Unesco inspection of Ramappa temple in September

HYDERABAD: The Ramappa temple, in Warangal, which is in contention for the World Heritage Site tag in 2020, will be inspected by a team from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in September.
B Venkatesham, principal secretary, tourism and culture, said, “The exact itinerary for the (UNESCO) team’s visit is yet to be confirmed. They will come in September and we are making arrangements for them.”

Stating that the tag for the heritage site was long overdue and it is the first monument from the state to have reached this stage of the process, he said, “There is a fair chance of the site getting a UNESCO inscription. There are no encroachments near the site and this makes it a contender.” He said minor repairs were on and the surrounding areas were being cleaned up.
Sources from the department and outside, however, said that the heritage structure lacked facilities such as adequate parking and lodging. Responding to this, the principal secretary said amenities can be developed even after the temple bagged the World Heritage Site tag, and that the team will be focusing primarily on the monument and its value.
Incidentally, Ramappa temple has been chosen ahead of the Golconda fort and Qutub Shahi tombs for the tag.
Officials from Archaeological Survey of India are charting out the itinerary for the team and will work with tourism and culture department officials in hosting them. Once a tentative plan is confirmed, it will be sent to Delhi for approval, which will lead the way for the team’s arrival.