The controversy over the destruction of ancient monuments around the 11th century Lingaraj Temple in Odisha’s capital Bhubaneswar amid a State-sponsored redevelopment drive, spiralled with the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) stating that irreparable damage had been done to the temple and ancient shrines around it. The INTACH’s findings come close on the heels of Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan urging the Union Culture and Tourism Minister Prahlad Singh Patel to help salvage and preserve priceless ancient architecture. The Odisha government’s Ekamra Kshetra beautification project is aimed at creating space adjoining the Lingaraj Temple to accommodate around two lakh devotees expected to visit the temple for the festival of Shivaratri in March. The space in front of the ancient temple can now barely accommodate 10,000 to 15,000 devotees.

Guidelines ignored
“We find that no standard guidelines have been followed by the project implementation authorities and excavating teams. Irreparable damage has been done to adjoining ancient shrines,” INTACH’s preliminary investigation says. t pointed out that the use of heavy equipment such as bulldozers and earthmovers in a sensitive zone, dotted with ancient temples, was against all norms.

Carvings destroyed
“This has resulted in massive damage to the invaluable decorative entities of this temple. We saw many carved stone pieces and blocks having fine stone works of the glorious Eastern Ganga era scattered all around the temple premises,” observed INTACH. According to the Trust, the Suka Sari temple precinct is one of the important locations in Ekamra Kshetra that is mentioned in various ancient treatises like Ekamra Purana and Ekamra Chandrika. “Demolition of the 700-year-old Shiva Tirtha Matha was also assessed. Except for a small 225 sq ft temple present inside the Shiva Tirtha Matha, everything has been razed and the stone blocks used to fill the plinths of the surrounding. The surviving temple is perched high on an earthen mound, and is prone to collapse. Moreover it is a clear violation of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act (AMASR Act),” it said. Pointing out violations of the AMASR Act, Mr. Pradhan had also requested Mr Prahlad to send a team for carrying out scientific cleaning of the two-acre land adjacent to the Suka Sari temple complex. Intervention by the ASI might stall the Naveen Patnaik government’s ambitious multi crore beautification programme. The State government had earlier announced a project to give a ‘facelift’ to the 11th-century Lingaraj Temple. The redevelopment is taking up over 66 acres of land surrounding the temple. The government has proposed to spend more than ₹700 crore for the temple project.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/intach-alarm-over-damage-to-odisha-heritage-amid-beautification-drive/article33731478.ece, February 1, 2021

The GPR is used to assess what lies beneath the surface before demolition or excavation is carried out at heritage zones. After raising alarm over the demolition drive by BMC-BDA around the Suka-Sari temple complex, the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), Odisha chapter, on Tuesday submitted a report to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik recommending scientific study of the entire Ekamra Kshetra area. The heritage watchdog has also called for a proper inventory of all excavated material, carved or otherwise. It has recommended 15 measures including ground penetration radar (GPR) survey and a heritage sensitive development plan for the area. The GPR examination should be undertaken before proceeding with further works on the project. An eight-member INTACH team had visited the site on Sunday and flagged violations of heritage protection laws while clearing the two acre land for the Ekamra project. The conservation body has urged the Chief Minister to direct the officials concerned for GPR examination of 100 sensitive zones (sites of archaeological and heritage importance) in the Ekamra Kshetra. These include sites near Papanasini temple, Lingaraj temple, Suka-Sari, Bhabani Shankar temples and Vaital Deula precinct. The GPR is used to assess what lies beneath the surface before demolition or excavation is carried out at heritage zones. Stating that an expert committee should review all works being undertaken under the project and recommend the future course of action, the INTACH has also sought a heritage impact assessment of the Ekamra plan - both the completed and pending works. While the State government two months back formed an eight-member expert committee to supervise the project, the panel met on Monday for the first time. INTACH also demanded that paving the cleared portions (areas from where encroachments were removed) with cement tiles should be immediately stopped as this will retard the recharging of the ground water during rains. The heritage mutts which are slated for demolition should instead be restored with proper conservation. In their report to the CM, they also demanded that 15 holy tanks in Ekamra Kshetra including the Papanasini Tank, Debapadahara Tank, Ganga Yamuna Tank and Gosagareswara Tank should be desilted and cleaned.

ASI finds Pranala of Sari Deula

The ASI archaeologists on Tuesday cleaned a portion in the north of the Sari temple that was earlier buried under the MCG Sanskrit college building and found its Pranala, a discharge outlet attached to the wall of the sanctum. The Pranala extends towards the north direction of the temple where Bindu Sagar is located. They said the north-east corner of the temple where a platform-like structure is partially exposed will be further cleaned. Superintending archaeologist Arun Malik said it is presumed that the platform is also the remains of a subsidiary shrine of the Sari Deula.

https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/2021/feb/03/intach-calls-odisha-government-for-ekamra-kshetraarea-development-plan-2258913.html, February 3, 2021

An INTACH team led by the State Convener Amiya Bhusan Tripathy, after a site visit of the Sukasari Temple and other heritage structures around the Lingaraj Temple, has expressed deep concern over the demolitions underway as part of the larger Ekamra Development Plan.The team alleged that the razing of old structures and buildings were done leading to violations of the AMASR Act 1958, 2010. The INTACH also lodged complaints with the police and Government over the demolition drive. The team in its report said that no guidelines have been followed by the project implementation authorities and excavating teams as a result of which substantial damage has been done to the Sukasari temple and the adjoining ancient shrines. The use of heavy equipment like bulldozers, excavators, JCBs, Hywa trucks etc in a sensitive zone, filled with ancient temples, was against all norms, it said.``We saw many carved stone pieces/blocks having fine stone works scattered all around the temple premises.

https://www.dailypioneer.com/2021/state-editions/intach-miffed-over-razing-drive-near-lingaraj.html, February 4, 2021

On October 18, 2018, INTACH had partnered with Sushant School of Art and Architecture, Ansal University, to sign a MoU for the “conservation and interpretation” of the tomb. Work on restoring the 200-year-old tomb of a French Major, who served in the mercenary army of Begum Samru, is likely to commence in the next one month. This comes almost three years after the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) received permission from the Gurgaon district administration for the project. On October 18, 2018, INTACH had partnered with Sushant School of Art and Architecture, Ansal University, to sign a MoU for the "conservation and interpretation” of the tomb. “We have the funds, sanction, everything is set for restoration, but we could not muster the contractor earlier. There was also a delay due to Covid and non-availability of labour. We intend to start work in the next month, after which it will take around two months to complete,” said Major Atul Dev, Convenor, Gurgaon Chapter of INTACH. Located in the middle of a park in Mohyal Colony, the tomb was erected in memory of Major Jean Entienne. He hailed from Bordeaux, France, and died at the age of 75 in 1821. He served in the army of Begum Sombre, who came to be known locally as Begum Samru – the wife of Captain Sombre from France, who began her own mercenary army after her husband’s death. Her army is believed to have camped in Gurgaon, between Badshahpur and Jharsa, during one of its assignments. In the project report prepared for the restoration by Sushant School of Art and Architecture, the structure is identified as one of “historical, architectural, educational value” as it is “the only surviving tomb out of many others which would have been there in Jharsa representing the era of early 19th Century”. Furthermore, it is “one of the very few remnants of tangible built structure” associated with Begum Samru. The project report also proposes developing the area around it – redesigning the gates of the park, erecting signage at the site to “attract and encourage visitors to understand the significance” of the tomb, and creating a “seating cluster” in the area. The report has estimated an expenditure of Rs 15 lakh, which is being provided by INTACH from INTACH funds. Once the contract is awarded, and we know what the current wage is on the ground and other details, we may be able to adjust the cost plus or minus 5-10% percent,” said Major Dev, adding that the restoration will be “supervised by an architect member of INTACH”.

https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/work-on-restoration-of-french-majors-tomb-in-gurgaon-to-begin-in-a-month-7167317/, February 5, 2021

Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan wrote to the Culture Minister on Saturday urging him to intervene in the preservation of the 'invaluable' remains discovered around Bhubaneswar's Lingaraj temple. Officials of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) have uncovered an ancient stone structure near Bhubaneswar’s Shree Lingaraj Temple, believed to go back centuries in time and of immense historical importance. The ASI was engaged in cleaning and preservation work across areas demolished by the Odisha government for a beautification project. It was near the area when it discovered the ancient ruins. "The Sari temple located close proximity towards the south-east of the exposed structure of which the former is datable to circa 13th Century CE and the latter could be contemporary or earlier to the Sari Deul," ASI Odisha head Arun Mallick said.

The structure is thought to be older than Shree Lingaraj Temple itself -- the 11th-century relic that is a storied landmark across the state and nation. Mallick said that the structure was found during ASI's "scientific cleaning" of a stretch of land near the Suka and Sari temple complex, close to the Shree Lingaraj Temple. "Features of said mouldings suggest that it seems to be part of an ancient temple of typical Kalingan style. The structure seems to be the pista of a temple." "The platform consists of paving of dressed stone blocks while the edges of said platform bears stone slabs with mouldings. The exposed platform is located at the north-west corner of the Sari temple," Mallick added.

He said that the Odisha government carried out a beautification project around the Shree Lingaraj Temple in 2019 to level the area and relieve it of congestion. "The demolition drive has damaged remains of several ancient temples in the vicinity", he noted, referring to the use of heavy machinery. After several meetings, the ASI began sorting through the rubble to look for structures carrying historical value to save "from further vandalism". The discovery carries immense archaeological, socio-cultural and religious importance, interlinked with ancient Odisha's temples. Mallick fears that some portion of the structure might have been permanently damaged due to the usage of machinery in the development project. The discovery of the temple has sparked a movement to preserve and protect the state's cultural and historic legacy.

Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who is from Odisha, wrote to Culture Minister Prahlad Singh Patel on Saturday urging him to intervene in the preservation of heritage. The minister has requested that a team of heritage experts from Delhi visit the structure to study and explore the remains.

https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/india-news-asi-unearths-ancient-odisha-structure-linked-to-oldest-temple-groups-rally-for-heritage-preservation/372784, February 3, 2021

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has unearthed significant remains of what is presumed to be a Jain temple belonging to the Hoysala period at Halebid in Hassan district. The excavation, which commenced on January 20, is taking place near Shantinatha Basadi and promises to throw up interesting antiquities from the 11th to the 14th century when the Hoysala dynasty ruled parts of Karnataka. The excavation was initiated by G. Maheshwari, Regional Director, ASI (Southern Region), and it is being conducted under the direction of Shivkant Bajpai, Superintending Archaeologist, ASI, Bengaluru Circle. Dr. Bajpai said the mound where excavation is taking place measures 30 m x 20 m. “Based on the preliminary observation of the findings made so far, we can say that it was a Jain temple,” he said. The excavations have unravelled remains of a temple and the ASI will expose the entire structure. Earlier excavations had revealed some loose structures in the area, and the ASI decided to take up further excavations in order to preserve the structure lest it is lost, as stones tend to get removed from the site for various local use, said Dr. Bajpai. Apart from exposing the remains of the temple, the ASI team has recovered a sculpture of a Jain upasaka. It is a classic Hoysala sculpture and measures around 2 ft in height, he added. The Hoysalas encouraged and patronised all sects and cults and the presence of a Jain temple close to the Hoysaleshwara temple underlines the harmony that prevailed during those times. The discovery of a new temple reinforces this view, according to Dr. Bajpai. ASI technical staff and other personnel, including A.V. Nagnoor, R.N. Kumaran, Sujana Stephen, Saranya, Basavaraj Mayachaari, and Murli Mohan are part of the team conducting the excavation. Dr. Bajpai said this was also an opportunity for students of history and archaeology to visit the place and learn how archaeological excavations are conducted and reinforce their theoretical knowledge. Students have access to some parts of the site, and some of them are already visiting the place, he added.

thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/excavation-unravels-remains-of-a-jain-temple-in-halebid/article33744568.ece, January 4, 2021

Archaeologists have discovered an ancient Vishnumurthy sculpture of 12th century AD behind the panchayat office at 80, Badagabettu near a temple in ruins on January 31. T Murugeshi, associate professor, department of ancient history and archaeology, MSRS College, Shirva who led the discovery on Wednesday said the idol was discovered in a dilapidated well near the temple filled with architectural remains and laterite bricks. The discovery team came across this beautiful mutilated sculpture of Janardhana, popularly known as Vishnumurthy in Tulunadu after removing around 18 feet of debris, Murugeshi said. This sculpture has ‘Karanda mukuta’ (headdress), ‘makara kundala’ (ear rings), armlets, anklets, ‘Kaustubhahara’ and nice eyebrows, nose and lips which make it a masterpiece of coastal Karnataka, he explained. It holds a ‘pinda’ in the front right hand.

The left hand is resting on the waist and the sculpture is seen holding a club. In the back left hand, one can see Vishnumurthy holding a conch, he said. Noting that the right hand is missing, he said efforts are on to discover this piece too.In the ruins of sanctum sanctorum, only a pair of human foot parts has remained in the middle of the peetha with the upper part missing. The sculpture stylistically belongs to the period of the 12th Century. Opening that the sculpture was a pre-Madhwa one and a best specimen of the Bhagavatha cult of coastal Karnataka, Murugeshi said reasons why the temple was razed is still mystery. The work of restoring this sculpture, a delicate process, is on, he said adding it will be kept in the archaeology museum of the college and used for academic purposes. Research papers too will be published on the finding, he said, adding work at the discovery site is still on.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mangaluru/karnataka-archaeologists-discover-vishnumurthy-sculpture-from-12th-century-ad/articleshow/80691643.cms, February 5, 2021

Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) will kick off an awareness campaign to protect and promote Ayodhya’s heritage. An exhibition will also be held on Awadhi handicraft, including sikola, mauni, paan daan, zardozi, masala jaggery and local vinegar. Trust's chairman Major General (retired) L K Gupta inaugurated the Ayodhya chapter of INTACH at the historical Charan Paduka Temple on banks of Ghaghra river and released an e-book — Jyonar — based on traditional Awadhi cuisine. The programme was inaugurated with the lighting of a lamp and welcome song by renowned folk singer Kalpana Burman, INTACH's Uttar Pradesh convenor Jayant Krishna, Ayodhya chapter advisor Ashok Kapoor and Ayodhya Municipal Commissioner and vice-chairman of Ayodhya Development Authority Vishal Singh also participated in the function. Talking to TOI, INTACH's Ayodhya chapter convener Dr Indroneel Banerjee said, “The origin, antiquity and mythological significance of Charan Paduka Temple needs to be heard as the shrine has the footprints of Lord Ram.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/intach-to-protect-and-promote-ayodhya-heritage/articleshow/81143321.cms, February 22, 2021

The month-long seventh edition of the Pondicherry Heritage Festival 2021, which was marked by a diverse set of online and offline events showcasing the city’s Franco-Tamil cultural confluence, concluded on Saturday. A high point of the valedictory programme at the French Institute of Pondicherry (IFP) was the conferment of the Guardian of Pondicherry’s Heritage award on David Annoussamy, former Madras High Court judge. The award is presented annually to a citizen or institution to honour outstanding contributions in preserving the city’s heritage. According to the citation, presented by Kakoli Banerjee from People for Pondicherry’s Heritage, the 93-year-old Mr. Annoussamy has been a champion for all civic movements and has supported preservation of the city’s heritage in all its aspects. In addition to his significant contribution in the legal arena, especially the smooth transition to the Indian system of law from the French-modelled judicial system in erstwhile Pondicherry, he continues to guide and inspire the heritage conservation cause.

Music concert
The award ceremony was preceded by a music concert by Auroville-based pianist-composer Pushkar Carlotto, who presented excerpts from compositions by Bach, Schumann and Schubert. In the process, the almost 100-year-old piano at the IFP got a new lease of life as the musician tuned it to play classical symphonies. Mr. Carolotto, who has had the privilege of studying at Arnold Schoenberg’s home in Vienna under the tutelage of Richard Hoffmann, was also instrumental in setting up music maestro A. R. Rahman’s K.M. Music Conservatory in Chennai. The PHF, a brainchild of the People for Pondicherry’s Heritage, was the result of a host of collaborators, such as the Tourism Department, IFP, Alliance Francaise, INTACH, PondyCan and local businesses.

‘Talking streets’
The PHF theme for the year was “Talking Streets of Pondicherry”, with several events designed to tap into the rich vernacular architecture of the Tamil Quarter and bring the focus to the need for preservation of this built heritage. The month-long fete hosted online conversations featuring urban planning experts on the path for Puducherry to attain the UNESCO World Heritage City status, a workshop on local food systems, an exhibition of the work of historian Jean Deloche, a Wetlands Photography contest and a Made in Pondy segment to celebrate the creativity of local craftsmen. Overwhelming response

Sunaina Mandeen, one of the co-organisers, said in spite of the festival edition held under the shadow of COVID-19, with almost all events online, the response was quite overwhelming. The festival, she said, was getting noticed nationally as well as internationally and this online platform allowed those outside to become a part of it. Satish Nallam, president of the Alliance Francaise, felicitated Mr. Annoussamy.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/puducherry/pondicherry-heritage-festival-draws-to-a-close-after-a-month/article33898537.ece, February 23, 2021

A crater of 3-km diameter in Baran district estimated by geologists to have occurred some 150 million years ago due to the impact of a meteorite will be developed as a tourist spot. The crater also has a 10th-century Shiva temple called BhandDeva in the style of the Khajuraho group of monuments which was demolished byAurangzeb. But the temples, which are under the archaeological department, have not been restored and developed. The state mines and geology department is currently preparing a strategy for developing the geological aspect of the crater,archeological site and tourism infrastructure at the Ramgarh village where the crater is located. Because of the impact of the meteorite, a lake of 1-km length and 250-meter width was formed which exists today, said a senior official of the geology department. Ajitabh Sharma, principal secretary, mines and petroleum,said, “We will coordinate with all government agencies and departments both in the Centre and the state like tourism, forestry, Geological Survey of India and others to make Ramgarh crater an international tourist destination.” Pradeep Agarwal, additional director, Department of Minesand Geology, who has been nominated as a nodal officer for developing geo-heritage sites, said after developing the Ramgarh crater the state will recommend the case to the international body International Union of Geo-Heritage (IUGH) to get it declared as an international geo-heritage site. Ramgarh crater was first discovered by the Geological Surveyof India in 1869.

Since then several geo-scientists have undertaken studies to ascertain the genesis of the crater. Agarwal said that the crater has copy-book patterns of a meteorite impact. In 2018, a team of Geo-scientists from GSI and INTACH(National Trust for Art and Culture Heritage) visited the site to collect evidence of its origin. They had said that it was likely that the crater was created by the fall of a massive meteorite. India has two more craters, one is Lonar lake in Buldhana district of Maharashtra and another in Shivpuri district of Madhya Pradesh. But Agarwal said the morphological features of Ramgarh crater is more pronounced than the Lonar lake.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/jaipur/ramgarh-crater-to-be-developed-as-tourist-hub/articleshow/81116319.cms, February 23, 2021

Heading towards the world-famous Mughal Garden Nishat, a hump-like bridge – Onte Kadal in the middle of Dal Lake, grabs the attention of every traveller. The arch-like structure is more than it looks. The bridge has succeeded in alluring local, national and international visitors who tread the path of Dal Lake. Oont Kadal is a stone masonry bridge which was built in the late 1670s during the Mughal rule. The bridge was essentially part of the erstwhile Chaudhri Soth also called Soth-i-Chodri that started at end of the Naidyar bridge in Kralyar, Rainawari and opened at Ishber Nishat and was believed that the length of the causeway was supplemented with a series of bridges, including some timber made walkways, which however could not survive the transmutations from time to time. This hump-shaped bridge had been featured in several Bollywood movies.

Before the nineties, the bridge located in the middle of picturesque Dal Lake in Srinagar was seen in movies like Aarzoo, Jab Jab Phool Khiley, Kashmir Ki Kali etc. The idea of featuring the bridge in several Bollywood movies attracted thousands of people living far away from Kashmir, to this place. Like in the past, this arch-shaped bridge still fascinates visitors who come to visit the valley, especially Mughal gardens like Nishat, Shalimar etc. This iconic 17th-century bridge, according to historical evidence, had been a point of trespassing and whose edges were covered up with poplar trees. There is evidence that from 1980 to 1960 the bridge witnessed lush green surroundings which had been a focal point of attention for international tourists. The bridge gives a unique look from the height of Zabarwan hills.

From five-star hotels – Taj’s Vivanta – or Mughal Garden Nishat, the bridge looks like a camel’s hump and the reflection of the sunset in peak summers adds to its beauty. The magnificent look of Oonte Kadal has brought several filmmakers to Kashmir and it continues to this day. In September 2018, a German-based company came forward and sought support from the Government to develop the heritage site. Meanwhile, Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), a non-profit organization with the mandate to protect and conserve natural and cultural heritage, took several steps to preserve its uniqueness and reconstructed it in its ancient style.

"In 2018 we utilized our efforts and got permission from the Government to bring the construction material to the site as the bridge comes under the Green Belt Area (GBA) where construction is strictly prohibited. However it takes us two to three months to get approval and accordingly, we started work”, Anjum Rafiq, an office-bearer of INTACH told Rising Kashmir. He said the construction work on the bridge is over now. “We used high-tech pumps to clean the water in the surroundings of the bridge, strengthened the layer below the water, replaced broken bedrocks and most importantly we rejuvenated it according to its historic style,” Rafiq added.

https://risingkashmir.com/home/news_description/372626/Oont-Kadal-Kashmirs-Mughal-era-bridge, February 24, 2021

Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) will kick off an awareness campaign to protect and promote Ayodhya’s heritage. An exhibition will also be held on Awadhi handicraft, including sikola, mauni, paan daan, zardozi, masala jaggery and local vinegar. Trust's chairman Major General (retired) L K Gupta inaugurated the Ayodhya chapter of INTACH at the historical Charan Paduka Temple on banks of Ghaghra river and released an e-book — Jyonar — based on traditional Awadhi cuisine. The programme was inaugurated with the lighting of a lamp and welcome song by renowned folk singer Kalpana Burman, INTACH's Uttar Pradesh convenor Jayant Krishna, Ayodhya chapter advisor Ashok Kapoor and Ayodhya Municipal Commissioner and vice-chairman of Ayodhya Development Authority Vishal Singh also participated in the function. Talking to TOI, INTACH's Ayodhya chapter convener Dr Indroneel Banerjee said, “The origin, antiquity and mythological significance of Charan Paduka Temple needs to be heard as the shrine has the footprints of Lord Ram."

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/varanasi/intach-to-protect-and-promote-ayodhya-heritage/articleshow/81155226.cms, February 24, 2021

Archaeological Survey of India researchers have discovered a tenth-century structure in one of three mounds identified as possible Buddhist sites on the Hazaribagh Plateau in northeastern India, according to a report in The Hindustan Times. The mounds are situated along an ancient road that connected Sarnath, a city near the confluence of the Ganges and the Varuna rivers where Gautama Buddha once taught, and Bihar, where he later attained enlightenment in the village of Bodh Gaya. Excavation of the first mound last year revealed a temple with an entry gate and stairs. In the second mound, located about 130 feet away from the first, team member Neeraj Mishra said the researchers uncovered traces of a small, three-roomed monastery. Five sculptures of the seated Gautama Buddha, and a sculpture of Tara, a female meditation deity, were found in the rooms. An inscription at the site helped researchers to date the structure to the tenth century. To read about a Buddhist monastery unearthed recently at the site of Lal Pahari, go to "Around the World: India."

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/varanasi/intach-to-protect-and-promote-ayodhya-heritage/articleshow/81155226.cms, February 24, 2021

The first-ever epigraphical reference to the date of death of Vijayanagar king Krishnadevaraya has been discovered at Honnenahalli in Tumakuru district. As per the inscription, Krishnadevaraya, one of the greatest emperors of India who ruled from the South, died on October 17, 1529, Sunday, and incidentally this day was marked by a lunar eclipse. K. Munirathnam, Director, Epigraphy Branch of the Archaeological Survey of India, Mysuru, said their office received a photograph of the inscription from K.R. Narasimhan, a retired professor, who stays in Yelahanka, Bengaluru. On deciphering, it turned out to be an inscription recording the date of death of Krishnadevaraya, he added.

The inscription is engraved on a slab kept on the north side of the Gopalakrishna temple at Honnenahalli in Tumakuru district and is written in Kannada, said Prof. Narasimhan. It records the demise of Kṛishṇadēvarāya — (Vīrakṛishṇarāya mahārāyalu yī tathā tithiyalu astamayarāgalu)_ in Śaka 1451, Virōdhi, śu. 15, lunar eclipse, which corresponds to 1529 AD, October 17, Sunday, according to Prof. Munirathnam.

The inscription also registers the gift of village Honnenahalli in Tumakuru for conducting worship to the god Veeraprasanna Hanumantha of Tumakuru. The Kalahasti inscription refers to the date of Achyutaraya’s coronation as October 21, 1529 AD, according to Dr. Munirathnam and Prof. Narasimhan. Prof. Narasimhan said one of his friends M. Dhanpal, a BMTC driver and an archaeology buff, drew his attention to the inscription by sending him the photographs.

"Dhanpal has a tendency to scour the places he visits for archaeological remains and stones and shares the details with me,” said Prof. Narasimhan. “On receiving the photo and studying it, I informed Dhanpal that this inscription refers to Krishnadevaraya,” he added. Normally, the death of kings was not recorded in the inscriptions and this was one of those rare records, Prof. Narasimhan added.

http://thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/inscription-on-vijayanagar-kings-death-discovered/article33937892.ece, February 26, 2021