GHF and Jindal Group to rebuild Hampi

Bangalore, Dec 24: The dilapidated Chandramouleeshwar temple of the 15th century at the world heritage site of Hampi, once the capital city of Vijayanagar Kingdom, will be rebuilt to its original glory, thanks to a private-public partnership programme.

The Hampi Foundation, a cultural arm of JSW Steels Limited of the Jindal Group, signed a memorandum of understanding last night with the Karnataka government to renovate and conserve the ancient temple by spending over Rs 2.21 crore in collaboration with the Hampi Foundation, Global Heritage Fund and the State`s Department Of Archaeology and Museums.

Speaking on the occasion, Hampi Foundation Chairperson Sangeeta Jindal said that with the active cooperation of the World Heritage Fund from San Francisco, the world monument fund from Washington and the Karnataka government, the temple would be restored to its origimal glory using scientific conservation methods.

She said a master plan had been prepared to restore the temple under the able guidance of experts in the field of conservation of monuments and with technical guidance from officers of the Department of Archaeology and Museums. While restoring the temple, the standards and guidelines set by the Unesco would be followed strictly. The foundation also proposed to restore another temple at the Hampi ruins, the Sri Krishna Temple, she added.

Jindal said the temple, located on Rushimukha Island in river Tungabhadra, was constructed by the Vijayanagar kings whose empire stretched to the whole of South India. The temple had been well documented for undertaking conservation work by Abha Lambha, a reputed conservation architect.

Chief Minister N Dharam Singh, who was also present, said Karnataka pioneered private-public partnership to secure and conserve protected monuments for the benefit of posterity. He appreciated the initiative taken by the Jindal Group.

Deputy Chief Minister M P Prakash, who also spoke, said the Jindal Group had set an example by joining hands with the government to conserve the monument and called upon the it and BT Companies in the state to emulate the laudable work of Jindal Group.

Please direct media inquiries to:
GHF Press press@globalheritagefund.org or (650) 325 7520

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