AP Government Preparing Dossier for Lepakshi as World Heritage Site

Tourism minister Kandula Durgesh has directed the Tourism department to speed up preparation of the dossier. Further, he asked the department to prepare documentation so that Gandikota could be put on the tentative list of UNESCO’s World Heritage sites.

The upcoming nominations for the World Heritage sites 2026–27 and 2028–29 will be taken by UNESCO based on submissions by the Archaeological Survey of India. The ASI wing in New Delhi has sought timely submission of proposals with proper documentation to put before the relevant committee.

Deccan Chronicle highlighted the pathetic condition of Lepakshi with a series of articles on the five centuries’ old historic site with exclusive structures and sculptures, which got Lepakshi placement in the tentative list of UNESCO five years ago.

Even as the Telangana government succeeded in getting the Warangal Temple in the final list of the World Heritage site, AP government has failed in submitting proper documentation as per the norms of the UNESCO.

Historian Jasti Veeranjaneyulu said the Tourism minister should immediately form a committee to prepare the final dossier for Lepakshi to get in the final list by the next year. He also sought a proposal for Gandikota, the Grand Canyon of south India, to be placed in the tentative list during the upcoming meetings of the UNESCO.

If the Tourism department fails to submit its reports in time, there will be no chance of Gandikota finding a place in the tentative list of UNESCO.

Lepakshi activist Ramprasad has asked area MLA Nandamuri Balakrishna to intervene and get the process completed with the stipulated time for the Lepakshi and Gandikota sites.