With a significant number of Korean visitors at the National Museum, the institution has decided to introduce an audio tour guide in Korean language for viewers' better understanding of India's rich cultural heritage.
The audio guide which was launched here recently, will enable visitors to enjoy a 75 minute-long tour covering 64 masterpieces housed in the museum, including the 2500 BC dancing girl sculpture and the sword of Tipu Sultan, among others.
In collaboration with Korean Cultural Centre India, the initiative is aimed at promoting tourism in India, as well as provide Korean tourists a deeper understanding of Indian history and heritage.
B R Mani, the chief of National Museum, says both nations have cultural similarities and the initiative will help attract more Korean visitors to the museum.
"We have a repository of five thousand years of Indian culture and history at the museum. From first century AD onwards, Buddisht monks and missionaries went to China and later Korea. That is how the Indian culture through Buddhism spread there.
"There has been an increase in the number of Korean visitors here. That's why we decided to have an audio guide specifically for them. The initiative should give further increase in the footfall," says Mani.
Developed by Narrow Casters, an audio tour company, the project incorporates 60 spots at various places in the museum. The spots have been marked with a sign of headphone which will help the users to avail the benefit of the recording.
"The best part of the service is that the audios have been created in conversational style. With the help of museum curators, we have created small stories on different exhibits for the visitors," Christine Sharma, CEO India of Narrow Casters, told PTI.
Sharma says they analyse the number of foreign visitors paying visit to museums and other heritage sites and accordingly select the language.
"Due to several Buddhist relics available at the museum, Korean visitors come to the museum in large numbers. We take help of UN accredited translators to develop and translate audios," Sharma says.
Hyun CHO, ambassador of Republic of Korea to India, who was the chief guest for the event, called the initiative as a step forward in strengthening the cultural relations between the two nations.
"With the audio guide, the museum will be able to attract more Korean visitors who will get an opportunity to understand the Indian cultural heritage in a better way. We should have more such initiatives in other parts of the country as well.
"Cultural exchanges always help in boosting ties between nations and language plays an important role in it," CHO said.
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