This research project aims to go beyond mere documentation; it seeks to elevate Aurangabad’s architectural legacy, ignite discussions on the future potential of these sites, and advocate for a framework of urban conservation that ensures their preservation, honors their narratives, and celebrates the city’s history.

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This research project – through a publication, a website, and a culminating exhibition – aims to highlight this forgotten architectural history of Aurangabad and underscore the urgent need for its preservation, particularly in the face of increasing political and religious tensions. By documenting and analyzing over 50 endangered structures from the 2nd century to now, this project seeks to create a comprehensive architectural history that not only preserves the city’s heritage but also challenges the current narrative of neglect and erasure. This documentation serves as a critical and deliberate political act. It asserts the importance of these disappearing structures as embodiments of the city’s diverse historical narratives and resists the forces that seek to rewrite or obscure them.

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This research also advocates for the reintegration of these urban voids into the present urban fabric and emphasizes their significance not just as relics of the past but as vital components of the city’s urban and public spaces.