SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

2Culture and heritage

UPES uses research and technology to safeguard the living heritage of Uttarakhand and the Himalaya, and opens its campus to the region's cultural life.

• AipanVR. Researchers worked with 10 Aipan artists in Almora, Nainital and Haldwani to document this Kumaoni ritual floor and wall art, then recreated it in an interactive virtual reality museum so anyone can learn about it.
• Bhimal fibre craft. The Himalayan Institute for Learning and Leadership is documenting the Bhimal (Selu) fibre craft of Karchaa village and designing new products that keep traditional skills alive and earning.
• Traditional weaving in Ladakh. Through Project Artisan, UPES works with NGOs and schools to support women weavers and preserve their craft.
• Virasat. UPES invests in arts and culture by co-partnering an important event at Virasat, Dehradun's famous annual cultural festival, run with REACH. It also opens its amphitheatres and Multi Activity Centre for art, craft and culture events through the year.
• Virasat ke Rang. In this talk series, art historian, oral historian and heritage conservationist Sohail Hashmi spoke to Journalism and Mass Communication students on 15 October 2025 about Indian art, culture, monuments and the stories behind them. From 13 to 18 October 2025 the series also brought evenings of conversation and performance celebrating artisans who carry craft and music traditions forward.
• Campus culture. The annual Uurja youth festival, Garba nights and folk music performances celebrate India's regional traditions.

Open to the public

• Library. The UPES Library website is open to everyone, with a curated portal of about 190 free open educational resources, links to SWAYAM and NPTEL courses, and UPES PhD theses deposited in the national ShodhGanga repository. The library's fair-use guidelines also list onsite visitors among the authorised users of its licensed e-books, journals and databases.
• Heritage online. The AipanVR virtual museum lets anyone explore Kumaoni Aipan art.
• Spaces for culture. UPES opens its amphitheatres and Multi Activity Centre for Virasat and other public art, craft and culture events.
• Green spaces and grounds. As and when required, UPES also offers its cricket grounds for community events such as the Shaheed Memorial and Champions League tournaments, and for other events.