The Hoysala temples at Belur, Halebidu and Somanathapura are India’s official nominations for inclusion as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, but some more temples from the same period may be included in the list in the future.
The Hoysala temples at Belur, Halebidu and Somanathapura are India’s official nominations for inclusion as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, but some more temples from the same period may be included in the list in the future.
The Hoysala temples at Belur, Halebidu and Somanathapura are India’s official nominations for inclusion as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, but some more temples from the same period may be included in the list in the future.
The serial nomination process provides for the expansion of sites under the same category if the new site meets UNESCO’s criteria for exhibiting Outstanding Universal Value, apart from sharing the same properties as monuments that were originally World Heritage Sites. as were included.
Both Belur and Halebidu are on the tentative list since 2014. They were named as ‘The Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysala’, which included the Keshava Temple at Somanathapura as part of the serial nomination process. Three monuments await final declaration as UNESCO sites.
If the monuments are approved for inclusion as a World Heritage Site, they will be viewed collectively as a single nomination, with the new original assets being expanded.
UNESCO defines serial nomination as any two or more unrelated sites that may have a range of cultural or natural properties in different locations, provided they are related because they belong to the same historical and cultural group.
At least 14 forts in Maharashtra were added for serial nomination as ‘Maratha Military Architecture’, and have been on the tentative list of UNESCO for over a year.
Sources in the State Department of Archeology, Museums and Heritage said a tentative list of temples with the potential for inclusion as World Heritage Sites was prepared during the preparation of the final dossier for the Hoysala monuments.
The original list, which was prepared in 2019, had 14 Hoysala monuments, of which only the Keshava temple at Somanathapura was included in the final dossier.
Other temples on the list include Panchalingeshwara Temple in Govindhal, Keshava Temple at Haranahalli, Laxminarayan Temple in Hosaholu, Ishvara Temple in Arsikere, Bucheshwara Temple in Koravangala, Nageshwar and Chennakeshava Temple in Mosale, Kalyani in Hulikere, Lakshmidevi Temple, Amruteshwarvalli Temple. and Veeranarayana Temple at Amritpura.
Architect Pankaj Modi, who was involved in the preparation of the dossier, said that he has cut the list to include only three sites, but going forward, other sites may also be included subject to sites meeting UNESCO’s criteria . He is hopeful that the Karnataka government will come forward with a plan to manage these sites.
The immediate challenge before the authorities is to prepare a master plan for the management of Somnathpura; A master plan has already been prepared for both Belur and Halebidu.
Officials said that in the case of Somnathpura, the Archaeological Survey of India had issued a notification banning all activities within 100 meters of the monument. “Only guidelines have to be prepared. They can also be the template for the preparation of the master plan,” said an official.