Share your story and shine at JK Monitor!🌟 Welcome to JK Monitor, where every story matters and every achievement is celebrated! We invite you to share the remarkable journey of your life and showcase your accomplishments to the world. Join our exclusive interviews that honor exceptional individuals just like you. KATRA: Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU) has added another milestone to its research achievements as Ar. Vinod Kumar, Assistant Professor at the School of Architecture & Landscape Design, 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, Jammu & Kashmir.
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. 9.00 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. A key objective of the project is to contribute to Jammu & Kashmir’s development through the ‘3E’ framework—Education, Environment, and Economy—while responding to the region’s ‘3T’ challenges of Terrorism, Terrain, and Tourism.
By leveraging cutting-edge visualization tools, the research is expected to open new avenues for heritage tourism, cultural education, and informed conservation strategies. The project is anticipated to deliver several impactful outcomes, including an interactive 3D reconstruction of Parihaspora, immersive virtual experiences for researchers and visitors, and enhanced geospatial insights into the region’s historical urban fabric. The digital repository developed through the research will support ongoing efforts toward cultural preservation.
Congratulating the Principal Investigator, SMVDU Vice Chancellor Prof. Pragati Kumar, Dean(R&D) Prof. A.K. Das, Head of School of Architecture & Landscape Design Ar. Abhiney Gupta, and other faculty members lauded the achievement. They noted that this pioneering initiative strengthens SMVDU’s commitment to innovation, research excellence, and heritage conservation.
The grant awarded by JKST&IC, underscores the project’s potential to make significant contributions to the understanding and preservation of cultural heritage. Principal Investigator Ar. Vinod Kumar expressed enthusiasm for commencing the work and hoped the project would help safeguard Jammu & Kashmir’s rich historical legacy for future generations.
