Manmatha Pushkarni now an added tourist attraction in Hampi

Ballari: Work on restoring the ancient Manmatha Honda (pushkarni) of the Vijayanagar period, adjacent to the Virupaksha temple at Hampi is almost complete.

The restored pushkarni would be an added attraction for tourists as well as pilgrims visiting this UNESCO world heritage site. ushkarnis are sacred tanks attached to temples. Most of the large temples in the world heritage site Hampi have a tank attached to it. Manmatha Honda or Manmukhatheertha, a sacred tank located on the north side of the temple of Virupaksha on the banks of river Tungabhadra is one of the most sacred monuments of Hampi.

However, in the past few years, Manmatha Honda has become dilapidated with domestic tourists and pilgrims who visit river Tungabhadra to take a holy bath, using it for dumping garbage.

Besides, owing to lack of proper security measures, the tank has turned into a den of illegal activities. Some tourists use this place to consume liquor in the night hours and thrown liquor bottles in the sacred tank.

In February, Archaeological Survey of India, Hampi circle, decided to rejuvenate the Manmatha Honda measuring 0.17 km in length at an estimated cost of '2.45 crore.

The ASI has completed the work of resetting the stone steps on all four sides.

Along with restoring the honda, the work of relaying the slabs on the pathway surrounding it, shifting the electrical poles and drinking water pipelines is also complete. Besides, the restoration of Kanakagiri gopura on the western side of the tank is over.

According to historians, the tanks in Hampi cater to the ritual and functional aspects of the temple. In many cases, the tanks are the venue for annual boat festival, where the images of the god and goddess are taken on a coracle.