Bengaluru Heritage Sites
ASI
Overview
Bengaluru has two ASI-protected monuments directly within its urban core, the Old Dungeon Fort and Tipu Sultan's Palace, plus several more across Bangalore Rural, including Devanahalli Fort and prehistoric sites at Chikajala and Hejjala. Any plot within 300 metres of these centrally protected monuments falls under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act, 1958. The act creates two hard zones: a prohibited area (0-100 m) where no construction is permitted, and a regulated area (100-300 m) where construction requires ASI Director-General clearance. This layer maps every ASI-designated heritage site across the Bengaluru region.
Bengaluru heritage site restrictions that will kill your building plan
Most brokers selling plots near Bengaluru's forts, temples, and archaeological sites will not mention the ASI buffer rules, because most brokers do not know them.
The AMASR Act is absolute. Within 100 metres of any centrally protected monument, no construction of any kind is permitted. Not residential, not commercial, not a boundary wall. Beyond that, from 100 to 300 metres, every construction requires a licence from the ASI Director-General. This is the regulated area. Repair of an existing structure in the prohibited zone requires separate permission from the National Monuments Authority (NMA).
Overview
Prohibited
Distance from Monument
0-100 m
Construction Rule
No construction permitted
Authority for Permission
Not applicable, prohibited
Regulated
Distance from Monument
100-300 m
Construction Rule
Permitted only with ASI licence
Authority for Permission
ASI Director-General
Height restriction zone
Distance from Monument
Up to 500 m
Construction Rule
Height restrictions apply
Authority for Permission
BDA / local planning authority
Zone
Distance from Monument
Construction Rule
Authority for Permission
Prohibited
0-100 m
No construction permitted
Not applicable, prohibited
Regulated
100-300 m
Permitted only with ASI licence
ASI Director-General
Height restriction zone
Up to 500 m
Height restrictions apply
BDA / local planning authority
One more rule most buyers miss: any plot within 500 metres of an ASI monument in Bengaluru is subject to height restrictions under BDA's buildability parameters, even if it sits fully outside the regulated area. If a broker cannot show you the ASI monument boundary and the survey number's distance from it, stop the conversation there.
A second risk specific to Bengaluru: the city has over 6,000 illegal layouts carved from agricultural land. Revenue sites near Devanahalli Fort and the Chikajala prehistoric site are especially common because brokers market them at a discount precisely because they cannot get BDA or BMRDA approval. A B-Khata address near a protected monument almost certainly signals a layout that has bypassed both the planning authority and the ASI buffer check.
Investment corridors where heritage meets growth: Devanahalli, IVC Road and North Bengaluru
IVC Road / Devanahalli town
Key Heritage Site Nearby
Devanahalli Fort (ASI)
Distance from ASI Monument
Varies, check survey no.
Growth Driver
Airport, STRR, Aerospace SEZ
Risk Level
Low-medium (confirm buffer)
Chikkaballapur Road
Key Heritage Site Nearby
Chikajala prehistoric site (ASI)
Distance from ASI Monument
Varies, check survey no.
Growth Driver
NH-44 connectivity, airport corridor
Risk Level
Medium (revenue site risk high here)
Yelahanka-Hebbal
Key Heritage Site Nearby
Nil centrally protected in immediate zone
Distance from ASI Monument
N/A
Growth Driver
Outer Ring Road, metro, IT parks
Risk Level
Low
Central Bengaluru
Key Heritage Site Nearby
Tipu Sultan's Palace, Old Dungeon Fort
Distance from ASI Monument
Urban core, dense proximity risk
Growth Driver
Mature city zone, no growth play
Risk Level
High (buildability severely constrained)
Corridor
Key Heritage Site Nearby
Distance from ASI Monument
Growth Driver
Risk Level
IVC Road / Devanahalli town
Devanahalli Fort (ASI)
Varies, check survey no.
Airport, STRR, Aerospace SEZ
Low-medium (confirm buffer)
Chikkaballapur Road
Chikajala prehistoric site (ASI)
Varies, check survey no.
NH-44 connectivity, airport corridor
Medium (revenue site risk high here)
Yelahanka-Hebbal
Nil centrally protected in immediate zone
N/A
Outer Ring Road, metro, IT parks
Low
Central Bengaluru
Tipu Sultan's Palace, Old Dungeon Fort
Urban core, dense proximity risk
Mature city zone, no growth play
High (buildability severely constrained)
The most misread corridor is Chikkaballapur Road north of the city. Multiple revenue site layouts are sold here with no disclosure that the ASI's prehistoric site at Chikajala sits within or near their boundary. Demand in this belt is real, but every plot must be cross-checked against the ASI monument boundary before any purchase decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I build anything on a plot within 100 metres of an ASI-protected monument in Bengaluru?
No. The prohibited area extends 100 metres from the protected limit of any centrally protected monument. No construction of any kind is permitted in this zone, including boundary walls.
What rules apply in the regulated area, 100 to 300 metres from the monument?
Construction is allowed only with a licence from the ASI Director-General. No person other than an ASI archaeological officer may build in this zone without that licence in hand.
Does proximity to a heritage site affect building height even outside the regulated zone?
Yes. Any plot within 500 metres of an ASI monument in Bengaluru is subject to height restrictions under BDA's buildability rules, even if it falls outside the 300-metre regulated area.
What is a Heritage Impact Assessment and when is it required in Bengaluru?
A Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) documents how a proposed construction affects the monument's setting and character. It is mandatory for projects with a built-up area of 5,000 sq m or more within the regulated area.
How do I check whether my plot is inside the ASI buffer zone before buying?
Use 1acre.in's heritage sites layer with the survey number map overlay to confirm the plot's distance from the ASI monument boundary. Cross-verify on BDA's RMP 2031 GIS portal using the plot's coordinates.
What documents confirm a plot near Devanahalli Fort is legally buildable?
Confirm A-Khata status, DC conversion from agricultural to residential use, BDA or BMRDA layout approval, and a written confirmation that the plot is beyond 300 metres from the ASI monument boundary. All four must be present.
What happens if someone has already built in the prohibited zone?
The Central Government may order the owner to demolish the structure within a specified period. If they refuse, the government can demolish it and recover the cost from the owner.
Can existing structures inside the prohibited zone be repaired or renovated?
Repairs and renovation within the prohibited area require prior permission from the National Monuments Authority (NMA). No work, including minor renovation, should begin without that written clearance.
Disclaimer
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Data Source & Verification
Source
Official Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) documents
Official Website
asi.nic.in
Coordinate Reference System
EPSG:4326 (WGS 84)
Geometry Type
Polygon / MultiPolygon
Data Format
Vector (GeoJSON) + Raster Tiles
Last Verified
2026
Status
Active