Topophilia in Transition: KeralasSacred Landscapes and Smart CityDevelopment

Title

Topophilia in Transition: KeralasSacred Landscapes and Smart CityDevelopment

Creator

Anupama Nayar, C.V.

Description

The rise of smart cities in India presents a complex phenomenon and a significant challenge for the preservation of sacred landscapes. To address thisthe chapterproposes Smart Theology as a conceptual framework that integratesecological ethics and cultural resilience with digital innovation. This approach is examined through fieldwork in Keralas kavussacred sites reflecting Indigenous ecological knowledge and ritual practicefunded by the Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT), Government of India. Digital interventions includingGIS, Virtual Reality, and community-driven tools serve as a vital bridge mediating the tension between cultural legacy and urban innovation. By investigating these applications the study demonstrates how technology facilitate inclusive preservation while maintaining the spiritual essence of sacred landscapes. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2026.

Source

New Approaches to the Scientific Study of Religion;Volume;22;pp.157-176

Date

01-01-2026

Publisher

Springer Science and Business Media B.V.

Subject

Ecological ethics; Indigenous Knowledge Systems; Kerala; Sacred landscapes; Smart theology

Coverage

Anupama Nayar C.V., CHRIST University, Karnataka, Bangalore, India

Rights

Restricted Access; Hardcopy may be available in the library

Relation

ISSN: 23673494;

Format

online

Language

English

Type

Book chapter

Identifier

https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-13206-2_9

https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105037215022?origin=resultslist