A UNESCO expert commission seeks greater community involvement in the conservation of Hampi
Emphasizing that Hampi is a vibrant community, the expert said that local people must actively participate in nature conservation and also benefit from tourism and heritage development.
Four days after a UNESCO expert panel visited the world heritage site, Hampi, experts shared preliminary observations with senior officials of the tourism department at Vidhana Soudha on October 28.
According to officials, they have identified areas requiring continued attention, including stronger participation of local communities, strengthened institutional capacity for the management of the Hampi World Heritage Area (HWHAMA), continuity in heritage management and systematic heritage impact assessment for future development projects. A detailed report from the UNESCO expert committee is expected by mid-December.
UNESCO expert George Abungu from Kenya described Hampi as an extremely important World Heritage Site and expressed satisfaction with the physical condition of the monuments and the efforts of the authorities to preserve them.
He said: “The delegation came as friends and partners, not as investigators, to work with state and national authorities to identify strengths, challenges and a way forward.”
Prof. Emphasizing that Hampi is a vibrant community, Abungu said local people must be actively involved in conservation and also benefit from tourism and heritage development.
Meanwhile, Ichida Shimoda of Japan, another UNESCO expert, recommended strengthening HWHAMA with specialized manpower and adequate financial resources.
Development Commissioner and Additional Principal Secretary Uma Mahadevan, who was present at the meeting, said, “Hampi’s Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) must be protected without compromise. At the same time, conservation must involve the local community. Strong institutions, expert-led planning and administrative continuity are essential for sustainable heritage management.”
Published – 28 Oct 2026 23:19 IST