New Delhi: A giant statue of Kempegowda and a sword weighing 4000 kg would be major attractions at Bengaluru airport.
The giant sword arrived in a special truck from New Delhi to Bengaluru on Monday (May 2).
Officials said C.N. Ashwath Narayan, Karnataka Minister for Higher Education, ‘welcomed’ the sword and participated in the worshipping programme.
The statue is being built at the cost of Rs 85 crore. Noted architect from Noida, Ram Wanar Sutar, is in charge of erecting the statue.
The statue is coming up in the 23-acre heritage park, which is being developed on the airport premises. It is named after the founder of Bengaluru city Kempegowda.
In February this year, Deputy CM Dr C N Ashwathnarayana, along with Swami Nirmalananda Swamiji of Adhichunchungiri mutt, visited Noida to check the statue’s progress.
In June 2020, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa laid the foundation for the project marking the 511th birth anniversary of Kempegowda.
Nadaprabhu Hiriya Kempe Gowda, also known as Kempegowda, was a chieftain under the Vijayanagara Empire.
The city of Bengaluru was said to have been fortified by Kempegowda in 1537. He erected many Kannada inscriptions in the region.
Kempegowda was one of the well-educated and successful rulers of his time.
