Government launch treasure hunt after a boy finds gold ornaments in a Karnataka temple

The excavation order followed a boy finding a small copper pot containing gold ornaments and handing it over to the district administration.

A shocking case made headlines when a boy recently found gold ornaments in a Karnataka temple. This followed a treasure hunt launched by the government. An excavation order has been issued after the boy found a small copper pot containing gold ornaments.

The Karnataka government launched a treasure hunt after discovering gold ornaments in a temple.

On Friday, the Karnataka government launched a treasure hunt after discovering gold ornaments during the construction of a house in the historic village of Lakkundi, known for its architectural heritage in the Gadag district. Authorities have now moved in JCBs, trucks and tractors for the excavation on the KoteVeerabhadreshwara Temple premises. The government decided to carry out a full-scale excavation of the temple premises in the village, as reported by the news agency PTI. The treasure hunt will be jointly executed by the Department of Tourism, the Department of Archaeology, Museums, and Heritage, the Lakkundi Heritage Development Authority and the District Administration.

Excavation process underway for a treasure hunt at the Karnataka temple.

Reports suggest that a 10 metres by 10 metres area has reportedly been demarcated for the process. The particular area has been notified for the excavation. An officer involved in the work said, “We have roped in 15 women and five men for this job.” The treasure hunt was launched after a boy discovered a copper pot of gold ornaments weighing 470 gms. The boy found the ornaments, which are reportedly 300 to 400 years old. The boy then handed over the ornaments to the district administration, for which he was felicitated. Officials said the region is believed to be rich in buried valuables, including gold, silver, diamonds, pearls, corals and cat’s-eye stones.

Lakkundi is home to the legacies of rulers such as the Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas, Hoysalas, Kalchuris, and the Vijayanagara kings. Additionally, the village is also associated with the famed philanthropist DanachintamaniAttimabbe. It was also once the site of ancient gold coin minting, the news agency reported, citing sources in the archaeology department. Sources involved in the work were quoted as saying, “Lakkundi has historically been a prosperous centre, and evidence suggests that immense material wealth may still be concealed underground.”