DELHI, INDIA, October 3, 2013 (PIB): The Union Culture Minister Smt. Chandresh Kumari Katoch here today launched a unique project to take India’s Heritage online. Under the project, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has agreed with Google to create 360-degree online imagery of 100 of India’s most important heritage sites, including Khajuraho and the Ajanta and Ellora caves. Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said these detailed images will be placed for public viewing over the Internet. The aim of this collaboration is to generate interest and consciousness among the Indian population in general and the youth in particular towards safeguarding the national cultural heritage of India. She said, this information, which will be readily available over the Internet for public viewing, will help in bringing our monuments closer to the public. The Minister expressed the hope that under this project the experience of visiting heritage sites across a vibrant nation would be more accessible and enjoyable and also to bring it to the notice of billions of people connected globally via the Internet.
Once published, this new imagery of Indian heritage sites will be available on Google Maps and on the World Wonders site within the Google Cultural Institute so that people across India and around the world can virtually view and explore these areas, and in the process, learn more about thousand years of Indian history.