Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI, Aurangabad Circle), has introduced a multilingual audio-visual (AV) guide for tourists/visitors at the world heritage sites Ajanta Caves and Ellora Caves, offering an enhanced and more engaging touring experience.
The service was officially dedicated on Wednesday (April 29) in the presence of superintending archaeologist Dr Shiv Kumar Bhagat, assistant archaeologist Rajnish Kumar, assistant archaeological engineer Hemant Hukare, conservation assistant Nilesh Koli and other officials including Anand Babu. The service at Ajanta Caves will be introduced from Thursday.
Developed by DigiTour in collaboration with ASI, the QR code-based AV guide has been deployed at key monuments across India. In its initial phase, it has been implemented at Ajanta and Ellora, with QR code standees installed at 10 strategic points across both sites. By scanning these codes, tourists can download the guide, currently available in English, Hindi, and Marathi.
Scan QR code to enjoy AV service
Dr Bhagat described the initiative as a significant digital step forward. “ Additional language support is already being planned, including Kannada for Ajanta visitors and Telugu for Ellora and Bibi Ka Maqbara visitors in the future. More Indian and international languages will be added gradually. All content, including visuals and voiceovers, has been verified and authenticated by ASI to ensure accuracy,” said Dr Bhagat.
Benefit of AV guides
Highlighting its advantages, Dr Bhagat explained that while traditional cultural notice boards (CNBs) provide general information about the monuments, the AV guide offers a more immersive experience. Visitors can explore detailed, cave-by-cave insights, whether sequentially or selectively, covering important features such as sculptures, paintings, and architectural elements in depth, he said.