Archive · 11 Aug 2026
ASI Digitises 3,500 Ancient Inscriptions for Online Access
A long time ago, people in India wrote important messages on thin sheets of metal called copper plates.
These writings told about kings giving land to temples and religious groups.
Some of these plates are among the oldest written records in southern India.
For a long time, only a few people could see them, and researchers had to write letters to ask for copies.
Now, a group called the Archaeological Survey of India has taken pictures of more than 3,500 of these old writings.
Anyone can see them on a website called Bharat SHRI from home.
The website helps students and history lovers learn about kings like Ehavala Chamtamula and Rudrapurushadatta.
The writings also teach us about how Buddhism and other religions were supported long ago.
Some old records still cannot go online because of a court case.
This makes studying history much easier for everyone.
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has digitised more than 3,500 inscriptions from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh on the Bharat SHRI website (bharatshri.asi.gov.in).
The 3rd-century CE Patagandigudem copper plate inscriptions, among the earliest copper plate records from south India, are now available digitally.
The plates, kept in the Telangana State Museum, Hyderabad, record a land grant by Ikshvaku ruler Ehavala Chamtamula to support a Buddhist community and monastery maintenance.
Inscriptions from Phanigiri extend the known reign of Ikshvaku ruler Rudrapurushadatta from 11 years to 18 years.
Around 27,000 records have not been digitised due to a pending court case, according to ASI epigraphy director Dr K. Muniratnam Reddy.
- Who
- The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and its director of epigraphy, Dr K. Muniratnam Reddy.
- What
- Digitised more than 3,500 ancient inscriptions from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh and made them available on the Bharat SHRI website.
- When
- The digitised records are currently being uploaded; the inscriptions themselves date from the 3rd century CE onwards, including records from 1886 to 2014.
- Where
- Hyderabad (where the copper plates are preserved in the Telangana State Museum), with the digital records hosted at bharatshri.asi.gov.in.
- Why
- To make inscriptions easily accessible for researchers and history enthusiasts from anywhere, replacing the earlier time-consuming process of writing to the ASI for copies.
- Website
- bharatshri.asi.gov.in (Bharat SHRI)
- Digitised inscriptions
- More than 3,500 from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh
- Earliest records
- 3rd-century CE Patagandigudem copper plate inscriptions
- Issued during reign of
- Ikshvaku ruler Ehavala Chamtamula
- Location of copper plates
- Telangana State Museum, Hyderabad
- Records not digitised
- 27,000, due to a pending court case
- Record periods online
- Telangana records 1886-2014 in Andhra Pradesh section; post-2014 records in Telangana column
- ASI official quoted
- Dr K. Muniratnam Reddy, director (epigraphy)