HC Moragoda visits archeological sites and JSW steel plant in Karnataka

Sri Lankan High Commissioner in New Delhi Milinda Moragoda recently visited the archeological site of Hampi, Karnataka.

The following is the text of a statement issued by the Sri Lankan High Commission in New Delhi: Hampi lies in a remote valley in a unique landscape of boulder-strewn hills. This and the Tungabadra River which borders it helped protect the city from easy attack. The site covers over  25 sq miles and is strewn with the remains of temples complexes, palaces and other buildings dating from between the 13th – 15th centuries, the most famous of which is the Vittala Temple, a designated UNESCO heritage site. The Vijayanagar period roughly coincides with the  Kotte period in Sri Lankan history. The peak of its power was achieved under the reign of its greatest king, Krishnadevaraya (1509-1529) from the Tuluva dynasty. Moragoda also visited the temple complexes of Aihole, Badami and Pattadakal which date to the Chalukyan period (6th-8th century). Pattadakal is also a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.

During the trip, Moragoda took the opportunity to visit the Jindal Steel Works (JSW) and township located in nearby Vijayanagar. JSW is one of the largest steel plants in the world and is the flagship company of the JSW Group which has an annual turnover of USD 22 billion. The company carries out numerous programmes focused on empowering local communities in the area and has worked to support the conservation and preservation of Hampi. Their Kaladham museum gives visitors an excellent overview and understanding of the history and architecture of the medieval city through interactive 3D exhibits and photos. Hampi will be one of the venues of the G20 meetings in 2023.