Interpreting Heritage Through Experience: DRONAH

At the intersection of research, design, and storytelling, DRONAH crafts immersive environments that translate India’s layered cultural narratives into experiential journeys. Their museum and exhibition projects move beyond static display, weaving together philosophy, ecology, and living traditions to create spaces that engage both intellect and emotion. At the International Horticulture Exhibition 2019 in Yanqing, Beijing, the India Garden emerged as a sensory landscape rooted in the theme of harmony between humans and nature. Conceived through the lens of Yogic philosophy, the garden unfolds as a sequence of experiential zones engaging the five senses- moving from forests to orchards, and integrating art, music, aromas, and flavours. Anchored in Indian concepts of time, space, and consciousness, the design reflects a cyclical worldview, where physical and metaphysical realms converge. Its nuanced interpretation of cultural symbolism earned India the Golden Award in the Outdoor Garden category, underscoring its global resonance. At Sanchi Stupa, the John Marshall Museum and Buddhist Theme Park extends this narrative approach into a contemplative landscape. Spread across 17 acres, the park translates Buddhist teachings into spatial experiences- from pavilions embodying the Four Noble Truths to the immersive ‘Jataka Vana’ maze that interweaves storytelling and learning. Digital interpretation centres, meditation spaces, and curated landscapes enrich the visitor journey, while installations such as the water-based depiction of Queen Maya’s dream bridge mythology and technology. Recognised at the SIIA Systems Integration India Awards 2021, the project exemplifies the integration of infotainment with heritage interpretation. The Ganga and Patli Gallery at Patna Museum offers a layered narrative of the river as Bihar’s cultural and ecological spine. Structured along the journey of the Ganga River, the gallery moves from mythological origins to geological formations, mapping seven cultural zones shaped by its flow. Through immersive displays, it traces the rise of Magadh- from Rajgir to Pataliputra- before culminating in living traditions such as Chhath. In doing so, it presents the river not merely as geography, but as a living continuum of identity. At the historic Belvedere Estate, the Museum of Word reimagines language as a cultural artefact. Developed for the National Library of India, the museum explores India’s linguistic diversity through both written and oral traditions. DRONAH’s role spans curation, artefact selection, and spatial design, alongside conservation oversight of the estate. The result is a pioneering institution that frames language as a unifying thread- demonstrating how multiplicity and coexistence shape the cultural fabric of the nation.