KARNATAKA, INDIA, September 24, 2012 (the Hindu): An ancient mantapa, situated on the way to Malyavanta temple in Hampi, the erstwhile seat of the Vijayanagar empire, was vandalized late on Saturday night in what is suspected to be a bid to find treasure. The four-pillared mantapa, a brick-and-lime structure and popularly known as gaali gopura, was razed. Crow bar and wooden poles were among the material found near the site.
The Malyavanta temple and the surrounding area are under the control of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). A team of archaeologists are expected to reach Hampi to study the reason for the mantapa’s collapse, sources in the ASI told The Hindu. With the round-the-clock patrolling of the area — by teams comprising personnel from the police, ASI, State’s archaeology department and the Hampi World Heritage Area Management Authority — discontinued, the culprits found it easy to go about the “treasure hunt”, said the sources. Superintendent of Police Chandragupta, along with other officers, including those from ASI, visited the spot. He held a meeting with officials of various departments to chalk out a plan to secure monuments at Hampi.