maluti as a tourists’ destination, it would have tried to help local residents develop the place,” said octogenarian Gopal Mukherjee, the lone crusader fighting for its recognition.

The former air force soldier alleged all the development work launched by the government in Maluti were aimed at obliging the contractors, but not temples.

Maluti is also famous for the temple of goddess Mauliksha, who according to legend is the elder sister of goddess Tara of Tarapith.

“Bamakhyapa, famous disciple of the goddess Tara, had attained siddhi at Maluti after he was not allowed to worship at Tarapith temple by the priests,” said local priest Sarit Chatterjee, adding Bamakhyapa’s trident was still preserved here.

Maluti is also important archaeologically as the 108 temples, built by the king Basant Rai and his successors, depict the rare temple architecture of northeast.

However, the fine terracotta inscriptions of the temples are fast decaying due to lack of proper conservation measures. Also, only 72 of the temples could survive the tests of time, and the rest are trying hard.