Excelsior Correspondent
KATRA, Dec 14: Vinod Kumar, Assistant Professor at the School of Architecture & Landscape Design, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU), has been awarded a research grant under the Sponsored Research & Extension Program 2025–26 of the Jammu & Kashmir Science, Technology & Innovation Council (JKST&IC), Department of Science & Technology, J&K.
The sanctioned project, “From Ruins to Reality: A Geo-Spatial and Immersive Reconstruction of Parihaspora Architectural and Cultural Legacy,” has received financial support of Rs 9 lakh.
Parihaspora—historically known as the “City of Laughs”—served as the ancient capital of Kashmir under King Lalitaditya in the 8th century AD. Renowned for its synthesis of Hindu and Buddhist traditions, the city once housed notable architectural structures such as stupas, monasteries, and royal complexes. The proposed study aims to digitally reconstruct this lost heritage using advanced technologies including Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
The project intends to recreate the historic settlement by integrating archaeological evidence, historical records, and spatial data. The researcher aims to build an immersive AR–VR environment enabling users to virtually explore Parihaspora as it may have existed centuries ago. GIS-based analysis will further illuminate aspects of its urban planning, environmental context, and cultural landscape. The initiative also envisions the creation of a comprehensive digital archive documenting artifacts, manuscripts, oral histories, and knowledge systems associated with the site.
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