Google and ASI to Put 360-degree Digital images of Indian monuments online

Viewing famous monuments of India from your desk is not a distant dream. Internet Giant and Archeological Survey Of India (ASI) has agreed on an agreement to put a 360-degree digital imagery of around a 100 of Indian monuments including the famous of the Qutub Minar, Taj Mahal, Khajuraho as well as the Ajanta and Ellora Caves.

ASI will be working on the project in association with the Ministry of Culture. According to the agreement detailed imagery of the identified heritage sites will be placed over the Internet for public viewing.

As per the plan, Google along with ASI will create a 360-degree imagery of these heritage monuments and will make them available on Google Maps as well as the World Wonders website.

“Many heritage sites of India are accessible to very few people. But, now with the help of technology and the government’s help, these sites will be available for the world to experience online,” Rajan Anandan, vice-president and managing director of Google India, told the Business Line newspaper.

“The collaboration, which will create virtual walkthroughs of our sites, is a gigantic step and, with ASI completing its 150th year, this will prove to be a big milestone for us. The aim of this project is to bring the heritage of our country closer to the people and to disseminate among the youth our rich cultural legacy,” the Business Standard quotes Minister of Culture Chandresh Kumari Katoch as saying.

According to the chief of the ASI, Pravin Srivastava,  this project will make the monuments more accessible as well as “digitally preserve India’s heritage for future generations”.