ASI BANGALORE CIRCLE

In the year 1975, Mid-Southern circle was created as an independent circle with the intention of bringing all the centrally protected monuments of Karnataka under one circle. Earlier, these monuments were under the jurisdiction of Southern Circle, Madras Presidency and south western circle of Bombay Presidency. As many as 535 monuments from all over Karnataka came under its jurisdiction. In the year 1996, this Mid-southern Circle, for more efficient monitoring was further bifurcated into Bangalore and Dharwad Circles. Bangalore Circle was given the jurisdiction of South Karnataka (218 monuments) while Dharwad Circle that of North Karnataka (317 monuments). In September 2014, a mini circle known as Hampi was formed by bifurcating Bangalore Circle and about 85 monuments of Bangalore Circle, located in Bellary district, came under its jurisdiction. In 2021, during further delineation of the Circles, 04 Monuments of Bangalore Circle were brought under the jurisdiction of Hampi Circle. At present ASI, Bangalore Circle has under its jurisdiction 129 Monuments/ Sites located in as many as 17 districts like Bangalore Urban, Bangalore Rural, Chamarajanagar, Chikkaballapur, Chikmagalur, Chitradurga, Davanagere, Hassan, Kolar, Coorg, Mandya, Mysore, Ramanagara, Shimoga, South Kanara, Tumkur and Udupi.

ADMINISTRATIVE SET UP

The Superintending Archaeologist is the head of the Circle Office and is responsible for carrying out all archaeological activities. The Deputy Superintending Archaeologist, Assistant Superintending Archaeologist and Assistant Archaeologists assist him for carrying out all the technical and research works viz; archaeological exploration, excavation, village to village survey, documentation of antiquities etc. In the field of archaeological conservation, the Deputy Superintending Archaeological Engineer, Assistant Superintending Archaeological Engineer, Senior and Junior Conservation Assistants, assist the Superintending Archaeologist in carrying out the annual maintenance, restoration, renovation and conservation of monuments/ sites. In addition to this, fencing of boundaries and landscaping to the monuments are also carried out. The Administrative Officer and other administrative staff render their requisite assistance for general administration and maintenance of accounts.