Srikumar M Menon

Dr. Srikumar M. Menon is an architect specializing in ancient and early architecture of the Indian subcontinent. After graduating from the Department of Architecture, T. K. M. College of Engineering in 1993, Srikumar spent 6 years in architectural practice at Bangalore as well as research on the design of astronomical observatories at the Inter University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics, Pune, before taking up teaching at the Faculty of Architecture, Manipal Institute of Technology, at Manipal. After teaching at Manipal for 15 years, he moved to the National Institute of Advanced Studies, where he is works as Associate Professor currently.

Srikumar’s academic interests focus on ancient architecture – prehistoric monuments, as well as later monuments, such as stupas and temples. His Ph. D. investigated Indian megaliths for possible intentional astronomical alignments and he was awarded the Prof. D. S. Achyutha Rao Memorial History Research Fellowship for the same, in 2007. Subsequently (2012-14), he was also awarded the Homi Bhabha Fellowship for studying “Ancient Landscapes of South India.” Under this project, he has studied the sites of the Malaprabha Valley, Hampi-Hire Benakal region and the Sannati-Sirival region, all in northern Karnataka, leading to deep insights about the continuity of commemorative traditions from prehistoric to later times, and the influence of prehistoric architecture on later monuments. He is the author of two books – Ancient Stone Riddles: Megaliths of the Indian Subcontinent and Comets: Nomads of the Solar System, both published by Manipal University Press.

Currently, in addition to continuing his work on megaliths and archaeoastronomy, Srikumar is also engaged in efforts to understand evolution of principles of construction and stone-working in early temple architecture, and the practice of architecture in Early Historic to Medieval Periods in India, including tracking early artisans of ancient India.