The decades-long immersion in the ruins of Vijayanagara has been an invaluable opportunity to understand and interpret traditional synergies in a city region. Studies and investigations helped reveal the intricate relationships and functional dependencies between the settlements and the larger natural environment.

Expanding the idea of heritage and conservation to include non-built elements and the living landscape was a crucial departure from the conventional, establishing dynamic linkages between urban systems, traditional knowledge and resource management.

The main thrust of the conservation program was revival of the ‘Pushkarani’, the ritual stepped-tank along the bazaar axis of Vittalapura. This was critical since the population of the day depended mainly on effective management of rainwater including harvesting, routing & storage. The series of wells and tanks extant in the landscape certainly served more than a ceremonial function. With this background, once the physical restoration of the tank was completed, the rejuvenation of the water system was addressed. 

The exercise effectively combined issues of heritage conservation, hydro-geology, ecological planning and 

tourism infrastructure. The fact that it is a living heritage site created a different set of challenges, demanding interventions that were sensitive to the current social and cultural milieu.

The investigations and on-site works were undertaken under the aegis of the Archaeological Survey of India, Bangalore Circle.

This engagement with the cultural landscape has been widely recognized and has been bestowed with the Presidents Awards IFLA 2010 and the UNESCO Award of Distinction 2012.