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Journalism of Courage
Hidden in the busy heart of Pune, the Pataleshwar Caves often slip past the attention of people who live here. The ancient rock-cut monument sits right off a busy road, yet many visitors step in without knowing the history of the site. Now the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has introduced a ‘virtual’ tour that hopes to change the way Pune residents look at the site.
The ASI has added a QR code-aided guide for the monument. Dr Abhijeet Ambekar, Superintending Archaeologist, ASI, says the idea is to make the experience simple and accessible. Visitors can scan the code and listen to a clear narration that explains the story of the caves. The guide shares the history of the site, the meaning behind its carvings and the reasons it was built.
The project is technologically supported by GloriTel Digital, a Pune-based company. Together with the ASI, it has created a “digital walk-through” that includes a screen at the entrance. The screen offers a short visual tour, and the link gives visitors a chance to explore the whole site from one place. The service is free.
Dr Ambekar says the aim is to bring heritage and digital tools together in a way that supports conservation. He adds that the ASI is preparing to take up structural work on the Mandir Mandap section of the monument, with the focus on preservation and not reconstruction.
The new effort is part of a wider plan. Dr Ambekar says the upcoming work includes similar digital experiences at Kanheri and Elephanta. At Shaniwar Wada, the ASI is working on a laser-based hologram to show the lost structure of Ganesh Mahal. He explains that restoring the original building might damage what survives today. Instead, a hologram built from historical data could offer a safer and clearer option.
Nitin Menavaikar from GloriTel Digital says the Pataleshwar tour uses a 360-degree camera and a set of visual tools that create a one-of-a-kind experience. He believes that the LED wall built by the team will be like a “teaser” to the whole site. He also mentions that the latest technology of VR goggles has been used in this project. The narration is multilingual, and the team is also working on expanding it to include German, Russian and French for foreign tourists. He adds that the goal is to draw in younger visitors who respond well to interactive formats.
Pataleshwar is 12 centuries old and has many stories carved into its stone. The team has highlighted the rare rain-harvesting system inside the cave and has also shown a superimposed view of the parts that remain incomplete. Menavaikar says every stone has a story, and the project helps narrate it with clarity. He adds that the narration is written by the ASI, so it keeps the facts accurate. He also says that digital guides are helpful when trained human guides are not available.
GloriTel plans to add sign language videos for visitors with hearing disabilities at Shaniwar Wada in Pune. The company is also preparing for the next round of projects at Kanheri and Elephanta. Menavaikar says that the Pataleshwar project will prove to be a role model on how heritage properties must be conserved.
(Rucha Kulkarni is an intern with The Indian Express)
