When Algorithms Meet Antiquity: How AI Is Preserving India’s Monuments

When we walk through the ancient halls of forts, temples and Indian monuments, we often feel the weight of time and sometimes also the fear that these treasures might fade away.

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But that fear is slowly being replaced by hope. Across the country, artificial intelligence is stepping in to revive, restore, and reimagine India’s heritage. 

From 3D scans of age-old sculptures to machine-assisted archiving of rare manuscripts, technology is ensuring that our history doesn’t just survive — it continues to thrive in the digital age.

Preserving the past with the power of AI

In today’s digital age, where technology touches every part of life, the Indian government is turning to artificial intelligence and digital tools to protect and document the nation’s priceless heritage.

According to the Ministry of Culture, a dedicated initiative worth Rs 300 crore has been launched to integrate AI into the preservation of India’s cultural artefacts and monuments. These efforts are designed to help AI systems analyse structural integrity and predict environmental impacts on ancient sites, ensuring timely care before deterioration sets in.

Beyond monuments, the initiative also emphasises the need to digitally preserve ageing documents, manuscripts, and artworks, safeguarding centuries of knowledge for future generations.

With the help of high-resolution 3D scanning, condition-monitoring sensors, and predictive modelling, AI can now detect early signs of erosion, micro-cracks, or structural tilting. 

This enables conservation teams to take preventive action rather than resorting to reactive repairs — a crucial shift from preservation to proactive protection.

From code to culture: Collaborative efforts keeping history alive

The idea of preservation goes beyond safeguarding monuments — it’s about making India’s rich culture accessible to everyone, everywhere. With just a click, people from across the country and around the world can now relive centuries of history at their fingertips.

Collaborations with Google Arts & Culture and partnerships with DigitalHeritage.ai have not only simplified preservation but have also made cultural experiences more engaging and immersive in the digital space.

Through Google Arts & Culture’s AI-powered experiences, the wonders of sites like the Mumbai Elephanta Caves can now travel beyond their geographical boundaries. Users can explore 3D models, interact with chatbots to learn about iconography and stories, and embark on virtual tours that recreate the grandeur of India’s heritage.

In the case of the Elephanta Caves, advanced 3D scanning and generative AI have been used to recreate the 1,500-year-old UNESCO World Heritage site, complete with an immersive “Talking Tour” that brings ancient stone carvings to life.

More than a technological leap, this is a democratic shift. It allows anyone, even from the most remote corners of India, to connect with their roots and explore the country’s cultural legacy up close.

Preserving the fragile, documenting the forgotten

India is known for its manuscripts and heritage texts, but many of these are deteriorating due to age, climate or poor storage — AI offers them a lifeline. Optical character recognition (OCR) combined with machine learning helps convert faded scripts into searchable digital text. 

Scientists also use predictive analytics to schedule microclimate control and digitisation priorities. These efforts preserve not just stone and paper but knowledge — rituals, local histories, and art forms that might otherwise vanish.

Why this matters

Technology and tradition are often considered opposites, but in this case they are working together to bring India’s culture to the global stage.

The introduction of AI doesn’t mean replacing artisans or archaeologists — it means enhancing their work, scaling their impact, and protecting what is truly irreplaceable.

Indian monuments are more than tourist attractions; they are anchors of Indian identity, memory and culture. By leveraging AI, we are ensuring that future generations inherit not just structures but living stories of India. 

Sources:

AI in Cultural Preservation: How the Indian Government Is Supporting Heritage Initiatives, by Newsroom India, Published on June 24, 2025.

‘Google Arts and Culture launches AI-powered experiences in India: Explore Elephanta Caves and food mood fusion’ by Dhruv Mohan for Economic Times, Published on 2 July 2025.