Viraj Shah is an archaeologist, specialized in ancient Indian art, architecture, iconography and socio-religious history. She has Master’s degrees in Ancient Indian Culture and Archaeology from Deccan College Post Graduate and Research Institute, Pune, and in History from Mumbai University.

She earned her PhD in Archaeology from Deccan College Post Graduate and Research Institute (Deemed University), Pune. Her doctoral dissertation has been published under the title of ‘Jaina Rock-cut Caves of Western India’. Her post-doctoral research has been on temple institution in medieval Maharashtra and on archaeological remains in coastal areas of Konkan. She has published a number of research papers in national and international journals, and in edited volumes. Her research areas of interest are socio-economic-religious history, religious architecture, iconography, and pilgrimage and landscape studies.