Protecting Hampi’s Sacred Stone and Sentient Life – Request for Permanent Policy Change at Virupaksha Temple

20 June 2026

Dr. Nandini Bhattacharya Sahu,Joint Director General, ASI Delhi. EMail: Mediacell.asi@gov.in

Shri K. Rama Krishna Reddy, Superintending Archaeologist, ASI Hampi Circle. Email: sasi@gov.in

CC: scircle.ham@gmail.com, circleham.asi@gmail.com, dg.asi@gov.in, kawb2021@gmail.com

Subject: URGENT: Protecting Hampi’s Sacred Stone and Sentient Life – Request  for Permanent Policy Change at Virupaksha Temple

Dear Sir/Madam:

We are writing to you not just as citizens, but as custodians of a shared past. As the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) works tirelessly to protect our monuments, we wish to bring your urgent attention to an ongoing anomaly that threatens both our material heritage and our collective conscience: the practice of housing captive elephants within the highly sensitive, centuries-old architectural zones of the Virupaksha Temple in Hampi.

While we acknowledge and thank the authorities for the recent medical relocation of the temple elephant, Lakshmi, this cannot be a temporary fix. It must be the catalyst for a permanent, institutional policy change. True heritage conservation does not look at monuments in isolation; it respects the integrity of the stone and the dignity of life connected to it. Keeping a heavy, sentient animal tethered inside a living UNESCO World Heritage site violates both.

We urge the ASI to enforce a strict, permanent ban on housing large animals within the monument boundaries, based on three critical grounds:

Chemical and Structural Erosion of Ancient Stone: The architectural marvels of the Vijayanagara Empire were built to withstand time, but they were never engineered to bear continuous, heavy biological loads or the severe chemical erosion caused by animal waste. The immense weight and constant movement of an elephant over centuries-old stone pavements, ornate pillars, and sub-surface foundations cause silent, irreparable structural shifting. Just as Heritage Beku has consistently fought against the use of unscientific materials like concrete in heritage zones, we must also recognize that introducing unsustainable biological pressures is equally damaging to historical stone.

The Threat of Mechanised  Intervention (The JCB Risk): Housing a massive animal in a restricted, ancient courtyard invites a terrifying logistical nightmare. Should an elephant’s health deteriorate to the point of recumbency, or worse, should it pass away within the inner precincts, human hands alone cannot move it. Heavy machinery—cranes and JCBs—would have to be brought into the highly fragile architectural core. Navigating mechanized equipment through these narrow, historic corridors poses an imminent, catastrophic risk of crushing and destroying priceless, irreplaceable carvings and structures.

The Living Spirit of Heritage (Animal Cruelty): For a state and a culture that prides itself on its deep, historical reverence for nature, forcing an elephant to live on hard, unforgiving stone pavements is a violation of our cultural ethics. Enclosed spaces, constant public exposure, and unnatural flooring lead to severe joint degeneration, footrot, and intense psychological distress for these majestic creatures. A monument cannot be considered "preserved" if it serves as a site of active trauma for a living animal. Hampi’s heritage is alive, and it must reflect empathy, not exploitation.

The Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act gives the ASI the mandate to protect these sites from preventable degradation. True preservation means stepping up to stop practices that belong in the past.

We urgently request the ASI Hampi Circle to coordinate permanently with the Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Department and the Karnataka Forest Department to ensure that no elephant is ever housed, tethered, or kept overnight inside the protected monument boundaries again. Our temple elephants deserve a natural, off-site sanctuary where they can touch the earth, not concrete or stone.

Please acknowledge receipt of this citizen grievance and inform us of the permanent, systemic steps being taken to safeguard the stone of Virupaksha and ensure the welfare of these animals.

Hampi belongs to the ages. Let us protect it with the foresight and dignity it deserves.

Sincerely,

Priya Chetty-Rajagopal 

Co Founder, Heritage Beku

Bangalore 

damaged legs and feet due to hot granite .

Lakshmi the Elephant

The Man Who Owned No Land, But Gave Us Ours: A Review of the Krumbiegel Commemoration at NGMA

The Man Who Owned No Land, But Gave Us Ours: A Review of the Krumbiegel Commemoration at NGMA

The National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) auditorium in Bengaluru did not merely reach capacity; it overflowed.

By the time the lights dimmed for the screening of Ganesh Shankar Raj’s documentary, The Maharaja’s German Gardener, the room was bursting. An additional 30 to 40 chairs lined the aisles, and every deep bay window was occupied by citizens perched to get a glimpse.

This massive turnout was the first profound realization of the evening: generations later, Bengaluru still shows up for its green heritage. Watching the livestream from afar, Gustav Hermann Krumbiegel’s great-granddaughter, Alyia Krumbiegel—who carries her ancestor’s torch with fierce devotion—shared her deep emotion:

"Tonight’s screening for my great grandfather in Bangalore has left me deeply emotional. I was quietly worried not many people would come, and to see a full room, with people gathering in every corner just to listen and remember, means more than I can ever put into words. A legacy only truly lives on when people still care enough to show up for it generations later. Tonight, Bangalore did. 🌿 Thank you."

From Kew to Karnataka: The Visionary We Took for Granted

Organized by Heritage Beku, the Friday evening of 22 May 2026 masterfully bridged the gap between historical gratitude and urgent, future-forward civic action. The documentary traceed the staggering journey of a 19-year-old German youth who traveled from the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew to Baroda, and finally to the red soil of Mysore and Bangalore.

We often view Krumbiegel through a purely botanical lens, but the film and subsequent panel discussion shattered that narrow view. GHK was an urban planner, an economist, and a humanitarian. Long before modern governance structures existed, he was installing farmers' ponds, establishing sustainable fisheries, and creating localized economic security for rural communities. He introduced agricultural diversity as a precursor to the very technological, gender, and economic diversity that defines Bengaluru as a global hub today.

Furthermore, as NGMA Director Priyanka Francis noted in her closing thanks, many in the room were astonished to learn the sheer breadth of his architectural and landscaping footprint—including his design contributions to iconic civic landmarks like the BBMP building and Jayanagar's Janatha Bazaar.

The Poignancy of an Outsider’s Devotion

Yet, for a man who orchestrated the symphonic, multi-colored canopy of our city, the true history of his final years left the auditorium in a heavy, collective silence.

Despite his deep reverence for local royalty and Indian citizens, geopolitical tides were cruel to Krumbiegel. He was interned as an "enemy alien" during both World Wars simply for his German birth. To the British, he was the Maharaja’s man; to the changing landscape of post-Independence India, he was a disposable relic of an old order.

When his formal tenure ended, this visionary was unceremoniously bundled into a small outhouse at Jayamahal Palace. Though his letters always proudly listed his address as Lalbagh—his true crowning jewel—he found himself in a brand-new country (Independent India) building itself from the bottom up, with no official place for him. He was given a heartbreaking two-day marching order to vacate and return to Germany, prompting a sorrowful final letter to his close friend, the Diwan of Mysore.

He stayed, and when he passed away at 90, he was laid to rest in a small, largely unmarked grave in the Indian Christian Cemetery on Hosur Road—just one of a hundred weathering headstones. Shortly after, his grieving wife Clara was given 2 days notice to vacate their quarters; she suffered a fatal stroke upon reaching England.

It is a profound, tragic irony: the man who designed the very identity of Bengaluru owned no land of his own within it. He was owned by no one . Not Germany which he left at 18, or Britain where he devoted 10 years at Kew (and married a British wife Clara) before coming in to Varoda and India at 28. He lived on an annual salary of just ₹600, remaining a legal outsider in every space he radically transformed.

The Panel: Turning Memory into Momentum

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Following the film, the panel discussion dynamically connected this historical debt to concrete plans for Bengaluru’s ecological survival. There was a moment of silence remembering the selfless man and brilliant visionary -with no country- who gave us our city of joy.

1. Mr. R. Girish, IAS (Secretary of Horticulture) on Policy & Green Corridors

Mr. Girish brought administrative reality to the stage, suggesting the structural implementation of dedicated green corridors to combat growing urban heat islands.

The discussion shifted to the urgent need to overhaul municipal policy. A major loophole was spotlighted: the current system allows for online tree-cutting applications, and penalties for illegal felling are often compoundable (settlable with a minor fine). The panel and audience strongly advocated for making tree-cutting penalties non-compoundable, carrying mandatory prison time. Tightening these legal screws is the only way to deter illegal felling by commercial developers.

2. Suresh Jayaram (Art Historian & Author) on Historical Truth

Suresh grounded the conversation in the artistic genius of Krumbiegel’s "serial blossom"—the intentional choreography of flowering trees so the city changes color season by season.

He also brought a moment of witty relief to the room. When an audience member joked that the spelling on "Krumbiegel Road" is notoriously botched by city municipal workers, a panelist quipped that many locals genuinely believe "Krumbiegel" is a native name from North Karnataka. The consensus? Perhaps we should leave the spelling mistakes alone and let North Karnataka proudly claim him too!

3. Ganesh Shankar Raj (Filmmaker) on Educational Connects

Ganesh emphasized that the film must not stop at cultural auditoriums. He laid out plans to take the documentary directly into schools and colleges to foster an emotional, ecological connection within the younger generation.

The audience enthusiastically backed this, calling for a major youth outreach push ahead of Krumbiegel’s birthday this December.

Reclaiming the Space: The Revival of Traffic-Free Cubbon Park

The energy in the room turned fiercely proactive when discussing Bengaluru’s immediate environmental future. The audience collectively demanded a revival of Heritage Beku’s highly successful campaign for a Traffic-Free Cubbon Park.

While the initiative previously faced pushback from the traffic department, the overwhelming consensus at NGMA was clear: it is time to push back harder. Protecting these historic green lungs from vehicle emissions is no longer an option; it is a necessity to lower the city's worsening microclimate temperatures.

The Manifesto: Giving Him Ownership

We breathe the oxygen his avenue trees multiplied. We walk beneath the explosion of canopies he imported like precious cargo from the far corners of the earth.

It is a historical injustice that G.H. Krumbiegel remains an unrecognized force. A misspelled street sign is not enough. A single statue is not enough.

Heritage Beku proposes three definitive steps to level the scales:

The Posthumous Honorary Citizenship: A formal, symbolic declaration by the State of Karnataka to claim G.H. Krumbiegel as a true son of the soil.

The Krumbiegel Memorial Bust: An artistic installation at the heart of his landscape to serve as an interactive educational space for children.

The Annual Krumbiegel Legacy Award: To honor local communities, lake-groups, and young climate warriors who preserve our urban canopy.

When he died, he had no country to call his own. It is time we change that. We have owned his work for a century; it is finally time to let him own us. Let us give him the ultimate, permanent goodbye: the status of a true, honored Bangalorean.

"In the end, we will conserve only what we love; we will love only what we understand; and we will understand only what we are taught."

— Baba Dioum

Let us teach our children who designed the Garden City, so they find the courage to save it. Bengaluru Beku—and our green heritage starts with us.

Open Letter to the Govt: Free the Commons at Cubbon

13 May 2026

Open Letter to the Govt: Free the Commons at Cubbon

The Soul of Bengaluru is Not for Sale: A Manifesto Against the Commodification of Cubbon Park

This is in response to the article in UdayVani proposing an entry fee for Cubbon Park .

As a collective of environmentalists, civic activists, and heritage custodians, we stand in resolute opposition to the proposed introduction of entrance fees at Sri Chamarajendra Park (Cubbon Park). This is not merely a debate about a nominal ticket price; it is a fundamental struggle for the identity of our city, the health of our ecosystems, and the integrity of our democracy.

For over 150 years, Cubbon Park has served as the egalitarian heart of Bengaluru. To put a price on its gates is to dismantle the very concept of "The Commons" and betray the trust of the citizens to whom this land belongs. As per earlier requests made by Heritage Beku , we need to renew our efforts now to definitively declare Cubbon Park as a Biodiversity Heritage Site .

1. A Park is Not a Museum: The Crisis of the Commons

There is a critical distinction that the administration seems to have overlooked: Cubbon Park is not a botanical garden; it is a People’s Park.

Unlike Lalbagh, which functions as a curated botanical repository for scientific study, Cubbon Park is a vital civic lung. As noted by Alyia Krumbiegel, great-granddaughter of the legendary G.H. Krumbiegel, a park is a living, breathing space meant for the worker seeking shade, the student seeking quiet, and the elderly seeking health.

• The Barrier of Entry: Imposing a fee transforms a Citizen into a Customer.

• The Death of Inclusivity: Where will the Aam Janta—the daily wage earners, the street vendors, and the marginalized families—go to escape the stifling heat and concrete of an exploding city?

• A Dangerous Precedent: If we allow the "pay-to-breathe" model here, we signal that nature is a luxury for the elite rather than a fundamental right.

2. Ecological Integrity vs. Administrative Inertia

The justification for entry fees—purportedly to fund security and maintenance—is a factual fallacy. The issues plaguing the park are not a result of a lack of revenue potential, but a failure of governance and resource allocation.

• Forgotten Promises: On October 27, 2025, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar categorically promised the public that no entry fee would be charged. He acknowledged that the park’s budget (currently ₹8 crore) needs enhancement and promised a grant of ₹5 crore.

• The Staffing Paradox: It is unsustainable to claim a security crisis when the existing park staff are diverted for census duties, leaving the "green jewel" both unmanned and unguarded.

• Sustainability over Commercialization: We do not need ticket booths; we need:

  • A comprehensive water table study to preserve the park's longevity.

  • The designation of the park as a Biodiversity Site.

  • Strict enforcement of the traffic ban to reduce pollution and vibration damage to heritage structures.

"The true success of a public garden is not how controlled it becomes, but how deeply it is loved, respected and shared by ordinary people." — Alyia Krumbiegel

3. Democracy and the Right to the City

Public spaces are the bedrock of a functioning democracy. They are the only places where people from all walks of life intersect without the mediation of commerce.

By gating Cubbon Park, the government is effectively "punishing the many for the behaviour of a few." Security concerns and public behavior issues should be addressed through better management, CCTV infrastructure, and respectful enforcement, not by financial exclusion.

4. Our Demand: A Call for Accountability

We call upon the Department of Horticulture and the Government of Karnataka to honour the Deputy CM's public commitment. We suggest :

1. Zero Entry Fees: Maintain the park as a free, open-access public space in perpetuity.

2. Budgetary Transparency: Utilize the promised ₹5 crore grant for immediate infrastructure and staffing needs.

3. Heritage Protection: Cease all commercial expansion and prioritize the restoration of the Bandstand and existing historical precincts.

4. Community Governance: Establish a management committee that includes civic groups (like Heritage Beku and CPWA) to ensure the park is managed for people, not for profit.

Cubbon Park is our shared heritage. It was never intended to intimidate or separate; it was built to connect. We will not allow the gates of our 'Garden City' to be locked against its own people.

Signed, 

The Guardians of the Commons

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Additional Note:

The Green Commons: Why Cubbon Park Must Remain Free to All

As an alliance of environmentalists, heritage custodians, and civic advocates, we are profoundly concerned by recent proposals to introduce entrance fees at Sri Chamarajendra Park (Cubbon Park). This proposal is not merely a budgetary adjustment; it is a direct assault on the democratic fabric of Bengaluru and the fundamental right of every citizen to access nature.

Below is our detailed analysis of the implications this move holds for our ecosystems, our heritage, and our civic identity.

I. Voices of the People: The Promise of Accessibility

Leaders and descendants of the park's own legacy have been clear: Cubbon Park is a public trust, not a commercial asset.

Deputy CM DK Shivakumar (Oct 2025): "Cubbon Park is open to the public. Anyone can visit... There is no proposal to collect an entry fee... This is a People’s Park." Source: Bangalore Mirror/Udayavani

Alyia Krumbiegel (G/granddaughter of GH Krumbiegel): "A botanical garden exists for study... but a public park is something far more democratic. A park belongs to the people. It is where children run freely... Bengaluru earned the name 'Garden City' because green spaces were woven into everyday life, not locked away from it."

Priya Chetty-Rajagopal (Heritage Beku): "Where will poor people go? This is so undemocratic... I disagree with any proposal to charge fees, because it is the only people’s park."

II. Global & National Standards: Great Cities Don't Charge for Breath

The world's greatest urban centers treat their central parks as "The Commons"—spaces that are essential for public health and are funded through taxes, not tickets. To charge for Cubbon Park would place Bengaluru outside the league of globally respected, livable cities.

Park Name	Location	Status	Heritage/Size
Lodi Gardens	Delhi, India	Free	Historic 15th-century tombs & park
The Maidan	Kolkata, India	Free	400-acre "Lungs of Kolkata"
Central Park	New York, USA	Free	843-acre global icon
Hyde Park	London, UK	Free	Royal park open to all since 1637
Tiergarten	Berlin, Germany	Free	Historic hunting ground turned public park

III. The Philosophers of the Commons

Global conservationists and urban planners have long argued that free access to nature is a prerequisite for a healthy society.

• Frederick Law Olmsted (Designer of Central Park): He believed that the beauty of a park should be "the beauty of the fields... of the green pastures" and that it must provide a "sense of enlarged freedom" to those escaping the "cramped, confined, and controlling circumstances of the streets." Charging a fee reimposes those "controlling circumstances" at the very gate of relief.

• Jane Jacobs (Urban Visionary): In The Death and Life of Great American Cities, Jacobs argued that public parks are "brilliant manifestations of democracy" only because they are owned and usable by anyone. Ticketing creates a "resource-sucking dead zone" by filtering out the very diversity that makes a park safe and vibrant.

• John Muir (Conservationist): "Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where Nature may heal and cheer and give strength to body and soul alike."

IV. Implications on Ecosystems and Democracy

1. The Erosion of the Commons

When a public space is ticketed, the visitor is no longer a Citizen with a right; they become a Customer with an expectation. This shifts the management's focus from ecological preservation to "customer satisfaction," often leading to unnecessary "beautification" projects (paving, kiosks, lighting) that harm biodiversity.

2. Ecological Exclusion

Cubbon Park is a critical Micro-Climate Regulator. If the socio-economically disadvantaged are priced out, they are disproportionately affected by the "Urban Heat Island" effect. Democracy dictates that the cooling effects of 300 acres of canopy should not be a "premium service."

3. Administrative Failure vs. Civic Punishment

The argument for fees to fund "security and CCTV" is a redirection of responsibility.

• The Budget Exists: The DCM promised an additional ₹5 crore grant.

• Staffing Shortfall: It is a governance failure to send park staff on census duty and then ask citizens to pay for the resulting lack of security.

Conclusion

Cubbon Park is the soul of Bengaluru. To gate it is to tell the worker, the student, and the ordinary family that they are no longer welcome in the heart of their own city. We demand that the government honor its October 2025 commitment: Keep the gates open, keep the air free, and keep the democracy of our "Garden City" intact.

References:

• Udayavani News: Cubbon Park Entry Fee Proposal

• Central Park Conservancy: The Purpose of the Park

• Heritage Beku: Statements on Public Commons preservation.