Hirebenakal eyes Unesco heritage tag through site upgrade
Koppal: Development initiatives are being planned at Hirebenakal, a 3,000-year-old megalithic site in Gangavathi taluk, with the goal of securing Unesco World Heritage status.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
Situated 40km from the district headquarters, it requires a 10km uphill trek to reach the archaeological site. The site, under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Hampi Circle's protection, sits atop a castellated granite hillock, accessible from 3km southeast of the village.
British officer Philip Meadows Taylor first discovered these monuments in 1835 while serving at the court of Nizam of Hyderabad. He presented the site internationally through a research publication in the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society.
Locals describe the site, spanning over 20 hectares, as 'Morera houses'. The site's information board indicates these stone structures were built as memorials for the deceased. Some suggest Stone Age dwarfs inhabited these house-like formations. A large pond exists near the structures, indicating Neolithic Age inhabitants, primarily farmers, occupied this area.
These rock tombs and cave art are currently on Unesco's World Heritage tentative list.
The site houses the second-largest collection of monuments after Madhya Pradesh's cave paintings. Termed 'Rock monuments of early man', numerous well-preserved tombs exist here. Experts estimate approximately 500 tombs at this megalithic site.
The site displays rock paintings depicting dancing, hunting, and weapon-wielding figures. Additional artwork includes geometric patterns and mystical designs of deer, peacocks, humped bulls, bullocks, horses, and cows.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
"If properly excavated, more important things can come to light at this site," says Dr Sharanabasappa Kolkar, a historian from Gangavathi.
A hemispherical kettledrum stone, strategically positioned on a hillock, measures 2.2m in diameter with 1.5m radial height. It sits on a 10m high monolithic boulder with a beating surface. When struck with stone or wooden implements, it produces musical sounds audible beyond 1km.
Dr Sharanabasappa Kolkar mentions that during Rajnish Goyal's visit, the Kalaburgi regional commissioner, in 2010, they proposed including the site in the Unesco World Heritage list. The archaeological department forwarded the application, but Unesco rejected it. "Due to persistent efforts, two years ago, Unesco added the Hirebenkal megalithic site to its provisional list, and we must accelerate efforts to secure its place on the permanent list," he emphasised.
Tourism minister HK Patil, during his recent visit, announced plans to develop the site to international standards. He assured that govt would undertake all necessary steps to achieve World Heritage List recognition.
Additionally, Patil announced that to educate Bengaluru residents about the site's importance, they would organise a photographic exhibition of the rock tombs at the Venkatappa Art Gallery by Aug 15. Plans are under way to conduct further research within a 5km radius of the hill.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
7 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Encounter with a curious robin
British ornithologists of the Raj found Indian birds enigmatic. To them, the Indian robin combined boldness and suspicion in the same ounce of feathered frailty. Further, unlike the British robin, the Indian namesake preferred to sport its red not on its chest but tactically tucked under a longish, active tail. The Indian fellow is not quite so modest and does not hesitate to cock his tail well forward over the back to display the chestnut hues adorning the vent, especially when his fair lady may be tempted to take a peek or a rival male threatens sovereignty! Male robin in an aggressive display when threatened. (CK Patnaik) To this, I may add that the Indian robin is one whose temperament succumbs to bouts of puzzlement and curiosity, and will dare his life and limb to put his convulsed mind to rest. I was on a jungle quest in the foothills behind Mirzapur dam on Tuesday. Since I tend to take not the path less travelled but one not travelled at all, it was a toiling trek in saunal humidity and ripping thicket. As I rested on a rock, alarm calls emitted: ' at suspenseful intervals. I was in a jungle where no humans set foot, and was wearing a black safari hat. My eccentric, mad hatter presence had alarmed, and at the same time, intrigued a male robin. It is currently the vulnerable nesting season, and the pair rears up to three broods. Robins can use snake slough to line nests, and one was fashioned from hair curls (hopefully not from a murdered, jungle-dumped lady)! Having expended his calls, the robin abandoned his covert perch. He flew to alight on a bush opposite me, just out of arm's length. To the robin, I must have illusioned a 'giant alien' emergent from a cosmic black hole. He gave me an 'up & down' look in piqued headmaster style. He turned his neck this way and that way to get his eyes to ascertain my antecedents from all angles and mysteries. I sat in all innocence through the visual interrogation. Soon enough, the robin accepted my inoffensive demeanour as a gentleman's (unsaid) word of honour: 'I come & go in peace'. He flew off to his domestic chores, and his alarms were not heard thence. I recalled John Muir: 'The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness.' The 'painted' egret at Sukhna lake. (Anuj Jain) Prisoner of the paint box Some years ago, a bizarre case of a painted python had surfaced. It was seized from poachers at Rajpura. They had cunningly painted the python brown and lopped off its tail to make it resemble a Common Sand boa, which fetches a good price in the illegal wildlife market as it is used for rituals. Similar is the case of the pet bird trade, wherein wild birds are captured illegally and then painted over to make them resemble exotic species to procure high prices. For example, law-enforcement authorities have seized black Hill mynas with beaks painted over a neon orange. On Friday morning, a ludicrous spectacle unfolded over the Sukhna lake. An eagle-eyed wildlife photographer, Anuj Jain, captured an Eastern Cattle egret (Ardea coromanda) painted over with gaudy hues of deep pink and blue. In its natural state, the egret is snow white but acquires a golden buff on its head, neck and back in breeding plumage. It was probably one illegally captured, painted over and released or had escaped. The incident underscores the laxity of wildlife authorities in keeping an eye on crimes in the urban periphery. 'A sudden flash of bright colours in the sky caught my attention. I quickly took a burst of camera shots and was surprised — and saddened — to discover it was an egret with its wings painted in unnatural hues. While it's not unusual to see white, captive pigeons with dyed feathers, witnessing the same on a wild egret was unexpected. Beyond the initial visual impact, it raises serious concerns: painted wings can make the bird more conspicuous, disrupt its ability to merge with its flock, and affect natural behaviour in flight. What seemed striking at first glance soon felt like a quiet violation of something wild and free,' an anguished Jain told this writer. vjswild2@
Time of India
14 hours ago
- Time of India
Last DNA match done, 260 bodies handed over: Min
Ahmedabad: A gruelling fortnight-long exercise to identify all victims of AI flight 171 finally ended on Friday, with forensic experts finding a DNA match for 32-year-old passenger Anil Khimani. His was the last sample out of 241 passengers and crew that perished in the tragedy, which the experts were toiling to match. Khimani was a native of Dahisara village near Bhuj. His mortal remains were handed over to the family on Saturday, confirmed Civil Hospital officials. With the update, state health minister Rushikesh Patel, in a release, stated that bodies of 260 victims of the air tragedy, which includes 241 passengers and crew and 19 killed on the ground, have been identified and handed over to their kin. Those on board included 181 Indian nationals, 52 British nationals, seven Portuguese nationals, and one Canadian national. Out of the total, 31 were flown for the last rites, whereas the rest were sent by road. "Out of the Indian victims, 73 are from Ahmedabad, 29 from Anand, 24 from Vadodara, 14 from Diu, 13 from Maharashtra, 12 from Surat, and 11 from Kheda among others," the minister stated in the release. You Can Also Check: Ahmedabad AQI | Weather in Ahmedabad | Bank Holidays in Ahmedabad | Public Holidays in Ahmedabad Health department officials said that none of the samples given by relatives remain unmatched. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trading CFD dengan Teknologi dan Kecepatan Lebih Baik IC Markets Mendaftar Undo "In case any remains are found from the crash site, identification will be carried out," said a senior official. Meanwhile, sources saidthat Khimani, who had travelled to other countries for work, was flying to the UK for the first time. His family had been desperately praying for the match. Khimani is survived by his wife and children, the sources said.
Time of India
15 hours ago
- Time of India
F-35 jet remains grounded as UK repair team yet to arrive
Thiruvananthapuram: The UK's HMS Prince of Wales-led Carrier Strike Group has reached Singapore for joint exercises — but without one of its F-35 fighter jets, which remains grounded at Thiruvananthapuram airport due to a hydraulic snag. The expert team to carry out the repairs is yet to arrive. Sources said that if on-site repairs are not successful, the fighter jet may need to be moved out in a military transport aircraft. The fighter jet on a routine flight made an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram airport after facing difficulty landing on its aircraft carrier due to low fuel. However, it subsequently developed a snag, preventing its departure. The pilots have since returned. Efforts by the aircraft carrier's crew, who flew in multiple times by helicopter, failed to repair the jet. A statement from the British High Commission said that a specialist team from the UK is expected to arrive to carry out repairs. However, they have not yet reached the site. The aircraft will remain in the airport's parking bay until the team arrives. Only then will it be moved to a hangar. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Thị trường có dấu hiệu suy thoái không? IC Markets Đăng ký Undo The rest of the Carrier Strike Group has proceeded to Singapore with 11 other F-35 jets. Airport sources had earlier said the airport will calculate a parking fee for the fighter jet and that they are yet to calculate the amount that needs to be charged. The fighter jet is parked in Bay 4, used by VIP aircraft. It is not hampering aircraft movement at the airport because the flight traffic is low. Usually, the airport operator charges a parking fee based on the aircraft's weight. But the fighter jet is lightweight and it is not a scheduled flight. So the same yardstick may not be applicable in this case.
