Archive · 6 Aug 2026
ASI Launches BharatSHRI Portal for Free Access to Digitised Inscriptions
In India, there are very old writings on stone and other materials called inscriptions.
They tell us stories about how people lived long ago.
A group called the Archaeological Survey of India studies these old things.
They made a new website called BharatSHRI.
On this website, anyone can look at pictures and copies of these old writings for free.
Right now, the website already has thousands of records for people to explore.
Many old inscriptions from a place called Telangana are being added to the website.
The group hopes to add more than 80,000 inscriptions over time.
Before this website, people had to travel to a special office in Mysore to see these records.
Now, anyone with the internet can learn about India's past from home.
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) launched the BharatSHRI portal, offering free online access to digitised epigraphical records.
The platform hosts 13,986 metadata records, 9,967 transcripts and 10,116 digitised estampages of inscriptions.
Around 6,000 inscriptions from Telangana, dating from the Satavahana period to the medieval era, are being digitised, with some already available on the website.
ASI plans to expand the platform in phases and upload more than 80,000 inscriptions, creating one of India's largest digital archives of epigraphical records.
Researchers can now access the records online instead of visiting the ASI epigraphy office in Mysore.
- Who
- The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), led by Dr K. Muniratnam Reddy, director (epigraphy).
- What
- Launched the BharatSHRI portal, a free online repository of digitised inscriptions and epigraphical records.
- When
- Exact launch date not stated in the article; the portal is live and will be expanded in phases.
- Where
- India; the portal is hosted at https://bharatshri.asi.gov.in/, with inscriptions from Telangana being digitised and records previously accessible only at the ASI Mysore office.
- Why
- To provide researchers and the public with authentic, first-hand historical sources free of cost and preserve India's cultural heritage.
- Portal Name
- BharatSHRI (Bharat Shared Repository of Inscriptions)
- Launching Agency
- Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)
- Website
- https://bharatshri.asi.gov.in/
- Metadata Records
- 13,986
- Transcripts
- 9,967
- Digitised Estampages
- 10,116
- Telangana Inscriptions Being Digitised
- Around 6,000 (Satavahana period to medieval era)
- Planned Total Inscriptions
- More than 80,000