PAMPA LAKE

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Picture Courtesy: https://www.deccanchronicle.com/news/ancient-rock-paintings-discovered-near-pampa-lake-896828

Context: Karnataka State Department of Archaeology Museums and Heritage uncovered 2,500-year-old rock shelter paintings near Pampa Lake.

Ancient Rock Paintings Unearthed near Pampa Lake, Hampi

• The paintings were found near Pampa Lake, close to the road leading to Anegundi, within the Hampi World Heritage Area.
• A team from the Karnataka State Department of Archaeology Museums and Heritage has discovered during fieldwork.
• The paintings are estimated to be around 2,500 years old.
• The most prominent scene depicts a standing humped bull being attacked by a striped tiger. Both figures are painted in orange-red and measure approximately:
  • Tiger: 50 cm long and 20 cm wide
  • Bull: 40 cm long and 20 cm wide
  • Fainter images of two smaller bulls and other figures are also visible nearby.
• The strategic placement of the paintings under a natural rock shelter has protected them from harsh weather elements, contributing to their remarkable preservation.
• These paintings offer valuable insights into the artistic skills and possibly the cultural beliefs of the people who created them 2,500 years ago.
• The archaeology department plans to install a signboard near the site to provide information about the rock art for tourists, given its roadside location and potential to attract visitors.

Hampi World Heritage Sites ●Hampi, also known as the Group of Monuments at Hampi, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in east-central Karnataka. ●It predates the Vijayanagara Empire and is mentioned in Hinduism as Pampa Devi Tirtha Kshetra. ●Hampi was the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire from 1336 to 1565 and was a fortified city. ●Chronicles from Persian and European travellers, particularly the Portuguese, describe Hampi as a prosperous, wealthy, and grand city near the Tungabhadra River. ●By 1500 CE, Hampi-Vijayanagara was the world's second-largest city and India's richest. However, the Vijayanagara Empire was defeated by a coalition of Muslim sultanates, and its capital was conquered, pillaged, and destroyed by Sultanate armies in 1565. ●Hampi's ruins span over 4,100 hectares and are described by UNESCO as an "austere, grandiose site" of over 1,600 surviving remains of the last great Hindu kingdom in South India.

Pampa Lake

• Pampa Sarovara is a sacred lake in the Koppal district, near Hampi, Karnataka.
• It is one of five sacred sarovars in India, collectively known as Panch Sarovar.
• The lake is located in a valley, near the Hanuman Temple, and is surrounded by Lakshmi and Shiva temples.
• It is also mentioned in the Hindu epic, Ramayana, as the place where Shabari, a devotee of Rama, waited for Ram's arrival.

Pamba River

• The Pamba River is the longest in Kerala, after Periyar and Bharathappuzha.
• The Sabarimala Temple, dedicated to Lord Ayyappa, is located on the river's banks.
• The river originates at Pulachimalai hill in the Peerumedu plateau in the Western Ghats.
• The river flows through various districts before emptying into the Vembanad Lake.

Source:

Deccan Chronicle

Wikipedia

PRACTICE QUESTION Q. Hampi's urban planning and infrastructure were quite advanced for its time. Which features might you encounter there? 1. Canals and reservoirs for water supply and irrigation. 2. Royal enclosures with palaces, audience halls, and administrative buildings. 3. Extensive marketplaces and bazaars for trade and commerce. How many of the above statements are incorrect? A) Only one B) Only two C) All three D) None Answer: D