The area around a fort built by Bengaluru founder Kempe Gowda, located in Kunigal taluk, is to be developed into a tourist destination by a group of prominent personalities with help from the public as well as the government.
The area will be developed by Hutridurga Samrakshana Samithi, which was formed for this purpose. Dr. K. Narayana Gowda, former vice-chancellor of University of Agricultural Sciences Bengaluru, is the working president of the Samithi.
He told The Hindu that a two-day programme is being organised in Hutridurga from Sunday to mark the commencement of development works.
These works are scheduled to be executed over five years. They include building a guest house and a park. In addition, agro forestry activities would be taken up to develop a forest with different varieties of fruit-bearing trees.
Pointing out that the area already has a few varieties of medicinal plants, he said efforts would be made to tap their healing qualities to help people living in the area. This is to remind the future generation about the vision of Kempe Gowda, who laid the foundation for the fast development of Bengaluru several centuries ago by creating nearly 1,000 lakes, he said.
The Samithi would emphasise the ‘secular’ attitude of Kempe Gowda who created a conducive environment for co-existence of people of different castes as well as religions.
Historians say that Hutridurga was later taken over by Tipu Sultan, who set up a mint besides using the fort for making weapons as well as ammunition.
The British, who took over the fort in 1792, were impressed by its surroundings. This is evident from some British greeting cards having pictures of Hutridurga, say the Samithi’s office-bearers.
Former prime minister H.D. Deve Gowda and prominent seers, including Adichunchanagiri Pontiff Nirmalanandanatha Swamiji and Siddaganga Mutt Pontiff Siddalinga Swamiji, will be taking part in the launch of the development works on Sunday.