School of Humanities

This chapter examines the structural remains of Srirangapatna Fort using geospatial technologies, comparing its condition from 1800 to 2021. By generating and georeferencing a high-resolution orthophoto derived from Major General Ross’s 1800 to-scale tabletop model, and integrating satellite imagery with field-based Ground Control Points, the study employs QGIS to identify, digitize, and map fort features. The analysis documents morphological changes resulting from historical events, particularly the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War and the 1799 siege.

Kutch, in western India, is a unique region described by Burnes and Dossal as “a land Without a Counterpart on the Globe” and is referenced in ancient texts and cartographic records. Continuously inhabited since the Palaeolithic period, including a large number of Harappan civilisation settlements, it holds significant archaeological, historical, and maritime importance.

This volume offers fresh perspectives on the use of geospatial analysis in cultural heritage and the humanities. By integrating spatial data and analytical techniques, it demonstrates how digital tools can enrich historical inquiry, spatial storytelling, and interdisciplinary research. Featuring a unique collection of case studies from across India, the book highlights innovative applications of geospatial technology in understanding and preserving the country’s diverse heritage.

Bodh Gaya, where the Buddha attained enlightenment, was a major Buddhist sacred site for nearly two thousand years. This paper argues that its sacred landscape was far larger than the three commonly excavated sites. Drawing on historical, archaeological, and geospatial evidence, it identifies 40 features showing that Mahābodhi extended in all directions from the Mahabodhi Temple. The study also suggests that the Lilajan’s present course, about 250 metres east of the temple, differs from the historical Nirañjanā, which lay roughly 1.5 kilometres further east.