News and Updates

   King’s balance with two-storeyed gateway beyond, Hampi, Karnataka. Photograph by Surendra Kumar.

Following the inaugural edition of the Deccani Studies Program, the Deccan Heritage Foundation (DHF) is pleased to announce its second cohort this summer.

Conceived as a field-based initiative, the program brings together history, architecture and conservation through direct engagement with the Deccan’s sites, landscapes, and ongoing restoration efforts.

                A new cohort of the Deccani Studies Program

Created by the DHF in collaboration with the Harish & Bina Shah Foundation (HBSF) and Ashoka University, the Deccani Studies Program offers an immersive, on-site approach to studying the region’s layered histories and built environments.

A key component of the 2026 edition includes guided sessions with cultural economists, where the cohort will work on developing financial viability templates for heritage sites, equipping participants with practical tools to think about sustainability and long-term site management. Our pilot demonstrated that immersive, field-based learning can change career trajectories and broaden access to the heritage sector. Many participants described the experience as “transformative”, “eye-opening”, and “a turning point”.

The program is open to undergraduate students with academic interests in history, heritage, architecture, conservation, economics, or related fields. A limited number of scholarships are available to support applicants who demonstrate strong academic interest and commitment to the study of the Deccan.

The inaugural batch of the Deccani Studies Program in Golconda, Hyderabad, Telangana, July 2025. Photograph by Sai Charan Palakurthi.

Hear from the academics, donors and students of the inaugural cohort of our Deccan Studies Program, as they reflect on a month that reshaped how they see heritage. 

In 2026, the program expands into a newly structured journey across Maharashtra and Karnataka, tracing a broader geographic arc, from the Buddhist cave complexes of Ajanta and Ellora, through the Sultanate centres of Daulatabad and Bijapur, to the Chalukyan, Vijayanagara and Jain sites of Karnataka, before culminating in hands-on conservation exposure at our ongoing project in Mysuru, the Jayalakshmi Vilas Mansion & Museum.

Interested in being part of the Deccani Studies Program 2026?
Reach out to our designated Program Coordinator, Sai Charan Palakurthi, at charan@deccan-heritage-foundation.org for detailed information about the program and available scholarships for eligible candidates.

You can also explore the program structure, highlights, and updates on the official DHF website:
https://www.deccan-heritage-foundation.org/restoration-projects/deccan-studies-program/

                      Jayalakshmi Vilas Mansion & Museum

Jayalakshmi Vilas Mansion, Mysuru, Karnataka. 

                                           Nagakunda Stepwell

Nagakunda Stepwell, Sudi, Karnataka. Photograph by Surendra Kumar.

                                                 Gagan Mahal

Gagan Mahal, Anegundi, Karnataka. 

For those interested in planning their own journey through the Deccan, DHF offers a series of travel guidebooks and curated itineraries developed with contributions from our founders, George Michell and Helen Philon, and other leading historians.

Available in both print and digital formats, our travel guidebooks are designed to make the region’s rich heritage more accessible to travellers.

Plan your own journey through the Deccan.

Browse guidebooks

Discover the region

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.