LiDAR and GPR Survey Initiated to Discover Hidden Monuments at Lakkundi

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in collaboration with technology partners signed a Memorandum of Understanding to conduct advanced light detection and ranging (LiDAR) and Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) surveys at the historic site of Lakkundi in Karnataka's Gadag district. The survey aims to map subterranean architectural heritage without physical excavation.

Lakkundi was a prominent center of art, architecture, and coin minting during the Western Chalukya, Hoysala, and Seuna dynasties between the 10th and 14th centuries. Famous for its intricate stepped wells (Kalyanis) and ornate temples, several structures remain buried beneath modern settlements and dense vegetation over centuries of shifting land use.

Under the MoU executed on August 27, non-invasive technologies including remote sensing, GIS mapping, and 3D terrain modeling will be combined with GPR to pinpoint underground stone structures, ancient water channels, and structural foundations across a 50-square-kilometer zone.

Art & Culture and Science-Tech intersections are highly favored by UPSC examiner panels. Prelims questions often ask about Chalukyan temple architecture features (Vesara style, soapstone carvings) or remote sensing tools like LiDAR and GPR. In Mains GS Paper I, this highlights innovative preservation methods for national heritage.