Karnataka: Heritage Sites Flooded in Hampi; No Threat to UNESCO Sites, Says ASI

Kodanda Rama Temple & Purandara Mantapa part of heritage site in Hampi, heavily flooded due to swelling Tungabhadra.

Water from Tungabhadra reaches the door steps of Kodandarama Swamy temple in Hampi. Due to rising water levels and excess outflow from TB dam, several heritage sites are submerged.

(Image: Accessed by The Quint)

After more than 40 years, the Pampa Sagara dam in Vijayanagara's Hosapete is filled to the brim. While the coastal districts in Karnataka faced severe loss to property due to incessant rainfall, the region in North Karnataka too is likely to face flood-like situation.

The Pampa Sagara dam on river Tungabhadra, which has a total capacity of holding 101 tmcft of water, has received an inflow of 87,193 cusec of water and around 1,15,344 cusec of water has been released from the dam.

The Kodanda Swamy Temple in Hampi, which hosts the three primary deities from Ramayana – Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana carved on a monolith rock is likely to get submerged.

Authorities have sounded flood alert downstream, to the villages along the river bed. Anegundi, Singagud, Nagarhalli, and Vipra have been put on alert. However, no threat has been issued to the centrally conserved heritage sites in Hampi.

Several Heritage Sites in Hampi Submerged Due to Incessant Rainfall

Due to incessant rainfall swelling Tungabhadra river, the water has reached the door of the Kodanda Swamy Temple. The water has also submerged the shrine's front yard and the holy bathing area called Chakrathirtha.

Speaking to The Quint, Vageesha Achar, the priest of the Yantraodharaka Hanuman temple, which is situated next to the Kodanda Swamy temple, said, "If further water is released from the dam, then there is a possibility that the temple might get submerged. As of now, we are able to access the temple and perform our daily rituals."

Across the river Tungabhadra from Hampi, is a quaint village called Anegundi, which was the first capital of Vijayanagara empire and also has several heritage and religious sites protected by the government.

Due to the incessant rainfall and excess outflow of water from the Pampa Sagara dam, the historical site of Krishandevaraya's tomb is currently under water. Meanwhile, the island of Nava Brindavana, a religious site belonging to nine saints of the Madhwa tradition is currently inaccessible.

In his interaction with The Quint, Shiva Pulliah, a local boatman who ferries devotees to the Nava Brindavana shrine said, "Due to the excess outflow, there is at least six feet more water above the 64-pillar Mantapa. We have been advised not use the boats or venture into the river which is in spate. It has been almost a week, we have no business at all."

Downstream of Tungabhadra, the bridge connecting the towns of Kampli and Gangavati were also submerged. The town which is 40 km away from Hampi, has been warned along with neighbouring villages to keep an eye out rising water levels.

The meteorological department also issued a weather forecast indicating very little rainfall in the districts of Vijayapura and Ballari. However, according to the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Management Centre (KSNDMC), river Tungabhadra, which takes birth in the Western Ghats is likely to be in a flood-like situation, due to the heavy rains in coastal and Malnad regions of Karnataka.

Visiting flood affected areas and examining damage paddy, sugarcane and banana crops minister B Sriramulu, directed district officers to take measures to help farmers and immediately release funds to those whose houses have been damaged.

Archeological Survey of India Assures No Threat to UNESCO Heritage Sites 

While several areas around Hampi and some areas in Anegundi are inundated due to rising Tungabhadra river, the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) has assured that there is no real threat to centrally conserved heritage sites.

Speaking to The Quint, Nikhil Das, Superintendent of ASI (Hampi circle) said, "We have been in touch with the Tungabhadra dam authorities and KSNDMC. There is no threat indicated to any of the ASI protected monuments and as of now, none of the heritage sites maintained by us are submerged."

However, informing that Hampi has hundreds of other heritage sites maintained by the state government, Das added:

"Purandara Mantapa is an open structure along the bank. There are hundreds of other small shrines or mantapas either along the bank of the river or amidst river. These places are not usually visited by tourists. Though these places are part of world heritage collective in Hampi, nothing can be done given the location of these sites."

The location of several religious and heritage sites in and around Hampi, which dates back to more than 1000 years, have been constructed either on the bank or on small islands of the river Tungabhadra. Given the proximity to the river, these heritage sites often get inundated every monsoon.