Anegundi (Kannada: ಆನೆಗುಂದಿ), is a village in Gangavathi taluk, Koppal district in the Indian state of Karnataka.^[1] It is part of the Hampi World Heritage Site.

Anegundi, older than Hampi, is situated on the northern bank of Tungabhadra River. Huchappayana matha temple (with black-stone pillars and dance sculptures), Pampa Sarovara, Aramane (a ruined palace), Ranganatha temple,Kamal Mahal, and Navabrindavan are the major attractions. Nimvapuram, a nearby village, has a mount of ash believed to be the cremated remains of monkey king Vaali.

Anegundi, believed to be the monkey kingdom of Kishkindha in the epic of Ramayana, is at a distance of 5 km from the historical site of Hampi. Anjanadri hill, the birth place of monkey-god Hanuman, and the mountain Rishimuka are the other places near Anegundi associated with Ramayana.

It is said to have one of the oldest plateaus on the planet, estimated to be 3,000 million years old. So, only local story-tellers refer to Anegundi as the maternal home of Bhoodevi (Mother Earth).

Neolithic history is represented in this region by Mourya Mane, a several thousand-year old ‘Stone Age Colony’. Several Neolithic dwellings still bear paintings that are clear and intact even to this day. “This is the rare human settlement where we will find traces of Microlithic, Megalithic and Neolithic age of human life at one same spot. Anegundi area is much more than the Vijayanagar empire, and as is old as the planet. Till date, this village is a living heritage site in its true sense Anegundi is best visited along with Hampi.

Tourist attraction

• Gagan Palace

• Anegundi Fort Entrance Gate

• Pampa Sarovara Laxmi Temple (Lake)

• Srikrishnadevaraya samadhi

King Srikrishnadevaraya was proficient in sixty four various vidya's (studies) and these 64 pillars are located on his samadhi.

• Seven Headed Snake

• Nava Brindavana ( Nine Brindavana)

• Anegundi North Main Entrance Gate

• Chintamani Main Entrance Gate

• Anegundi South Side Entrance Gate

• Anegundi Lord Ranganatha Temple

• Ganesh Temple

Wood work has been done on rock by handicraft

• Jain's Temple

• Shri Lord Gavi Ranganath's Temple

• Anegundi Garuda Sthambha

• Huchchaiappana Mutt

Synthetic Hand Work has been done by handicrafts on a single rock in the Huchchaiappana Mutt Nandi Pillar in Huchchaiappana Mutt. The entire Ramayana epic has been depicted with statues on the side walls

• Chintamani Lord Shiva Temple

• New (under construction) bridge of Anegundi connecting Hampi

Anegundi turning into world class tourist spot

Anegundi, part of the world heritage site, Hampi, is being developed into a world class tourism spot by engaging the localites to sensitise them to their cultural wealth and provide them a means of livelihood.

The picturesque village, located on the northern side bank of River Tungabhadra, was said to be the legendary Kishkindha, a kingdom of the monkey Prince Sugriva and the cradle place of the historic Krishnadevaraya dynasty of the glorious Vijayanagar empire and falls in the core zone of Hampi.

Realising that to appreciate and be involved in conserving ancient lineage and historic surroundings, the villagers of Anegundi must be self-sufficient with sustainable economic support, the Union government under its rural tourism scheme, formed a trust named Kishkindha to build capacity in the villagers to maintain business incubators.

The main activities taken up engaging the localites, were improving the village surroundings through landscaping, developing parks and gardens, putting up fences and constructing compound walls, laying roads within the panchayat limits, fixing street lights, managing solid waste and sewerage, procuring equipment required for water sports and adventure sports, introducing eco-friendly modes of transport for moving within the tourism zone and setting up reception centres.

To meet contemporary needs of tourists, traditional houses in the village were converted into guest houses without disturbing their ancient looks. The villagers are earning a handsome amount by renting out these houses to the tourists.

They have also set up a craft shop offering a range of items made locally using banana fibre, an Internet cafe to help visitors keep in touch with the outer world and a restaurant to treat their taste buds. Local artforms have also been revived to entertain the visitors.

Existing tanks in the village have been redesigned to store clean drinking water and proper drainage facilities developed to keep the surroundings clean and hygienic.

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Courtesy: Wikipedia