Karnataka: Hirebenakal, Shravanabelagola proposed for World Heritage Site tag

The Department of Archaeology, Heritage and Museums is preparing proposals to send to UNESCO to consider Shravanabelagola, Lakkundi and Hirebenakal for the World Heritage Site list. While Hirebenakal has been in consideration for UNESCO’s tentative list, the other two sites are making their debut.

Hirebenakkal, a major prehistoric megalithic site in Koppal district, has been on the tentative list for quite some time, according to an official. The historical site’s time period is estimated to be between the New Stone Age (Neolithic Age) and the Iron Age. The site houses over 400 megaliths and contains some of the largest rock paintings in the country.

Shravanabelagola in Hassan district is a pilgrimage site of the Jain community, featuring about 40 temples. Built around 983 AD, the 58-foot-tall statue of Lord Gommateshwara (Bahubali) on the Vindyagiri hills is the tallest monolithic statue in the world. The site is popular for Mahamasthabisheka that takes place once in every 12 years. 

Lakkundi, another significant historical and archaeological site, is known for its 10th-14th century Kalyani Chalukya architecture. A former capital of the Hoysala kingdom, Lakkundi features dozens of ancient and medieval temples and stepwells. 

Speaking to DH, Devaraj A, Commissioner for Archaeology, Heritage and Museums, said, “The heritage tag will help in protecting the monuments better. We have sent in the proposals, after the verification of the list, a visit from the panellists of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), a branch of UNESCO to the site, and then it will be approved.” 

Though the tag will be given, no financial support will be provided by UNESCO; it will still be maintained by the government, he further said.

UNESCO has about 10 criteria for a site to be considered as a world heritage site and the site should possess at least one criterion. Some of them include: A site to be a masterpiece, an example of a traditional human settlement, natural beauty or aesthetic and others. 

According to the Commissioner, the proposed sites meet more than one criterion. Suresh Moona, historian and columnist, said, “It is a matter of pride if the heritage tags are given to a site. Though there are many eligible sites in Karnataka, we only have four tags.” 

“The tag will help in promoting tourism to the place, which, in turn, will provide a livelihood to hundreds of people. The maintenance of the place will also be up-scaled as the place will be a world site,” he further said. 

Karnataka currently has four world heritage sites - Hampi, Pattadakal, Western Ghats and the ensembles of the Hoysala temples, including Channakeshava Temple, Hoysaleswara Temple and Keshava Temple. 

The Department of Archeology Heritage and Museums is planning to send a proposal to UNESCO to include the Megalithic site of Hirebenakal the monolithic statue of Gommateshwara and other Jain temples of Shravanabelagola and the ancient and medieval temples and stepwells of Lakkundi in the World Heritage Site list.