Excavation work began on Friday at the Kote Veerabhadreshwar temple premises in Lakkundi village of Gadag district. | Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Excavation has finally started at the Kote Veerabhadreshwar temple premises in Lakkundi village of Gadag district and the same was inaugurated by Deputy Commissioner CN Sridhar on Friday. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah performed the bhoomi puja for the work on 3 June 2025.
The delay in the start of excavation is attributed to advice from archaeologists not to start work during the rainy season. Now that the conditions were favorable, the excavation was started under the guidance of former Superintending Archaeologist, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) TM Keshav.
A total of 30 laborers including 20 women were deployed for the excavation work and the ASI officials briefed the laborers about the things to be kept in mind while digging the soil. They have been asked to immediately report it to officials if they come across any object in the ground.
On the first day, excavation took place from 11:00 AM to 5:30 PM in a 10×10 foot radius area. Workers excavated 1 foot of soil and encountered no object. Authorities expect they may encounter objects 7 to 8 feet deep.
The excavation is being jointly carried out by the Archaeological Survey of India, the Gadag District Administration and the Lakkundi Heritage Area Development Authority.
Chance
Speaking to presspersons, Deputy Commissioner CN Sridhar said that it was just a coincidence that the excavations started just after the incident of finding treasure in a jar at Lakkundi. “The excavation is being carried out according to a pre-determined project. Archaeologists have suggested that there is probably a temple structure underneath. We don’t know what is underneath. Only an excavation can reveal that,” he said.
The deputy commissioner said any decision to relocate families in the village would be based on the outcome of the excavations and the remains of relics found during the excavations. The excavations took place with the full cooperation of the residents, he said.
Gadag District Superintendent of Police Rohan Jagadish, Authority Commissioner Sharanu Gogeri, Authority Member Siddu Patil, Deputy Director Tourism Kotresh Vibhuti and others were present.
Published – 16 Jan 2026 21:02 IST
