Lok Sabha Question No. 2883 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-20
Subject: Virtual Tour of Monuments
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: HARI BABU KAMBHAMPATI, R. PARTHIPAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2883 TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.03.2017 PHALGUNA 29, 1938 (SAKA)

## VIRTUAL TOUR OF MONUMENTS

## 2883. DR. KAMBHAMPATI HARIBABU: SHRI  R. PARTHIPAN:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  it  is  a  fact  that  Archaeological  Survey  of  India  (ASI)  has  tied  up  with Google company for 360 degree virtual tour of monuments in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof including the list  of  monuments,  state-wise  and monument-wise;
- (c) whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  the  fact  that  Andhra  Pradesh  is  the  only major State in India which does not have a circle of ASI and if so, the reasons therefor; and
- (d) whether  there  is  a  proposal  to  set  up  regional  circle  or  a  mini-circle  in  Andhra Pradesh  for  the  upkeep  of  historic  monuments  in  State  and  if  so,  the  details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE, CULTURE AND TOURISM (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)

## (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

- (a)&(b) Yes, Madam. The Archaeological Survey of India and Google Ireland Limited a company incorporated under the laws of Ireland signed an Agreement on 25 th September, 2013 to create standard-resolution, 360-degree, panoramic images  (the  'Site  View  Images'),  giving  users  the  ability  to  experience  a 'virtual tour' of those selected parts of the monuments/Site.  100 monuments have been covered under the scheme throughout the country.  The State-wise list is at Annexure.
- (c)&(d) Archaeological Survey of India has established a new  Circle with its Headquarter  at  Amaravathi,  Andhra  Pradesh  by  bifurcating  its  erstwhile Hyderabad Circle into Hyderabad Circle and Amaravathi Circle vide Notification  No.  4-4/2015-Plg.&  HRD,  dated  7.6.2016.    Both  the  Circles,  i.e. Amaravathi,  Andhra  Pradesh  and  Hyderabad,  Telangana  at  present  are functioning from the existing premises at Hyderabad.

## ANNEXURE

## ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)&(b)  OF  THE  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2883 FOR 20.3.2017

List of Monuments covered to take up for imagery collection in the country

| Sl. No.   | Name of State and Name of Monument                    |
|-----------|-------------------------------------------------------|
|           | Andhra Pradesh                                        |
| 1         | Guntupalli Buddhist Caves, Hyderabad                  |
| 2         | Amaravati Buddhist Stupas and remains, Andhra Pradesh |
| 3         | Chandragiri Fort                                      |
| 4         | Nagarjuna Konda Buddist Stupas                        |
|           | Gujarat                                               |
| 5         | Harappan site, Dholavira                              |
| 6         | Kevda Masjid                                          |
| 7         | Nagina Masjid, Jaunpur                                |
| 8         | Baba pyara caves                                      |
| 9         | Khaprakodia caves                                     |
| 10        | Modhera Sun Temple, Vadodara                          |
| 11        | Rani Ki Vav, Vadodara                                 |
| 12        | EkMinar Masjid                                        |
| 13        | Helical Vav                                           |
|           | Haryana                                               |
| 14        | Surajkund                                             |
| 15        | Sheikh Chilli's Tomb                                  |
|           | Himachal Pradesh                                      |
| 16        | KangraFort,Kangra                                     |
| 17        | Rock Cut Caves, Masroor, Kangra                       |
|           | Jammu & Kashmir                                       |
| 18        | Avanti Swami Temple Ruins, Avantipura                 |
| 19        | Raja Suchet Singh Palace, Ramnagar                    |
| 20        | Kiramchi Temple complex, Udhampur                     |
| 21        | The Leh Palace, Leh, Ladakh                           |
|           | Karnataka                                             |
| 22        | Keshava Temple                                        |
| 23        | Lakkundi Temple (Brahma Jinalaya)                     |
| 24        | Chitradurga fort                                      |
| 25        | ImbrahimRouza, Bijapur                                |
| 26        | Durga Temple complex, Bhagalkot                       |
| 27        | Gol - Gumbuz, Bijapur                                 |
| 28        | Hoshang Shah's Tomb                                   |
| 29        | Daria DaulatBagh                                      |
| 30        | Lakulisha Temple, Badami                              |

|    | Madhya Pradesh                        |
|----|---------------------------------------|
| 31 | Bagh Buddhist Caves                   |
| 32 | Rani Roopmati Pavilion                |
| 33 | Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka            |
| 34 | Rock Cut Jain Colossi, Bhopal         |
| 35 | SasBahuKaMandir, Gwalior              |
| 36 | TeliKaMandir, Gwalior                 |
| 37 | Gwalior Fort                          |
| 38 | Western Group of Temples, Khajuraho   |
| 39 | Javari Temple, Khajuraho              |
| 40 | Vamana Temple, Khajuraho              |
| 41 | Jain Group Of Temples, Khajuraho      |
| 42 | Chaturbhuja Temple, Khajuraho         |
| 43 | Duladeo Temple, Duladeo Temple        |
| 44 | Sanchi Buddhist Stupas                |
| 45 | Jami Masjid                           |
|    | Maharashtra                           |
| 46 | Ellora Caves, Aurangabad              |
| 47 | Ajanta Caves, Aurangabad              |
| 48 | Daulatabad Fort, Aurangabad           |
| 49 | Aurangabad Buddhist Caves, Aurangabad |
| 50 | BibikaMakbara, Aurangabad             |
| 51 | Pandulena Caves, Nasik                |
| 52 | Elephanta Caves, Mumbai               |
| 53 | Lenyadri Caves, Pune                  |
| 54 | Shanirwada Fort, Pune                 |
| 55 | Aga Khan Palace, Pune                 |
| 56 | Karla Caves, Pune                     |
| 57 | Raigarh Fort, Raigarh                 |
| 58 | Hirakota old Fort                     |
| 59 | Kanheri Caves                         |
|    | NCT Delhi                             |
| 60 | NilaGumbaz                            |
| 61 | Tughlaqabad Fort                      |
| 62 | Sultan Ghari's Tomb                   |
| 63 | Humayun's Tomb                        |
| 64 | Red Fort                              |
| 65 | JantarMantar                          |
| 66 | QutubMinar                            |
| 67 | Safdarjung Tomb                       |
| 68 | Feroz Shah Kotla Fort                 |
| 69 | PuranaQuila                           |
| 70 | Sikander Shah's Tomb                  |
|    | Rajasthan                             |
| 71 | Hill fort of Jaisalmer                |

| 72   | Hill Fort of Ranathambore            |
|------|--------------------------------------|
| 73   | Hill Fort of Kumbalgarh              |
| 74   | Hill Fort of Chittorgarh             |
|      | Tamil Nadu                           |
| 75   | Krishnagiri Fort                     |
| 76   | Rajagiri Fort                        |
| 77   | MuvarKoil&AivarKoil                  |
| 78   | MuchuKundesvara Temple               |
| 79   | Perumal& Shiva Temple                |
| 80   | Sithannavasal Caves                  |
| 81   | Thirumayam Fort                      |
| 82   | St. George Fort, Chennai             |
|      | Uttar Pradesh                        |
| 83   | Jaunpur fort, Sarnath                |
| 84   | Sarnath Excavated Site, Sarnath      |
| 85   | Lord Cornwallis Tomb, Sarnath        |
| 86   | Dharahara Mosque, Varanasi           |
| 87   | Rajghat Excavated Site, Varanasi     |
| 88   | Man-Mahal& Observatory, Varanasi     |
| 89   | Orajhar Buddhist Site                |
| 90   | KachchiKuti (Mahet), Sravasti        |
| 91   | Jetavana Monastery (Sahet), Sravasti |
| 92   | The Residency,Lucknow                |
| 93   | ShahiQuila                           |
| 94   | TajMahal, Agra                       |
| 95   | Agra Fort, Agra                      |
| 96   | Tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah, Agra       |
| 97   | FatehpurSikhri fort, Agra            |
| 98   | Tomb of Akbar the Great, Agra        |
| 99   | Mariam's Tomb, Agra                  |
| 100  | MehtabBagh, Agra                     |