District Collector Kavitha S. Mannikere announced that the UNESCO team has expressed satisfaction with the management of Hampi monuments and will submit its report within six weeks. Speaking to reporters in Hosapete (Vijayanagara) after the experts departed for Bengaluru on Tuesday evening, she stated that the four-day visit has concluded and the report is expected shortly.
The delegation, led by Prof. George Abung, a representative of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, and Prof. Ishida Shimoda, an expert from the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), conducted a detailed inspection of key monuments and sites in the Hampi, Anjanadri, and Anegundi regions. While the team praised the current maintenance of temples and monuments, they noted the administrative challenges arising from the area falling under multiple departments. They emphasized the need for sustainable development that involves local communities and requires coordination among various agencies.
Mannikere added that the Koppar and Vijayanagara district administrations, along with other departments, have recorded all the experts’ suggestions and will adhere to them during future development works. She highlighted that the UNESCO team was highly meticulous, often probing for specific details behind general statements and prioritizing the collection of comprehensive information. The team also adopted a constructive stance regarding the Hampi Master Plan, advocating for development that includes local stakeholders.
During a meeting of tourism stakeholders at the District Collector’s office, issues affecting the livelihoods of tour guides, auto-rickshaw drivers, hotel workers, priests, farmers, and local artists were discussed. The agenda covered monument conservation rules, restrictions in the core zone, protection of local property, tourist traffic management, and local activities such as homestays. The UNESCO experts stressed that any planning must balance the preservation of historical significance with the sustenance of the local community’s life and culture.