Museum at Lakkundi to showcase cultural heritage of Kalyani Chalukyas gains traction

Establishment of open-air museum at Lakkundi to showcase Kalyani Chalukya dynasty's artistic legacy gains traction with experts' involvement.

The proposal to establish an open-air museum at Lakkundi in Gadag, to showcase the rich artistic legacy of Kalyani Chalukya dynasty, has gained traction with the Department of Archaeology Museums and Heritage seeking the expertise of Deccan Heritage Foundation India (DHFI), in this endeavour.

The project, which got approval in the 2025–26 State Budget, will entail showcasing over 1,100 stone sculptures and antiquities collected from Lakkundi village in November 2024.

The museum, once established, will offer visitors a glimpse into the built heritage bequeathed by the Kalyani Chalukyas who ruled parts of central Karnataka and the Deccan between the 10th and the 12th centuries CE.

Lakkundi, which was earlier known as Lokki Gundi, was the site of a mint during the Kalyani Chalukya period. But in the present times, Lakkundi is known for its many temples, stepwells etc., that reflect the mature phase of the architectural style of that dynasty.

A. Devaraju, Commissioner, Department of Archaeology, Museums and Heritage, said that a drive was launched to collect the artefacts from the local villagers in Lakkundi during November 2024.

 ‘’The initiative was supported by Minister for Tourism H.K. Patil, who personally interacted with villagers, underlining the importance of Lakkundi’s heritage and the imperatives of preserving them following which the local people willingly agreed to relinquish their ownership and contributed the artefacts to the authorities’’, he added.

“The artefacts donated by the local community, have been collected and preserved on an open land and we have sought the assistance of scholars from DHFI, to not only study the antiquities but also suggest how they can be curated and thematically displayed as an outdoor gallery,” said Mr. Devaraju.