Hampi work hit as project report gathers dust

A project report on Hampi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, submitted a few years ago is lying with the Department of Archaeology without seeing the light of the day.

As a result, further excavation and restoration of the vast 16 square km area of the capital of the Vijayanagar empire has suffered while the 500th anniversary of the coronation of Krishnadevaraya, the most famous of the Vijayanagar rulers, is being celebrated with éclat with huge sums of money being spent by the Karnataka government.

Revealing this, former director general of Archaeological Survey of India M S Nagaraja Rao, who had carried out extensive excavation work as Director of Archaeology of the state government, said in Mysore, “A project report planned for 30 years is lying with the Department of Archaeology, Government of India. When work on Hampi was initiated two decades ago, it was undertaken across a limited area. We are yet to complete the work in one single area, Noblemen’s Quarters.”

“Over the last two decades, we have scratched only the surface of a small area. Many buildings are yet to be restored or excavated. The state government should also think of ways and means to regulate the monuments lying scattered in the area.”

“People should be educated on the glory and contribution of the empire in the 14th century and on preserving the site. We should remember that the Vijayanagar rulers stood for values and traditions which we have inherited. But for their contribution, India would have been different today,” the archaeologist said.

He was however happy that with whatever work they had done during 1986 they were able to put Hampi on the world map and obtain world heritage status. “But what is done is not enough. It should go on. Work there cannot be completed in one’s life time. There is still vast amount of work to be undertaken,” he remarked participating as chief guest of the anniversary celebrations of Krishnadevaraya at the Institution of Engineers.

Emeritus Fellow of the Department of Ancient History & Archaeology of Mysore University M S Krishnamurthy said some of the architectural features of the Vijayanagar period continues to be relevant and its techniques were still followed by engineers and architects.

He explained that innovative engineering skills adopted by the builders of Hampi like inverted beams which were not found even in Hindu architectural texts. Unlike the visible beams built in interior halls in buildings of the present day, the huge inverted stone beams offered more space in the interiors while remaining invisible.

Similarly, carvings on the Mahanavami Dibba, where the Vijayanagar ruler sat to witness the Dasara, had a socio-religious significance. There were also lessons to be learnt on town planning, irrigation and water supply facilities these rulers had created, the retired professor said, endorsing the views of Nagaraja Rao that more excavation needs to be done in Hampi and its surroundings.