People around the world will be able to virtually explore over 1400 cultural objects from India on the Google Cultural Institute, including new panoramic imagery of 76 heritage sites, and 30 new immersive exhibitions of arts and historical institutions from across India.
With the support of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), Google is releasing new 360-degree online imagery of 76 iconic historical sites, including the Safdarjung Tomb, Ellora Caves, and Purana Quila. These immersive panoramas, collected using Street View technology, are available for viewing on the Google Cultural Institute site. This launch of 76 new ASI sites brings the number of ASI locations now online to over 100, including the heritage sites that launched in February 2014 such as the Taj Mahal and Humayun’s Tomb.
In addition, several arts and archival institutions will also be unveiling new exhibitions on the Google Cultural Institute. For the first time ever, the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage, Daricha Foundation, Parzor Foundation, and the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research will be coming onto the Google Cultural Institute and unveiling immersive online exhibitions of their collections, which include treasured photographs, prints, and paintings. Five institutions who are already on the Google Cultural Institute will be launching new content today, and these are: Delhi’s National Museum, Delhi’s National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), Archive of Indian Music, Jana Natya Manch, and of course the ASI. These exhibits are all online and available to anyone around the world for free.
“Today, this partnership with Google makes it possible for billions of people across the world to see and explore India’s magnificent heritage, to take a walk at the Padmini Palace, to marvel at the Buddhist Caves of Baba-Pyara, and to relive history in Kangra Fort. With the release of this set of panoramic images, we aim to create a dynamic, immersive online experience by which people within India and around the world can appreciate more of India’s diverse cultural heritage,” said Union Minister of Culture Shripad Naik.
“Google is deeply committed to helping preserve and showcase cultural heritage across the world. India is unique in terms of the her sheer wealth of heritage and iconic historical monuments, and it has been our privilege to work with the ASI and these partners to bring such diverse aspects of India’s culture online for people at home and abroad,” said Rajan Anandan, Vice President and Managing Director, Google India.