DHF (Deccan Heritage Foundation)
The Deccan Heritage Foundation (DHF) is a non-profit organization committed to safeguarding the Deccan’s built heritage through socially responsible preservation and restoration, with the objective of making the region’s architectural heritage economically viable for the benefit of its communities. Its approach is grounded in skill development, conservation, education, and long-term sustainability.
Since 2013, DHF has partnered with local communities and experts across architecture, conservation, and education to restore and protect heritage sites in the Deccan region. DHF works through 5 pillars:
i) Knowledge (research-led engagement),
ii) Education (heritage awareness in schools and guidebooks),
iii) Restoration (traditional methods),
iv) Preservation (community and environmental focus), and
V) Sustainability (long-term, viable use).
Such projects demonstrate how inclusive, community-based conservation leads to renewed local pride, educational value, and sustainable cultural reuse.
With the grant from Harish and Bina Shah Foundation, DHF has embarked on the restoration of the Jayalakshmi Vilas Mansion Folklore Museum, located within Mysore University complex. Additionally, Nefos, a next-generation museum management platform has been developed using AI and smart features to enable detailed object cataloguing, conservation tracking, and inventory control, while also connecting Jayalakshmi Vilas Mansion’s collections to networks across India and beyond.
