Lakkundi unites to unearth its 10th century treasures

Lakkundi, also called ‘Lokki Gundi’ in some inscriptions, a village in Gadag district which was a town of economic importance in the 10th century for its minting operations, is now making a resurgence for its historical relevance.  

A colourful cultural procession comprising folk artistes from different parts set the tone for the three-day Lakkundi Utsav at Lakkundi in Gadag district.
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SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

For the first time, the Karnataka State Tourism Department, along with the district administration and Archaeology Department, recently took up a three-day exploration to conserve and protect historically important material available in Lakkundi. The ambience of the village was celebratory, with the entire village contributing to the Department’s move. With Mangalavaadya and Dollu Kunita on the streets, residents dressed in their best attire, houses and streets decorated, the entire village came together to celebrate the move by the Tourism Department. 

The initiative comes right after the department, in September, proposed five destinations – Lakkundi, Anjanadri (in Koppal district), Saundatti Yellamma Gudda (in Belagavi district), Aihole (in Bagalkot district), and Roerich and Devika Rani Estate (in Bengaluru) – to be developed under the Central Government’s Special Assistance Scheme for development of iconic tourist centres at a total cost of ₹447 crore. Four of these five projects are in north Karnataka.   

As part of efforts to develop the historical Lakkundi village in North Karnataka into a world heritage centre, Minister of Tourism H.K. Patil and the state government officials took up a door-to-door visit in this village to collect ancient articles from people in and around Lukkundi village in Gadag district.
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KIRAN BAKLE

Aspiring for UNESCO tag

The initiative was started toward the end of November, by the Karnataka State Tourism Department Corporation (KSTDC), along with the Archaeology Museums and Heritage Department. The initiative was taken to restore the historical significance of Lakkundi and nominate it for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list.

With Mangalavaadya and Dollu Kunita on the streets, residents dressed in their best attire, houses and streets decorated, the entire village came together to celebrate the move by the Tourism Department. 
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KIRAN BAKLE

The department, experts and some residents say that the rich archaeological treasures of Lakkundi have been neglected for years, with many being repurposed for daily use by villagers due to indifference by the authorities concerned. 

To address this, Karnataka’s Tourism Minister H.K. Patil issued a letter to residents of the village, highlighting Lakkundi’s archaeological heritage, and embarked on a door-to-door visit on November 24, along with MLA C.C. Patil and officials concerned to convince the residents to donate historical articles for conservation. The people of Lakkundi were found giving away statues, ancient relics, pillars and stones joyfully to the palanquins brought to their doorstep by the Department.  

One of the relics discovered from Lakkundi.
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KIRAN BAKLE

According to the Tourism Department, a total of 1,050 historical relics and 13 inscriptions were identified in the three days of the exploration. The Minister and others from the department went around the village collecting historical relics from several households and concluded the event with a procession of the relics on palanquins and tractors.  

Patil told The Hindu that the initiative was started to throw light on the rich culture and history of Karnataka, and not just Lakkundi.

“We have collected a few artefacts that are from many centuries ago. They have been recognised by experts from the department. We will begin excavation to recover and restore the remaining relics soon. People of Lakkundi have come forward to donate without any hesitation or expectations. We plan to recognise each of the residents who have contributed to the initiative, and the top three contributors under different categories will be awarded,” he said. 

Among the many discoveries, the most notable one was a weapon from the Stone Age.
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KIRAN BAKLE

Many rare finds

Tour guide Abdul Razak Dastagirsab Kattimani, 73, explained that Lakkundi’s expanse has significantly diminished over time, now covering only about 2.5 to 3 kilometers. He noted that the inscriptions in the area could date back to the 10th and 11th centuries. Among the many discoveries, the most notable one was a weapon from the Stone Age, said Dr. Devarakonda Reddy, president of Karnataka Itihasa Academy. Several coins from the 10th century, including coins from the rulers of the village over time like the Badami Chalukya, Kalyana Chalukya, Hoysalas, Kalachuri, and Vijayanagara empires, were also donated by the residents to the department.  

The relics discovered from Lakkundi.
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KIRAN BAKLE

Lakkundi is believed to have once boasted 101 temples and as many wells, with many still buried underground. So far, around 50 to 60 ancient temples and wells have been uncovered, while others remain on privately-owned land. The Archaeological Department urged residents to offer their properties for excavation and preservation. In a remarkable gesture, residents of Lakkundi contributed land, including their homes, to the department. 

Families who lived in that area donated their land to the government.
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KIRAN BAKLE

Lands donated

Two brothers, Veerayya and Mariswamy, whose families have lived in the area for more than four generations, donated 17 guntas of land to the government, which will be taken for excavation soon. The family of brothers has been living in Kalmatha — an ancient mutt that has more than three inscriptions on its stones. Kalmatha and the land surrounding it were voluntarily handed over to the government by the brothers. 

However, speaking to The Hindu, Veerayya who was born on the premises of the mutt, and performs pooja at the mutt every day, said that they are still unsure of what the compensation for their donation will be. “My youngest daughter who is pregnant with her second child lives with us, as her husband works in the army. We have asked permission from the department for us to stay in the mutt until she delivers. However, after that, we may have to move elsewhere. We may have to put up a tin sheet house temporarily in the remaining land,” said Veerayya.  

“I will continue to come and perform pooja here every day. We are happy to let go of our land for the exploration, but we are not sure what the compensation will be. We are hoping they will give us a site or build us a home,” he added. 

On asked what compensation will be given to the donors, Patil said that it has not been decided yet. “We may have to give them a site or pay them a nominal amount. It is yet to be decided. We will take a call based on the financial stabilities of the families,” he explained. Along with Veerayya, five more families have also agreed to donate their properties.  

The collected antiquities will be preserved and studied at a new museum dedicated to Lakkundi’s history.
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Yemen S

Excavation plans and museum 

During the event, archaeological experts said that excavation work is set to commence in December, targeting both surface and subterranean artefacts. “Initial surveys have already revealed the remnants of several buried temples, hinting at the potential discovery of numerous others hidden beneath the earth,” said an official. As Lakkundi is known for its historic coin mint, experts speculate that continued excavations might uncover the moulds once used to mint these coins, offering deeper insights into the region’s rich history. 

The relics from Lakkundi.
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KIRAN BAKLE

The collected antiquities will be preserved and studied at a new museum dedicated to Lakkundi’s history. Patil said, “The relics would be stored in a safe space for now and soon be shifted to a museum or an open museum. There is a plan to create a large museum to preserve and protect all these articles and to create a record for the World Book of Records.” However, the funds for the project are yet to be finalised. “The funds required to develop Lakkundi as a major tourism hub will be announced in next year’s budget,” the Minister said.