Basava statue will stand 156ft tall in Chitradurga

HUBLI: Inspired by the statue of Jesus at Rio de Janeiro, the Sri Murugharajendra (Murughamutt) Bruhan Mutt, Chidradurga, will put up a 156ft Basavanna statue in Chitradurga, 215km from Hubli.
The statue of social reformer Basaveshwara will stand on a 100ft pedestal - which will make the structure 256ft tall.
Shivamurthy Murugha Sharanaru told TOI they had hit upon the idea of installing the statue of Basavanna while attending the World Social Conference held in Brazil a few years ago.The visit had given them an opportunity to see the famed Rio statue.
We decided on Basavanna, who has brought in a revolutionary change in society through his works and vachanas, he said. "We estimate this project to cost around Rs 50 to Rs 75 crore. About 120 tonnes of bronze, 600 tonnes of iron, 6,000 cubic metre of concrete will be used to make the statue, which will be installed on 6,500 sqft of land. We've identified about 100 acres of land right behind Murughamutt, and this whole area will be developed into a tourist spot," he added.
"Those who come here to see the statue will also get complete information about Basavanna's life, right from his childhood, which will be showcased in the museum. There will be a picturesque landscape and garden, auditorium, guesthouse, cable car and other facilities to make it a popular tourist place. This project is estimated to cost around Rs 50-75 crore now.
A team of 20-30 artists and sculptors from Madhya Pradesh will take up work on the statue. In the next three years, this will become a reality. "We want to popularize Basaveshwara's works through this project," he added.