The historical Saalu Mantap on the premises of the Virupaksha Temple in Hampi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, collapsed on May 21 night after heavy rains battered the region. The Virupaksha Temple is a prominent landmark in Hampi that draws thousands of visitors each year.
Officials from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the Deputy Commissioner of Vijayanagara visited the site and assured restoration efforts would commence shortly. The collapse has sparked worries about the stability of other nearby structures, many of which are reportedly in a precarious state.
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Activists and tourists are unhappy. They claim that they wrote a letter to the ASI three years ago requesting that they restore the Saalu Mantap. They now allege that it is a clear case of negligence.
Authorities, however, rejected the accusations, asserting that they had been planning the restoration efforts before the collapse of the Saalu Mantap. An official affirmed that restoration activities would commence promptly, adhering to the directives outlined by UNESCO and ASI.
“The collapse occurred adjacent to a site where ASI was actively conducting restoration work on a row of mandapas on the left side of the temple,” said Nihil Das, superintendent of ASI Hampi circle.
“I have received information that only one pavilion has collapsed, not three as initially reported. It is true that many of the pavilions are in a state of collapse. The ASI is conducting rehabilitation work step-by-step. However, we face limitations in funding and human resources, which constrains our ability to address all issues simultaneously. We are striving to preserve the monuments as they are.” He added that efforts are underway to restore the mantapas as early as possible, with plans to strengthen the 200-meter-long mantapa foundation.
Vijayanagara Smaraka Samskruthi Samrakshana Sena President Vishvanath Malagi said that while ASI has been restoring the Mantapas near the temples, it would have been wise if the officials had taken up the work of restoring those monuments that are in very bad condition.
“It is highly impossible to restore fallen monuments to their earlier stage. If this trend continues then the future generation will not be able to witness the past glory of the Vijayanagar kingdom. The department (ASI) has to seriously think about their plan of action and restore those monuments on a priority basis,” he said.
M S Divakar, Deputy Commissioner of Vijayanagara, “It’s unfortunate that due to natural disasters, Hampi monuments are getting damaged. We are making all efforts to protect the monuments as per guidelines. As per ASI officials, work has already started on the Virupaksha Temple premises. They were planning to begin the restoration of Saalu Mantap from next month but unfortunately this incident happened.”
As a UNESCO World Heritage site, Hampi’s preservation is crucial not only for its historical and cultural significance but also for the thousands of tourists who visit the site each year, contributing to the local economy.
History of Virupaksha Temple
The Virupaksha Temple is in Hampi, nestled within the Vijayanagara district of Karnataka, India. As an integral part of the Group of Monuments at Hampi, recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this temple holds profound historical and cultural significance. Dedicated to Sri Virupaksha, it was meticulously constructed by Lakkan Dandesha, a revered nayaka (chieftain) under the reign of Deva Raya II, also known as Prauda Deva Raya, of the illustrious Vijayanagara Empire.
