Makeover for Badami town as tourist hotspot

Badami town will soon go in for a complete change over, after bagging the credit of being the only tourist spot being chosen under the Union government’s ambitious Hriday project (Heritage Development and Augmentation Yojana).

The project, promoted by the Ministry for Urban Development, proposes to focus on the overall development of the historically popular tourism spots. Bagalkot district administration has conceived an action plan to convert the town into a visually spectacular treat.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Bagalkot Deputy Commissioner P A Meghannavar said that a presentation of Badami’s heritage monuments, historical background, present scenario, were presented by the Bagalkot district administration, at a meeting organised at the Vignana Bhavan in New Delhi. 

The meeting was organised by the Ministry for Urban Development to chalk out plans for the development of historical towns on January 21. An action plan seeking Rs 52.5 crore was also tabled for approval. Ministry agreed to the action plan and sanctioned Rs 22.6 crore, in first phase and has also assured of additional funds, he added. The deputy commissioner said that under the project, the road leading from Badami railway station to the Cave Temple will be widened and the town will be beautified. 

Houses located near the Agasthya Teertha temple pond and the fort will be shifted and area will be converted into Chalukya Kalagrama. Agasthya Teertha will be developed for water-sport activities and the Badami hills will be developed as a mountaineering centre. The Banashankari Temple and a garden will also be developed.

An entrance door will be installed and roads will be ashphalted. Footpaths will be constructed and cleanliness will be given top priority. Lighting arrangements will be made to beautify all monuments, along with their historical background, Meghannavar added.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, MP P C Gaddigoudar, who was instrumental in ensuring that Badami was included under Hruday project, he said: “Minister for Urban Development Venkaiah Naidu will be setting in motion the project’s objectives within a month’s time. After Badami’s inclusion, obstacles hindering its inclusion for Unesco tag for World Heritage Site will be cleared,” he expressed.