Excavation begins at Lakkundi Kote Virabhadreshwar temple

Excavation has finally begun at the Kote Veerabhadreshwar Temple premises in Lakkundi village of Gadag district, with the Deputy Commissioner C.N. Sridhar initiating the same on Friday. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had performed bhoomi puja for the work on June 3, 2025.

The delay in starting the excavation is attributed to the advice given by archaeological experts against beginning the work during rainy season. Now that the conditions were congenial, the excavation had been initiated under the guidance of former Superintending Archaeologist, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) T.M. Keshav.

A total of 30 workers including 20 women have been deployed for the excavation work and the ASI officials informed on the workers on the thing to keep in mind while digging the land. They were asked to report it to the officials immediately, if they come across any article in the ground.

On the first day, the excavation was carried out from 11 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. in an area of 10×10 ft. radius. The workers dug out of 1 ft. of soil and they did not come across any article. The authorities are expect that they may come across articles at a dept of 7 to 8 ft.

The excavation is being jointly carried out Archaeological Survey of India, Gadag district administration and Lakkundi Heritage Area Development Authority.

Coincidence

Speaking to presspersons, Deputy Commissioner C.N. Sridhar said that it was just a coincidence that the excavation had begun close behind the incident of treasure being found in a tumbler in Lakkundi. “The excavation is being carried out as per a predetermined project. Archaeologists have suggested likelihood of a temple structure beneath. We don’t know what is beneath. Only excavation can reveal it,” he said.

The Deputy Commissioner said that any decision on shifting of the families in the village would be based on the outcome of the excavation and remains of relics found during excavation. The excavation was being carried out with the full cooperation of the residents, he said.

Superintendent of Police of Gadag district Rohan Jagadish, Commissioner of Authority Sharanu Gogeri, member of the authority Siddu Patil, Assistant Director of Tourism Kotresh Vibhuti and others were present.