The priceless, though not a popularly visited site on a trip to Hampi is the Anegundi Cave
drawings. It is located at around 20 km from the Hampi bus stand by road which is
winding along the Tungabhadra river over the bridge and through verdant paddy and
sugarcane fields. The drawings have been studied and dated to 1500 BC and experts
have indicated a similarity to the Indus Valley Harappan drawings.
As old as the Egyptian paintings, it was clearly open to visits by informed travellers and
it carried an ASI Protected Monument board at the entrance, even up to three months
ago when my local conveyance guide had brought over tourists. Today, it left him and
me stumped and feeling helpless. The ASI board removed, a locked gate which had
read “Private Property” earlier was clearly masked with white paint indicating that the
person has been informed by the authorities or has realised that the place CANNOT be
private property. We spent over an hour calling out loudly, banging the door hoping to be
heard and allowed to approach the premises, to no avail. Back on the main road, we
attempted another approach as shown in Google maps, which indicated that both the
approaches were 200-250m from the point of interest. This was steeper and involved a
more dangerous climb onto larger rocks. A concerned local indicated that people from
the property would normally leave for lunch at around 1pm from the earlier entry gate and
suggested we go back and wait it out. We spent an hour, way over 1pm, hoping to spot
someone from inside and maybe get a chance to view the cave drawing.
winding along the Tungabhadra river over the bridge and through verdant paddy and
sugarcane fields. The drawings have been studied and dated to 1500 BC and experts
have indicated a similarity to the Indus Valley Harappan drawings.
As old as the Egyptian paintings, it was clearly open to visits by informed travellers and
it carried an ASI Protected Monument board at the entrance, even up to three months
ago when my local conveyance guide had brought over tourists. Today, it left him and
me stumped and feeling helpless. The ASI board removed, a locked gate which had
read “Private Property” earlier was clearly masked with white paint indicating that the
person has been informed by the authorities or has realised that the place CANNOT be
private property. We spent over an hour calling out loudly, banging the door hoping to be
heard and allowed to approach the premises, to no avail. Back on the main road, we
attempted another approach as shown in Google maps, which indicated that both the
approaches were 200-250m from the point of interest. This was steeper and involved a
more dangerous climb onto larger rocks. A concerned local indicated that people from
the property would normally leave for lunch at around 1pm from the earlier entry gate and
suggested we go back and wait it out. We spent an hour, way over 1pm, hoping to spot
someone from inside and maybe get a chance to view the cave drawing.
 |
| Anegundi cave carvings |
Why should we have waited, why should we return disappointed from an obviously public,
protected property? Where were the authorities and did they know about this development,
were angry thoughts going through our minds as my guide dug around in his mobile and
showed me pictures of the cave drawings that he took in his last visit. He was definitely a
lot more disappointed that he couldn't take me there as he was clearly in awe of those
drawings and intelligent enough to realise how much it would matter to informed visitors.
protected property? Where were the authorities and did they know about this development,
were angry thoughts going through our minds as my guide dug around in his mobile and
showed me pictures of the cave drawings that he took in his last visit. He was definitely a
lot more disappointed that he couldn't take me there as he was clearly in awe of those
 |
| Anegundi Cave carving-similar to Harappan carvings |
drawings and intelligent enough to realise how much it would matter to informed visitors.
In a spate of anger and disappointment, we informed the concerned authorities and hope
for immediate action against the perpetrator.
for immediate action against the perpetrator.
