Vijayanagara is in a festive mood. The newly formed district in Karnataka named after the legendary Vijayanagara empire will be officially unveiled today by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai.
Vijayanagara, the 31st district of Karnataka spanning 5,644 sq km comprises six taluks - Hospet, Harappanahalli, Hoovinahadagali, Hagari Bommanahalli, Kotturu and Kudligi. Hospet will be the headquarters of the new district carved out of Ballari district.
Hampi, a UNESCO world heritage site which was the capital of the erstwhile Vijayanagara empire in the 14th century, will form part of the Vijayanagara district. Hampi boasts "forts, riverside features, royal and sacred complexes, temples, shrines, pillared halls, mandapas, memorial structures, water structures and others". Tungabhadra reservoir will also be part of the new district.
The Karnataka government plans to undertake developmental activities of over Rs 400 crore in Vijayanagara district. Bommai will announce the package at a public event to be held at Hospet this evening. The government has organised a two-day fete, featuring ‘Vijayanagara Vaibhava’, a cultural procession and various cultural programmes to mark the occasion.
The cabinet gave its nod for the formation of the new district on November 18, 2020. It was Anand Prithviraj Singh, who is currently the minister for tourism, ecology and environment in the state, who spearheaded the campaign for the formation of the new district.