Google digitises more Indian heritage sites

Internet giant Google's cultural arm on Thursday said that it was digitising more heritage sites to put them up in what could be termed as a online museum.

The Google Cultural Institute, which was opened in 2012 in India with the National Museum and the National Gallery of Modern Art in Delhi as initial partners, has added material from 10 new partner organisations.

These organisations include the Salar Jung museum in Hyderabad, Victoria Memorial Hall in Kolkata, Dastkari Haat Samiti, Devi Art Foundation, Kiran Nadar Museum of Art, Academy of Fine Arts and Literature, Kalakriti Archives, Heritage Transport Museum, Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centres & Ashrams and the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute.

"Technology will play a crucial role in transforming and building a truly Digital India and getting Indian culture and heritage online will play an important role in making the vision a reality. We appreciate the contribution of the Google Cultural Institute in this regard," said India's Tourism and Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma.

The new additions have taken up the count of online content to over 2,000 new images and 70 virtual exhibits, the company said in a release.

"Google is committed to preserving and breathing new life into cultural treasures around the world. India is brimming with a wealth of art, heritage and history. It has been our privilege to help iconic Indian institutions bring their rich collections online using the power of technology," said Google South East Asia and India vice president and managing director Rajan Anandan.

The collection also includes 26 new virtual tours of famous sites such as the Ekattarso Mahadeva Temple and the royal saloon that once was part of the Palace on Wheels, which were captured using Google's Street View technology.

Also, in an effort to make the content even more accessible, Dastkaari Haat Samiti, Devi Art Foundation, Heritage Transport Museum and Kalakriti Archives are launching mobile apps built by the Cultural Institute to showcase their exhibits.

"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. By bringing India's rich heritage online, we hope to introduce people across the globe to the fascinating world of Indian culture, history, and art," said Google Cultural Institute director Amit Sood.