About us
Preserving India's Timeless Legacy Founded by Indraneel Sadanand Bankapure, an accomplished Indologist and cultural historian, Indian Heritage Initiative, your gateway to the fascinating world of ancient Indian history through its magnificent temples and intricate sculptures. We are dedicated to preserving and promoting India's cultural legacy by offering immersive experiences that bring history to life. Our goal is to educate, inspire and connect people with the architectural marvels and artistic treasures of ancient India. Virasat Heritage Initiative is dedicated to safeguarding and promoting India's vibrant heritage.Virasat bridges the gap between past and present, making heritage education accessible through interactive programs, study tours, and digital platforms.
Indian Heritage Initiative, your gateway to the fascinating world of ancient Indian history through its magnificent temples and intricate sculptures. We are dedicated to preserving and promoting India's cultural legacy by offering immersive experiences that bring history to life. Our goal is to educate, inspire and connect people with the architectural marvels and artistic treasures of ancient India.
Explore ancient Indian history, art, and culture guided by experts. Our heritage tours focus on exploring ancient Hindu temples, both in India and internationally, offering participants a chance to reconnect with their cultural roots and experience history firsthand.
Indraneel Sadanand Bankapure
Founder of Virasat India
I’m an Indologist from Kolhapur, India.
In 2014, I went on an academic study tour of Karle-Bhaje caves in Pune, it opened a new paradigm of thought for me. I felt extremely connected to the sculptures in the caves, I was awestruck by their fine work, and what they said about our past. I was fascinated by the fact that someone carved these out of simple chisel and hammer over two thousand years ago, and yet their work was enriching my life. This is the exact moment I started to question why these artists had brought these artworks to life at all, I’m still discovering the answer in various forms today.
Following this epiphany, I pursued a Master’s degree in Indology, guided by my mentor, Mr. Indurkar, whom I had first encountered in a school presentation years earlier. My academic and professional path has since taken me across over 10 states in India and to Cambodia, where I have immersed myself in the study of our heritage and culture, with a particular focus on temples and sculptures.
My commitment to this field extends beyond academic study. I have conducted study tours in regions as challenging as terrorism-affected areas in Kashmir, showcasing my dedication to bringing lesser-known aspects of our heritage to light. Prior to my Indology career, I earned a Master's in Journalism and worked with vulnerable tribes in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, experiences that have enriched my understanding of India's diverse cultural landscape.
Currently, I collaborate with renowned archaeologists and paleontologists on conservation and research projects, contributing to significant efforts alongside experts like Dr. KK Mohammad and Dr. Narayan Vyas. I am honored to serve as a board member on the prestigious Wakankar Shodh Sansthan in Ujjain and the Dhule Education Society, reflecting my commitment to preserving and promoting our cultural heritage.
Through the Virasat Indian Heritage Initiative, I have engaged over 500 individuals in walking study tours, and through digital platforms, I share insights on Indic iconography, bridging the gap between ancient wisdom and modern audiences. My literary contributions, including a practical guide on interpreting temple sculptures, aim to make our rich heritage accessible to a broader audience.
I spend most of my time reading primary sources like the Puranas, Upanishads, and other Sanksrit sacred texts. My literary repertoire spans over 250 books in this subject.
A personal project close to my heart is the revival of the Deepotsav celebration at the Kopeshwar temple, which has grown from a small gathering of 8 enthusiasts to an event attracting over 5000 people. This endeavor symbolizes my broader goal: to ignite a passion for our heritage in future generations, ensuring its preservation and appreciation.
I believe that my mentor helped me cross a certain philosophical bridge the day we went to Verul. I hope that my work leads to more people crossing the same bridge, and start their journey on this path.
Virasat Core Team
Vinita Deshpande
Indologist, Writer and Translator
Narendra Velankar
Engineer and Indologist
Dr. Ketaki Bankapure
Psychologist
Aditya Phadke
Omkar Joshi
Tushar Kodolikar
Nilay Kulkarni
Virasat Mentors
Late Shree. Udayan Indurkar
It is his quest for the past that has led this indologist to visit over 400 ancient monuments,including 300 temples. And his unique fete of conducting more than 800 slide shows on ancient structures of India in the last 18 years shows the yearning of 57-year-old Udayan Indurkar to tell the world the relevance of the past in present day. Pune-based Indurkars interest in archaeology was first kindled when he met archaeologist V S Wakankar in 1987. Wakankar,in 1957,had discovered several prehistoric rock shelters in Bhimbetka,Madhya Pradesh.
Dr. G. B. Deglurkar Sir
Dr. G.B. Deglurkar . Former Chancellor of Deccan College, Pune. An Eminent Archaeologist. He has participated in number of archaeological excavations in different sites in Vidarbha, Marathwada other parts of Maharashtra and other states of India also. He is the author of different books like Ancient Indian history and culture, Temple Architecture and Sculptures of Maharashtra, Mediaeval Temples of Satgaon and History of Civilization of Mankind e.t.c.
