“Inside DHF: Digital Preservation, Publications, and Recent Milestones”
In the digital age, what does it mean to document a historic site?
In collaboration with the Factum Foundation for Digital Technology in Preservation, the Deccan Heritage Foundation (DHF) carried out a comprehensive digital restoration and documentation project at the at the tomb of Ahmed I Shah Wali in Ashtur, Bidar. Famed for its extraordinary wall paintings, this 15th-century mausoleum was the first royal tomb of the Bahmanis in their newly established capital.
Banner image: Screen capture of the LiDAR data processing © Imran Khan | Factum Foundation.
Photogrammetry training inside the tomb of Ahmed I Shah Wali in Ashtur, Bidar. Photographs by Teresa Casado / Factum Foundation (left) and Sai Charan Palakurthi (right) / Deccan Heritage Foundation.
Using a combination of non-invasive techniques – LiDAR scanning, high-resolution photogrammetry, and colour panoramic photography – the team captured the architectural details, surface conditions, and spatial data with exceptional accuracy. The resulting digital archive will support future conservation, research, and interpretation efforts while ensuring long-term preservation of the monument’s material and artistic legacy.
Photogrammetry training inside the tomb of Ahmed I Shah Wali in Ashtoor, Bidar. Photograph by Sai Charan Palakurthi / Deccan Heritage Foundation.
Two students from the Deccan Studies Programme 2025 were trained on site by Factum Foundation’s experts, with mentorship and institutional support from DHF. Through this collaboration, made possible wtih the generous support of an anonymous donor, we continue to work towards an integrated model of conservation that combines technology, scholarship, and training to safeguard the cultural heritage of the Deccan for future generations.
Screen capture of the LiDAR data processing © Imran Khan | Factum Foundation.
Travelling to Bidar
Tombs of the Bahmani sultans, east of the Chaukhandi, Ashtur, c. 1458. Photograph by Clare Arni & Selvaprakash Lakshmanan.
In northern Karnataka, Bidar, Gulbarga, and Bijapur remain relatively unfamiliar to many travellers, yet they were once resplendent capitals of the Bahmani and Adil Shahi kingdoms. Though these dynasties have long vanished, the grandeur of their courts survives in extraordinary forts, tombs, and mosques. Reliable on-site information can be scarce, making a thoughtful guide invaluable. For those willing to venture beyond well-trodden routes, these cities offer a deeply rewarding journey into the history, architecture, and art of the Deccan.
Discover the region with the DHF travel guidebook Gulbarga, Bidar and Bijapur, written by DHF Founder Dr. Helen Philon.
Recent Events
Book launch of City of Victory: Hampi Vijayanagara at Venkatappa Art Gallery, Bengaluru. From left to right: John Gollings, George Michell, Ambassador Latha Reddy (Chairperson, DHF India), Philip Green (Australia’s High Commissioner to India), and Nalini and Ravi Saligram, whose generous support made the publication possible.
Following successful events in Goa, Hampi and Mumbai last month, we launched City of Victory: Hampi Vijayanagara, published by PICTOR, in Bengaluru. The evening featured an illustrated lecture by co-author George Michell and photographer John Gollings.
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Alongside the Bengaluru launch of City of Victory, the DHF presented an exhibition of John Gollings’ photographs at Venkatappa Art Gallery with support from the Australian Consulate-General, Bengaluru. The exhibition featured striking black-and-white images capturing the scale, texture and atmosphere of Vijayanagara’s landscape. The photographs are for sale on the DHF website.
Restored Nagakunda Stepwell, Sudi, Karnataka.
We gathered in Sudi to mark the completion of Nagakunda Stepwell restoration, alongside those who made it possible. Restored by the DHF under the Government of Karnataka’s ‘Adopt a Monument’ scheme, the project was generously supported by Mrs. Rajashree Pinnamaneni in memory of Dr. Subba Rao Devineni, with ongoing stewardship by Gandipet Welfare Society, a zero-waste NGO.
Carried out in partnership with Heritage Matters and the Water Literacy Foundation, this project brought together conservation, water knowledge, and long-term community care.
Thank you for your continued engagement with the DHF. We look forward to bringing you the latest updates about our ongoing projects, initiatives and publications across the Deccan region of India.