Jammu Dec 14: In a development reflecting increased government backed academic intervention in heritage preservation, a faculty member of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University has secured official funding approval from the Jammu and Kashmir Science Technology and Innovation Council after due administrative scrutiny, officials said on Sunday.
Ar Vinod Kumar, Assistant Professor at the School of Architecture and Landscape Design, SMVDU, has been granted rupees nine lakh under the Sponsored Research and Extension Programme for the year 2025–26. The sanction has been issued by JKST and IC, operating under the Department of Science and Technology of the Union Territory administration, following evaluation of the proposal as per prescribed norms and funding protocols.
Official records indicate that the approved project titled From Ruins to Reality A Geo Spatial and Immersive Reconstruction of Parihaspora Architectural and Cultural Legacy aims to digitally recreate the ancient city of Parihaspora, which served as the capital of Kashmir during the reign of King Lalitaditya in the eighth century. The site is historically associated with the coexistence of Hindu and Buddhist traditions and once housed stupas, monasteries and royal structures.
Authorities said the study will integrate verified archaeological findings, historical references and spatial datasets to reconstruct the settlement using augmented reality, virtual reality and geographic information systems. The project will facilitate a virtual walk through of the ancient city while GIS based analysis will be used to examine urban planning, environmental settings and cultural patterns of the region.
The sanctioned proposal also provides for the creation of a digital archive documenting artifacts, manuscripts and oral histories linked to Parihaspora. Officials stated that such documentation would strengthen evidence based conservation efforts and academic research.
University authorities including Vice Chancellor Prof Pragati Kumar, Dean Research and Development Prof A K Das and Head of the School Ar Abhiney Gupta acknowledged the grant approval and described the project as aligned with public policy goals focusing on education, environmental awareness and economic development while addressing regional challenges related to terrain, tourism and security.
Principal Investigator Ar Vinod Kumar said the research would be executed strictly in accordance with the sanctioned guidelines and expressed confidence that the project would aid preservation of Jammu and Kashmir’s historical heritage through digital means.
