Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has now allowed general photography exclusively for visitors by using handheld cameras and mobile phones, without flash.
Good news! The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) posted on X today on 21 November 2024 about the new guidelines of Photography and Videography at ASI museums that they now allowed general photography at all the archaeological site museums and exhibitions, exclusively for visitors using handheld cameras and mobile phones (without flash).
In their announcement, they posted that photography, using handheld cameras as well as mobile phones, will be allowed in their museums now onwards, provided that they be used without flash.
So make sure that you turn off that automatic or forced flash mode when you're in there and use the flash always off mode in your phone or handheld camera settings.
However, they also further notified that prior permission will be required for professional videography and photography utilising tripods or stands and documentary shoots or photography for academic purposes.
In our opinion, this should have been allowed by them way back itself and we've often wondered why were we not allowed to take pictures of our own wonderful heritage in our own country. Anyway, even though much belated, this is an appreciable move by the ASI.
For after all, a picture speaks a thousand words and obviously one picture of the actual sculpture or relic will speak more and better than anything that we may describe it in mere words.
We remember the days when photography was fully prohibited in their museums during our visit and returning disappointed because we had wanted to take a picture of some models and sculptures in the museums.
But not anymore, for now the average traveller or tourist will get a chance to take a picture of India's glorious heritage (without using flash, of course) in the ASI museums or exhibitions.
This is one thing we're looking forward on our next travel and a visit to one of those museums. How about you?
Note : Just remember that this applies to the archaeological site museums and exhibitions by the ASI only and not to other museums or exhibitions run by other organisations which may have their own set of rules or regulations pertaining to this subject.