Site to be managed CHAPTER 2: SITE TO BE MANAGED 2.1 HAMPI WORLD HERITAGE SITE AS INSCRIBED Country and State Party: INDIA State: KARNATAKA Name of the World Heritage Property: GROUP OF MONUMENTS AT HAMPI Important Dates: First nomination by the State Party: 1982 Inscription on the World Heritage List: 1986 Inscription on the List of World Heritage in Danger: 1999 Removal from the List of World Heritage in Danger: 2006 Criteria for Inscription: Cultural Criteria I, III and IV Justification for Inclusion in the World Heritage List as a Cultural Property: “The most magnificent, extensive and varied ruins of a metropolis [Vijayanagara]. A richly constituted military, civil, religious, residential and secular remains amidst the most picturesque hills and river setting. Architecture, sculpture, painting and stucco are all integrated in the remains.” (Source: http://whc.unesco.org/p_dynamic/sites/passfile.cfm?filename=241&filetype=pdf&category=nominations, pg 8, as downloaded on 11 July 2006) Statements of Authenticity and Integrity: There are no Statements of Authenticity or Integrity available since the time of the inscription. Threats to the Property Causing its Endangering: “The inclusion of the Groups of Monuments at Hampi on the List of World Heritage in Danger was By Prof. Nalini Thakur, Dept. of Architectural Conservation, School of Planning & Architecture, New Delhi 1 Integrated Management Plan for Hampi World Heritage Site May 2007 prompted by the construction of two suspension bridges which dominate the natural environment and threaten the World Heritage Site's integrity. The construction of a road towards one of the bridges will result in a major increase in heavy goods traffic and has already resulted in the dismantling and reconstruction of an important historic monument – a mandapa (a pillared stone rest house) within the borders of the site. This dislocation signifies serious problems in the implementation of cultural heritage policies and regulations.” (Source: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/241, as downloaded on 11 July 2006) Justification for Removal of Hampi from the List of World Heritage in Danger: “Reductions in motor traffic and the decision to change the location of a planned shopping centre enabled the [World Heritage] Committee to determine that the Group of Monuments at Hampi, inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1986 and on the Danger List in 1999, was no longer under threat” (Source: http://whc.unesco.org/en/news/264 uploaded 11 July 2006, as downloaded on 11 July 2006) NOTE: Henceforth, the IMP adopts the following benchmarks for management purposes: 1. Hereafter, the inscribed site of Hampi shall be referred to as ‘Hampi World Heritage Site’ (or HWHS) in lieu of ‘Group of Monuments at Hampi.’ 2. The extents of the property as identified in Map 2 shall be considered towards the scope of the implementation of the IMP since the same was endorsed by the ASI in the August 2005 meetings and by Mr Francesco Bandarin, Director, UNESCO World Heritage Centre, in his correspondence dated 6 September 2005. 2 Prepared for Archaeological Survey of India Site to be managed 2.2 SITE IDENTIFICATION 2.2.1 Location of Hampi World Heritage Site Hampi World Heritage Site is spread over the two districts of Bellary and Koppal in the South Indian State of Karnataka.. In particular, it falls within the Hospet taluk of Bellary district and Gangawati taluk of Koppal district. Refer Map 1. Table 1: Geographical Co-ordinates for Hampi World Heritage Site (Source: http://whc.unesco.org/archive/periodicreporting/cycle01/section2/241.pdf, pg 3, as downloaded on 11 July 2006) Reference on Site Monument Latitude Longitude Centre Point Mahanavami Dibba 15º18’52” N 76º28’18” E 2nd Coordinate Virupaksha Temple 15º20’12” N 76º27’12” E 3rd Coordinate Pattabhirama Temple 15º18’30” N 76º29’15” E 2.2.2 Extents of Hampi World Heritage Site The extents of Hampi World Heritage Site/ Core Zone/ the inscribed site are presently identified as per the 1988 Gazette notification of the Government of Karnataka.1 Refer Map 2 2. The same is identified as the Core Zone under the Hampi World Heritage Area Management Authority Act, 2002 (HWHAMA Act, 2002), a Karnataka State Act especially formulated for management of this site as a heritage area under the Hampi World Heritage Area Management Authority (HWHAMA or Authority) established for these purposes. In accordance with Articles 103 and 104 of the Operational Guidelines, the HWHAMA Act, 2002 provides for a buffer to the Core Zone that is sub-classified into Buffer and Peripheral3 Zones. Refer Map 2. This Act further declares the entire area under the Core, Buffer and Peripheral zones collectively as Hampi World Heritage Area (HWHA) for conservation and management under the Authority. The present demarcation of boundaries, as per Map 2, is rationalized along individual property lines for grounding on site. However, it does not coincide with local governance and administrative jurisdictions on site, thus creating a disparity that adversely affects establishment 1 Under Subsection 3 of Section 19 of the Karnataka Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1961 (henceforth KAHMASR Act, 1961) vide notification No. ITY 137 KMU 84. 2 The present official base map is not geo-referenced and is highly inaccurate. 3 The Operational Guidelines do not recognize any nomenclature as Peripheral. By Prof. Nalini Thakur, Dept. of Architectural Conservation, School of Planning & Architecture, New Delhi 3 Integrated Management Plan for Hampi World Heritage Site May 2007 and functioning of effective management mechanisms on the ground. To overcome the above, the IMP Volume 1, submitted in August 2005, had recommended rationalization of boundaries along village administrative divisions as per planning principles.4 However, in the August 2005 meeting of the UNESCO Mission, it was decided to limit such a rationalization action to the buffer boundary only and to leave the Core Zone boundaries unchanged. Accordingly, the HWHAMA has carried out this exercise and is presently in the process of notifying the new rationalized limits for management purposes. Refer Map 3. Once notified, this Map should be submitted to WHC as soon as possible. 2.2.3 Area of Hampi World Heritage Site Table 2: Area Calculation for Hampi World Heritage Area, Map 3 (Source: Hampi World Heritage Area Management Authority Act 2002, pg 11) Core Zone/ HWHS/ Inscribed Area 41.8 sq kms Buffer Zone 53.0 sq kms Peripheral Zone 31.0 sq kms TOTAL 125.8 sq kms After the new boundaries of HWHA are notified as per Map 4, the buffer area shall increase to 194.66 sq kms and the total area of HWHA to 236.46 sq kms. (Source: Draft Master Plan for Hampi Local Planning Area, Provisional Report 2006, pg 4). 2.3 SITE DESCRIPTION The inscribed site of Hampi represents the erstwhile capital and metropolis of the Vijayanagara5 Empire (14th-16th century CE) that was known by the same name. The site, popularly known as Hampi after the highly revered Hindu Goddess Hampadevi/ Pampadevi, remains one of the most outstanding places in the world with widespread archaeological remains of the erstwhile metropolis within a spectacularly beautiful natural setting characterized by boulder landscape and the meandering river Tungabhadra. Refer plate 1. 4 Besides being appropriate for planning, this rationalization afforded a better expression and comprehension of the OUVs, Authenticity and Integrity of the inscribed property in consonance with Articles 99 and 100 of the Operational Guidelines. 4 Prepared for Archaeological Survey of India Site to be managed 2.3.1 Currently Inscribed Information The Description and Inventory Section of the inscribed information gives a building level account of the following monuments, deemed of high architectural and sculptural values, thus proclaiming them as World Heritage. These include the Pampapati Temple/ Virupaksha Temple6, Hampi Bazaar, as ‘an important thoroughfare of the ancient city of Vijayanagara’ 7, Hazara Rama Temple, Pattabhirama Temple, Vitthala Temple and the Citadel Area with fortifications and civil constructions. The Citadel area itself includes the Queen’s Bath, the King’s Palace Enclosure, the Lotus Mahal, the Mint, Dandanayakl’s Enclosure, The Zanana Enclosure, The Water Pavilion and the Elephant Stables. Refer plate 2 Refer Issue 1: ‘Anomalies in the Inscribed Information’ in Chapter 3. The focus on individual monuments as reminders of the accomplished Vijayanagara metropolis is insufficient to provide a comprehensive explanation of the OUVs, Authenticity and Integrity of the site as laid down in the Justification, and therefore, contrary to the spirit of Articles 85, 88 and 89 of the Operational Guidelines. 2.3.2 Studies by the IMP Team 8 The foremost conclusion after conducting the site studies in 2003 was that there was a need to redefine the site in accordance with Articles 85, 88 and 100 of the Operational Guidelines to be able to explain its OUVs, and attributes of Authenticity and Integrity comprehensively for management purposes. Refer IMP Volume I – Integrated Management Plan for Hampi; IMP Volume II – Laying the Foundation, for summaries of surveys and studies carried out by the Team on site; and IMP Volume III – Cultural Resource Redefinition and Its Management Implications for the details of the entire range of cultural resources on the site that have been identified by the Team. This was based on the realization that the Vijayanagara metropolis of the 16th century CE had left behind a much greater range of heritage resources, tangible and intangible, spread over a very much larger area. Collectively, these resources give a comprehensive understanding and holistic vision of the glorious Vijayanagara metropolis that was, which is the basic premise of Hampi’s inscription as a World Heritage Property. Further, it was clear that a satisfactory 5 English translation ‘City of Victory’.