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Home , Balligavi, Bidar, Melukote

Newsletter of Indian Heritage Cities Network Foundation (IHCNF)

In-Heritance For the Future of Our Cities

VOL. 2 ISSUE NO.8 AUGUST 2017

From IHCNF Desk in Inside this Issue:

Greetings to all! Feature Article Pg 2

We are glad to present to you our 8th issue of As part on the ongoing collaborations with In-heritance-our monthly newsletter for the ICQHS for the Karez project, Mr Majid A short glimpse into the month of August 2017. In this issue, you will Labbaf Khaneiki, the Senior Expert from ICQHS, historically rich town of Melkote find activities IHCNF undertook this month, Iran visited Bidar, Vijayapura and Bangalore in , notified as a feature article on the historic town of Melkote from the 16th to 21st August 2017. Series of ‘heritage area’ by the and updates from our partners. meeting, workshops, stakeholder consultation Government of in 2012-13. Earlier this month on 11th of August 2017 the was held during his visit. This was Mr. Majid Department of Tourism, Government of Khaneiki’s third visit to and other project Karnataka and IHCNF signed an MOU for the partners notably DHF and IIT also Project Updates Pg 3 development of 12 heritage tourism participated in the deliberations. destinations in Karnataka. Status of ongoing Projects

and Activities IHCNF Also this month IHCNF Chairman, Dr. M Ramachandran called on the newly elected  Tourism Destination Vice President of India, Shri M Venkaiah Naidu Development, Karnataka in New Delhi and felicitated him.

 Karez Projects- Bidar and

Vijayapura

 HRIDAY Scheme

News & Information Pg 4

This month, the site inspection for the project News & Information from our ‘Integrated Development and Improvement of partners Arterial Road, Transportation Infrastructure’ was started by SMD Construction, contractors Top Cover Page Credit: Abhijit P for the project, under the ongoing

implementation of HRIDAY scheme in .

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FEATURE ARTICLE

Heritage Village: Melkote

In 2012-13, the Government of Karnataka declared 20 new towns and villages as Heritage areas in the State of Karnataka. Last month we focused on the heritage village of . Continuing with the aim to create awareness about Karnataka’s rich heritage, this month we bring to you the heritage town of Melkote.

Regarded as one of the most sacred places inscriptions written in old , Tamil and According to the Paushkara Samhita, in Karnataka, Melkote/, is a place Grantha found acres Melkote on various taught Sri Bhashyam in the temple of historical, religious, educational and materials such as pillars, beams, walla, silver precinct fostering the sprite of learning in

cultural prominence in southern India. pots, steps of Kalyanis and ponds. Melkote. In Melkote, we see scholars Located in taluk of Mandya engaging in temple duties, which is very unique district, of Karnataka, Melukote is also to this area. Melkote is the home to the oldest known as Thirunarayanapuram, named after Sanskrit institution ‘Vedvedantabodhini the popular Vaishnavite temple built in this Samskrta Mahapathasala ‘. Institutionalized by historic town. Maharaja of Krisnaraja Wodeyar in 1848, it is a prime institution in India with a Historical Background library containing the valuable Ubhya Vedanta This region can be dated back to the pre- and unparalleled collection on Sanskrit historic times, with evidence from the literature and Sastras. During the revolt of Mesolithic, Neolithic and Iron age. Of these, 1857, the institution was temporarily closed the large number of Megalithic burials in the under the suspicion that the Sanskrit scholars

region around Melkote is of enormous were helping British. However, 1887, the importance. There are many exceptional temples in this institute opened its gate all over again. The historic town of which some are: prime Sanskrit research institute Academy of Melkote has been a part of several dynasties Sanskrit research is also based in Melkote. of Karnataka such as the Gangas, the The main temple of Melkote is the Hoysalas, the and the Mysore Chelunarayana Swamy Temple. It has exquisite Wodeyars. Melkote gained prominence as a sculptures and displays excellent craftsmanship. religious center during the 12th century Yognarsimha Temple is dedicated to Lord when the famous Srivaishnava saint Sri , who is seen sitting in a yogic posture, Ramanujacharya, who in order to escape the the temple is therefore called Yognarsimha prosecution of the Chola King, fled from Temple. This temple is situated on top of the

Tamil Nadu and made Melkote his home for Yadugiri hill. over a decade. Even today, Melkote is an important pilgrimage and religious center of Dhanush Kodi is one of the most revered sites in the Srivaishnava sect. Melkote is the Dhanush Kodi. According to the There is a total of 101 ponds in Melkote legends this is the site where Lakshmana shit an arrow to release water to quench Sita’s thirst. enhancing the sites charm as a pilgrimage center. Of these ponds Pancha kalyani. is the Apart from these historic and religious most important thirtha and popular tourist structures, Melkote has been a center of learning site. and produced many literary figures like Melkote is also said to be a place of Tirumalaraya, Chikkupadhyaya, Alasingachar etc. Mantapas and is known to have 76 mantapa Narasimhachar, Srivaishnava of eg,Vedpuskarani Mantapa, Bhuvaneshwari Yathirajamatha, Ahobalamath and Parakala mantapa, Hebbagilu Mantapa etc. There are are located here. Importance of Sanskrit in Sanskrit Manuscripts at the Academy of Sanskrik Melkote can be dated back to Ramanuja. also about 210 Research

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PROJECT UPDATES

Tourism Destination Development Karez Projects: Bidar & Vijayapura The team visited Surang Baudi, which has been recently excavated. An onsite meeting with ASI Dharwad officials was also held to On August 11, 2017 the Department of Rehabilitation and Revitalization of Bidar and Vijayapura Karez discuss site issues and way forward for the Tourism, Government of Karnataka and project. IHCNF signed an MOU in the presence of Sri As part of the ongoing collaboration A stakeholder consultation was held on 19th Priyank Kharge Minister for Tourism GOK, Sri between IHCNF-DHF and ICQHS for the August 2017 at the ZP office in Vijayapura Gaurav Gupta, Principal Secretary Tourism, Dr Bidar Karez project Mr Majid Labbaf which was chaired by Shri Sivakumar K B, IAS N Manjula Director Tourism, Sri Kumar Khaneiki, Specialist from ICQHS Iran, and attended by Shri Harsh Shetty, Pushkar MD KSTDC for the development of 12 visited Bidar, Vijayapura and Bangalore Municipal Commissioner and several heritage tourism destinations in Karnataka. from 16th to 21st August 2017. On 17th other district and departmental officials from August 2017 a joint delegation from IHCNF, the city. Various aspects and issues of the DHF & ICQHS participated in a technical Vijayapura Karez were discussed. workshop held at IIT Hyderabad wherein presentations were made by experts from the Dept. of Civil Engineering, IIT

Hyderabad on the progress made and

future directions for various studies and analysis related to water resources, geotechnical and structural studies related to the Bidar Karez.

Implementation of HRIDAY Badami Under this MOU IHCNF will work in the following 12 locations in Karnataka namely As part of IHCNF’s ongoing engagement in Mysore, , Magadi, Badami as HRIDAY City Anchor, in the month Chaudayyadanapura, Badami, , of August 2017 following requisite approvals , Bijapur, , Sannati, Magadi from the nodal agency KUIDFC, the site inspection for the project ‘Integrated and Bidar. Development and Improvement of Arterial

Road, Transportation Infrastructure’ costing IHCNF, DHF and ICQHS delegates Rs 6.9 Crore was started by SMD participated in the stakeholder workshop in Construction, the contractor for the project. Bidar on the same day which was chaired by the Assit. DC Mr Shanmukha and attended by Assistant Commissioner Bidar Mr Kumar Shilvant and other departmental officials. Shri K S Raykar, ED IHCNF presented the background of the Bidar Karez project following which Sri Ganesh, Landscape Consultant presented the Proposed Master Plan and Phase 1 works

for implementation under approved Tourism funds. Mr Majid Labbaf made a presentation on ‘Karez and Tourism’ in The site inspection for construction of ‘Zero which he presented case studies of Waste Management Plant’ costing 82.5 lakh Karez/Qanats of Iran and demonstrated its was also done by SMD constructions on 17th potential for development of tourism. August 2017. Tender for Improvement of

Various issues for the implementation of historic / vernacular houses and streetscape 1stphase of project was discussed including costing 1.69 crore has been floated on 24th August 2017, the tender is expected to land ownership matters, no development

zone in masterplan, stopping ingress of be opened in September first week. The work entails preparation of Tourism sewage into karez, implementation of Zero Master Plan and also preparation of DPRs and Waste Management and Sanitation project supervision of work in the 12 destinations. An in the project area including integrating orientation workshop will be organized by Nestle grants for the project with existing IHCNF in September 2017 to familiarize Central and State schemes. IHCNF’s technical staff who will be working in these sites about the project, its objective and The IHCNF team and Mr Majid Labbaf project duties. subsequently visited Vijayapura on 18-19th August 2017. [Type here]

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IN-HERITANCE Volume 2 Issue No. 8

NEWS AND INFORMATION

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

UNESCO New Delhi The splendid architecture, beautiful torans, A special exhibition titled ‘Indian UNESCO New Delhi Cluster Office and the chattris and chautras which recalls the Independence with special reference to Indian National Commission for Cooperation contributions of the Maharanas of Mewar Mewar’ captures the essence of the region with UNESCO jointly hosted the consultation who lived here and devoted themselves for during the merging of the erstwhile princely

meeting of the National Commissions of the good and betterment of the people. states into the Union of India and the special UNESCO Delhi Cluster Office, from 28th- 30th role of the state of Mewar in forming what is The walk then continues through various August 2017, at UNESCO House, New Delhi. present day India. The consultation seeks to enhance the walk spots, including Gangaudbhav Kund – which means the origin place of holy river cooperation between the New Delhi Office and the UNESCO National Commissions in the Ganga and it is believed in Udaipur that river cluster Member States, namely, Bangladesh, Ganga originated from here, Bhaktimati Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. Meera Temple – built in 10th century has Senior officials of UNESCO National projected walls resting on high plinth and it is famous for its elevated plinth with Commissions participated in the meeting.

intricate carvings and continuous panel of Ahar Udaipur Heritage Walk, Maharana of sculptures, Ahar Jain Temple – the first Mewar Charitable Foundation in support with Teerthankara Aadinath, the 24th

Udaipur Municipal Corporation. Mahaveera and a temple of Shantinatha and it ends to traditional musical instruments

The ‘Ahar’ Udaipur Heritage Walk is the story shops where traditional tie and die of the day’s bygone but still creating an impact craftsmen inhabit and are still down the line The exhibition shows rare photographs taken on the present. ‘Ahar’ is one of the largest rural carrying the valor in its tunes of the time from the Museum Archives and one the bronze age sites of Ahar-Banas Culture of that has passed but still remains in the air highlights being Maharana Bhupal Singh of South . It was represented by various forever. Udaipur signing the ‘Instrument of stone structures, hearths, copper/bronze Accession’, merging the 1400 year old Mewar objects and evidence of smelting and then, for This Heritage Walk is an initiative to further State into the Union of India. The formal the first time, it was named ‘Ahar’ Culture. protect and promote crafts and folk art of ceremony had taken place on 18th April 1948 Ahar. in the presence of the first Hon’ble Prime

Indian Independence: With special Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru, in the Reference to Mewar Maharana of Mewar Durbar Hall, Fateh Prakash Palace, Udaipur.

Charitable Foundation: India is known for its rich heritage and artistic and ancient sites that hold a lot of character and value. The City Palace Museum, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India, has come up with a stunning way of celebrating 70 years of independent India.

A special exhibition titled ‘Indian Independence with special reference to Beginning from the Ahar Mound, it is the story Mewar’ captures the essence of the region of the great culture that was found to be in the oldest layer of the excavation, dating back to the bronze age of The Indus Civilization.

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The exhibition was displayed at Shiv Prasanna Then comes the Royal Cenotaphs (Mahasatya Amar Vilas, popularly known as Baadi Mahal Ji), one of the largest cenotaph complexes (Garden palace) situated on the fourth floor among the other Medieval Rajput cenotaph of the Mardana Mahal, The City Palace covering an area of 3.02 hectare. Museum, Udaipur.

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