Google launches 360 degree panorama of 76 new Indian monuments

Google and the Ministry of Culture, Government of India have come together to launch virtual tours of Indian cultural sites and explore over 1,400 cultural objects from India at the Google Cultural Institute site.

Google, with support from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), has added 76 new sites to its 360-degree panorama view, increasing the number of ASI sites covered to over 100. Besides monuments, exhibits at institutions like the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, and the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage have also been photographed for the project, and will be available online soon, at the Google Cultural Institute.

 "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, and it has been our privilege to work with the ASI and these partners to bring such diverse aspects of India's culture online," said Rajan Anandan, Vice President and Managing Director, Google India.

 "I would like to thank all our partners. The mission of the Cultural Institute is to make the world’s heritage accessible for global audiences and to preserve it digitally for generations to come,” said Amit Sood, Director of the Google Cultural Institute. “By putting online more imagery from India’s most iconic sites, we hope to invite more people from around the world to learn more about the fascinating world of Indian culture, history, and art."

 India has a rich heritage dating back several thousand years and has maintained the continuity of its unique culture. According to Facts About India, the ASI currently manages 3683 monuments and heritage sites.