Excavations, open air museum to help future-proof Lakkundi’s glorious past

The approval from the Centre for undertaking excavations at the Lakkundi heritage site in the district has set off expectations of unearthing a wealth of remnants from the past. 

Excavations undertaken in 2004-05 had resulted in the discovery of articles of archaeological importance here.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah launched the excavation at Lakkundi on Tuesday. Speaking to reporters later, he said that the government will take up excavacation at historic sites wherever necessary. 

Lakkundi Development Authority was constituted in 2017-18 for the development of historic Lakkundi. Necessary grants would be released for construction of an open museum for display of archaeological remnants found here, the chief minister said.

This is in line with his announcement in the 2025-26 budget on setting up an open air museum of artefacts from a bygone era here, like the one in Warangal in Andhra Pradesh, under the Lakkundi heritage area development authority (LHADA).

A team of experts has already visited the open air museum in the neighbouring state. The team is of the opinion that using the remnants already discovered and likely to be excavated, a museum superior to the one in Warangal can come up here. 

“The open air museum will come up on the space between the Nanneshwara temple and the heritage centre. Farmers have agreed to give up four acres for the purpose,” LHADA commissioner Sharanu Gogeri told DH.

A total of 1,500 artefacts had been collected during a campaign here in November last year. 

Gadag incharge Minister H K Patil has more good news. He says experts have predicted the possibility of unearthing five more ancient temples here and that owners of 27 houses have volunteered to give up their properties, to facilitate excavation works. 

This, he feels, is evidence of the immense pride that Lakkundi people take in their town’s heritage. The government will provide them alternative sites to build houses, the minister said.  Efforts are on to include Lakkundi in India’s tentative list to be recommended for Unesco’s world heritage tag. 

The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has already begun a study of the places of archaeological interest in the district, including Lakkundi, to help in the nomination process for the heritage tag.