Bengaluru: Chief minister Siddaramaiah Wednesday instructed officials to fast-track the Rs 200-crore development plan for Anjanadri Hill in Koppal district, widely believed to be the birthplace of Lord Hanuman. Chairing a meeting with ministers and senior officials, Siddaramaiah confirmed that Rs 10 crore has been released for the two-phase project, which will focus on enhancing its tourism potential given its mythological and spiritual significance. “Additional funds will be provided by the finance department,” he said. The move is widely seen as Congress’ counter to BJP’s earlier efforts to brand Anjanadri Hill as the ‘Ayodhya of the South’. The previous BJP govt led by Basavaraj Bommai had allocated Rs 100 crore for the hill’s development. Siddaramaiah directed officials to create amenities to make the hilltop more accessible for devotees, especially the elderly. “Discussions were also held on constructing a circumambulatory (pradakshina) path,” he said. “During Hanuman Jayanti, lakhs of devotees, many from North India, visit. To accommodate pilgrims, dormitory facilities, steps to help senior devotees climb the hill, construction of a community hall, and other tourist amenities besides basic infrastructure in and around the kshetra need to be developed.” Mythology suggests Anjanadri Hill, named after Hanuman’s mother Anjana, is linked to the Kishkinda kingdom in Ramayana. The hilltop features a rock-carved idol of Hanuman, and shrines dedicated to Lord Ram, Goddess Sita, and Anjana. Visitors need to climb 575 steps to reach the temple, which is known for its panoramic views of the Tungabhadra River winding through rocky terrain. Siddaramaiah stressed the need to acquire 101.3 acres of private land after an earlier plan to purchase 77 acres fell through due to funding issues. He also directed the forest department to issue an NOC to begin development work, “since most of the approved work falls within forest land”. As part of the 2024-25 state budget, the govt had approved ropeway projects at 11 tourist destinations, including Anjanadri Hill, under a public-private partnership (PPP) model.
