Vav ni Dharohar: An Interactive Mobile App with AR Experience of UNESCO World Heritage Site "Rani-ki-Vav"
Jan 2026, Vol. 4, No. 1, Issue
Author(s)
Harshil Bhandari (Dhirubhai Ambani University, DAIICT-campus, Gandhinagar, Gujarat)
Anupam Rana (Dhirubhai Ambani University, DAIICT-campus, Gandhinagar, Gujarat)
Abstract
Digital technology and artificial intelligence are powerful tools for documenting and modeling historic architecture. Yet there remains a substantial need to present information about symbolism, construction, and purpose in accessible, standardized, and engaging forms, especially on-site. This paper presents the design and development of a mobile application that leverages Augmented Reality (AR) to enable visitors to scan sculptures at the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Rani-ki-Vav, and receive detailed breakdowns of iconography, construction techniques, and cultural symbolism. We adapted the original kiosk-based system to enable portable, personalized engagement via smartphone, retaining all research stakeholders, methodology, and content strategies. Human-centered design guided app development, and extensive stakeholder engagement ensured cultural and linguistic inclusivity. This approach demonstrates how AR mobile technology enhances heritage interpretation, accessibility, and visitor satisfaction.
Keywords
Augmented Reality, Interaction Design, historical monument, Rani-ki-Vav, UX Research, Human-Centred Design, UNESCO World Heritage Site
DOI :
Copyright & Licence
Authors publishing in JAARD retain copyright in their work and grant the journal the right of first publication. Published articles are made available under the Creative Commons licence specified by the journal. Current licence: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Dates
Published: 30th Jan 2026
Received: 16th Oct 2025
Accepted: 8th Dec 2025
Pages : 33-42
Citation
Bhandari, H., & Rana, A. (2026). Vav ni Dharohar: An interactive mobile app with AR experience of UNESCO World Heritage Site “Rani-ki-Vav”. International Journal of Arts, Architecture & Design, 4(1), 33–42. https://doi.org/10.62030/2026Janpaper3
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