Chithralekha is a Professor at KMEA College of Architecture, Aluva, and is currently pursuing her PhD from the Department of Architecture and Planning, National Institute of Technology, Calicut. Her background includes experience in Architecture, Heritage Conservation, Architectural research and Education. Her practice focuses on architecture and heritage conservation, with an emphasis on the context and social fabric of Kerala. Before joining KMEACOA in 2018, she worked as an Architect and Academician at various institutions in Kerala. She is also an active member of INTACH Calicut Chapter and Vastuvidyapratisthanam and is involved in many activities and projects related to the Cultural Heritage of Kerala. Her research interests include Conservation of Kerala Temples, Indian Traditional Knowledge System and Cultural Heritage Studies. She is a trained South Indian classical dance performer, holding a degree in Bharatanatyam from Tamil University, Thanjavur. She actively engages with various arts and cultural associations across India and is frequently invited to deliver talks and lecture-demonstrations on traditional Indian art forms. She is currently teaching History of Architecture and Research Methodology, imparting an appreciation of our rich heritage and cultural identity to students while also guiding them towards a strong research orientation.