Enjoy virtual walk through architectural marvels soon

360-DEGREE VIEW App will enable users get a 360-degree street view of monuments falling under ASI’s Lucknow Circle. Google has approached the heritage custodian for the purpose

LUCKNOW: Images of UP’s architectural marvels, including those in the state capital, will soon be available online in perfect 360-degree panoramic format, enabling the virtual visitors to experience ‘virtual walk-through’ of the monuments.

Said to be ‘digital tourism’, the initiative is part of a joint initiative of Google India and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) aimed to highlight heritag sites digitally for the masses. Google India has contacted ASI’s Lucknow Circle, requesting them to share the list of monuments (under the circle) that can be covered under its imagery mission.

“Google India had contacted us a couple of days back inquiring about the monuments, having potential of being photographed. They have also asked to provide the list of monuments, falling in the circle,” said an ASI official.

There are around 366 monuments in the Lucknow circle. Of these, ASI has enlisted around two dozen for the purpose and is set to share this information with Google India. The ASI’s proposed list includes architectural marvels like Rumi Gate, Bara Imambada, Chhota Imambada and Picture Gallery in the state capital.

Officials said the names of non-protected monuments like Clock Tower, Satkhanda and others in Chowk area have also been proposed.

Other than the city’s architectural marvels, it has also proposed the names of monuments like Kalinjar Fort in Banda, 84 Gumbaj in Kalpi, monuments in Bhitargaon town of Kanpur and other lesser- known structures.

Google India’s move is a part of its second phase that is expected to take off by the next financial year.

In the first phase of the initiative that took off in 2013, Google India covered some 100 monuments in the country, with ASI’s consent. In the same phase, it had also covered the British Residency in Lucknow.

As per the informa- tion, Residency and Shravasti were covered from UP in July 2014, while the other cities were shortlisted for the second phase. How to access the panoramic imageries? “It’s a matter of a flick,” an expert from Google India informed. “It can be accessed by downloading the ‘Google Street View’ application from Google Play (for android users) while it is also available for I Phone and Mac users,” the expert said.

On downloading the application, the screen of the smart phone will further display many options including that of ‘explore’. “One has to click on the option and enjoy the visual walk-through. It will make the person feel like being present at the place. It’s more like a digital tour,” the expert added.

Those who want to undertake the ‘virtual tour’ of any specific monument, can type the name of the monument in the search bar to get a panoramic view of the structure.

The expert, however, clarified that ‘Street View’ is not only restricted to the monuments, it also includes images of other places like landmarks, natural wonders, museums, restaurants and small business establishments. The application also enables the users to capture 360-degree shots of any place using the smart phone camera. “If the pictures are found appropriate, they can be added to the Google Maps,” he said.

NK Pathak, superintending archaeologist, Lucknow Circle ASI, confirmed that Google India had approached the heritage custodian to photograph the monuments for the ‘Google Street View’.

“It’s a good initiative that will take tourism to greater heights and at the same time highlight the lesser-known architectural wonders of Lucknow Circle. The list will be submitted to Google India soon,” said Pathak.