Hampi's Sacred Heritage Under Threat from Tourism

Strategic Insights -

Tourism has transformed Hampi into a coveted destination, but a retired IAS officer and former Indian Ambassador to Unesco, Chiranjiv Singh, warns that the site's sacred nature is being compromised. Singh cited examples from European countries that have implemented measures to limit tourism and preserve their heritage sites. He emphasized the need to protect Hampi from the negative consequences of tourism. The discussion took place during an event at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (BVB) in Bengaluru, where Singh launched the book "The Empire of the God King" by Tirumala Venkata Devayara, a 20-year-old descendant of Emperor Krishnadevaraya of Vijayanagara.

Key Takeaways:

  • Chiranjiv Singh, a former Indian Ambassador to Unesco, expressed concerns about the impact of tourism on Hampi's sacred heritage.
  • Singh highlighted the need to protect Hampi from the negative consequences of tourism, citing examples from European countries that have implemented measures to limit tourism and preserve their heritage sites.
  • BVB chairman KG Raghavan warned against the interference of government bodies in history education, stating that it poses a danger to the preservation of Indian culture.
  • Author Tirumala Venkata Devayara, a 24-year-old history graduate from the University of Durham, is preparing to pursue his master's at the SOAS University of London.
  • Devayara emphasized the importance of travelogues by Portuguese and Italian travellers in gathering historical material about Hampi.
  • Devayara expressed his desire to return to India and contribute to the preservation of Indian culture.

Statistics:

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Sources:

  • "Times of India"
  • "Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (BVB)"