Pictorial Report of Conservation Works: Qutb Shahi Heritage Park, Hyderabad

AGA KHAN DEVELOPMENT NETWORK
Pictorial report of Conservation Works

Qutb Shahi Heritage Park, Hyderabad
February 2018
QUTB SHAHI HERITAGE PARK
Contents
1. MAJOR MONUMENTS
- IBRAHIM QULI QUTB SHAH’S TOMB .......................................................... 04
- MUHAMMAD QULI QUTB SHAH’S TOMB ......................................................... 07
- KULSUM BEGUM’S TOMB ......................................................... 12
- HAKIM’S TOMB ......................................................... 14
2. SITE LANDSCAPE
- PHASE 1 ......................................................... 19
3. VISITS
- IRANIAN PRESIDENT ......................................................... 24
- SECRETARY TOURISM, GOVT. OF INDIA ......................................................... 25
- US AMBASSADOR TO INDIA ......................................................... 25
4. NEWS ARTICLES ......................................................... 26
AGA KHAN TRUST FOR CULTURE 3

Ibrahim Quli Qutb Shah’s Tomb
Cement concrete was removed from the plinth to reveal the original lime
concrete below, which was found damaged in large portions.
FEBRUARY-MARCH, 2018 4
A fresh coat of traditional lime concrete was laid for base of 30 mm

thick stone slabs.

30 mm thick stone slabs were laid to approved pattern and slopes above the
lime concrete layer to withstand the footfall ensuring long term preservation.
Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah’s Tomb
2018

At the lower tier of the crypt, 30 mm thick stones have been installed as per
approved slopes and patterns on the north, west, south and north east side.
2013
2018
Less obtrusive iron grills have been installed replacing the brick lattice screens.
These grills have been fixed on the inner edge of the arches thereby not
tarnishing the character of the crypt facade.

Cement plaster on the north, west, and southern facade have been replaced
with lime plaster with restoration of original vertican and horizontal bands
revealed during the removal of cement.
During the removal of cement plaster from the central facade on the eastern
facade, original arch mouldings and arch crowns were revealed. These details
are being repaired and restored in the damaged and missing portions.

Kulsum Begum’s Tomb
Cement and limewash from the internal facade of the mausoleum is being
carefully removed to reveal original surface and details.
The central medallion on the dome has been carefully cleaned to reveal original
details which are being restored in lime mortar.
A thin layer of plaster is being applied on the internal surface of dome following
the removal of damaged portions of the plaster.
Cement concrete has been dismantled from the plinth abutting main
mausoleum revealing the original lme concrete which is in state of disrepair.

Hakims’ Tomb
The dome of the tomb to the west was carefully re-plastered with
the ribs and the protrusions carefully marked as per the original.
Later added cement finial Removal of cement finial

The copper finial was carefully installed on top of the dome after placing
adequate skeleton inside to withstand strong winds and rains.
The highly intricate geometric details below the stone eaves have been
carefully repaired and restored by skilled lime craftsmen engaged over 60 days

The diamond shaped band on the dome, along with other decorative bands
have been repaired after removal of cement layer on top.
Site Landscape: Phase 1
2013
2018

Laying of pathway along the north of Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah’s tomb.
Grass was planted along the pathway and is being maintained.
80 mm thick plinth protection has been laid On the north and the west side of
Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah’s tomb.
On the west, shallow drain has been made in stone to ensure proper surface
water runoff during
Plantation of rains.
grass after necessary grading of earth

Granite stone coping laid on the

2013
raised plinth wall of unknown tombs 10-13
Necessary toe-walls have been built at strategic locations to ensure

necessary earth Pathway
around west
the of tomb oftrees
existing Sultanare
Quli to 2018
notbe affected
laid
Trench drains are being installed following careful calculations of the levels on
the south eastern edge of the enclosure wall ensuring drainage of surface water
runoff towards the Idgah Baoli.

Visits
His Excellency, Hassan Rouhani, the president of Iran visited the site on
16th February, 2018
Smt. Rashmi Verma, IAS, Secretary Tourism, Govt. Of India visited the site on
21st February, 2018
The US Ambassador to India, Kenneth I Juster and the US Consul-General,

Katherine B Hadda visited the site on 28th February, 2018
AGA KHAN TRUST FOR

FEBRUARY-MARCH, 2018
CULTURE 25
25
News Articles
Andhra Jyoti, 17th February, 2018
Eenadu, 17th February, 2018
Eetemad Urdu Daily, 17th February, 2018
The Munsif Daily, 17th February, 2018

The Hindu, 17th February, 2018
Manam, 17th February, 2018
LIVING HYDERABAD HISTORY & CULTURE
Hyderabad: Crafts, conquerors and continuum
Serish Nanisetti
FEBRUARY 24, 2018 16:00 IST
UPDATED: FEBRUARY 24, 2018 16:01 IST
It’s the craftsmen who had kept alive the legacy of monuments
The dull rhythmic sound of a copper sheet being beaten into shape has a melody of its own. The tak-tak-tak-tak of the
silver foil being beaten into slivers used in wrapping sweets and pans is predictable and heard often near Charminar
and its surrounding areas. But that of copper sheets being beaten on the anvil has a different melody.
Near Chowk Masjid, the sound of copper and brass being beaten into shape and welded into vessels echoes over the
urban cacophony, Azaan from various masjids and zipping vehicles. Inside an arched entrance is the small recessed
room of Muhammad Saleem, one of the master craftsman and a coppersmith. “I have learnt it from my father who used
to make similar objects. He used to make them in Basavakalyan. I have been making it here from the time I was a kid,”
says Saleem.
He has made those tall tapering cones that adorn temples, dargahs, masjids and can be seen from great distances.

Presently, he is working on a finial; that involves cutting, beating and moulding into shape a copper sheet that weighs
about 90 kilograms. “When I first mould it by hammering, it has a dull brown colour. I hammer it again to bring out the
reddish shimmer which lasts longer if the copper is pure,” says Saleem about the 14-feet tall finial in 14 pieces that will
be installed on Hakim’s Tomb at the Qutb Shahi Tombs Complex. The finials moulded by him have been installed in
Bidar, Gulbarga, Bijapur, and many places in Telangana besides a host of sites in Hyderabad.
Incidentally, all the 14 pieces will not be crafted by him. Two of the pieces are from the old finial that used to exist in the
place. So, what Saleem has made has to blend in with what was made centuries ago. In the setting sun as all the copper
pieces are laid out on the ground in a row, the difference of finish on the objects could be easily detected. So can the
similarity. While the pieces made by Saleem have a freshness with the beaten pattern, the older pieces look plain. “I can
create a finish like that. But this will retain the pattern as well as shine for a longer period of time,” says Saleem.
It is craftsmen and metalworkers like this who have played a role in creating and preserving monuments. History is
replete with examples of conquerors who carted away wealth after their successful endeavour.
When Timur conquered Delhi in late 14th Century, his assistants not only calculated the treasure they were taking with
them but took away with them master craftsmen, on the orders of their master.
“I ordered that all the artisans and clever mechanics who were masters of their respective crafts should be selected from
among the prisoners and set aside, and accordingly some thousands of craftsmen were bidden to await my command
All these I distributed among the princes and amirs who were present, or who were officially engaged in other parts of
my dominions. I had determined to build a Jami’ Masjid in Samarkand, the seat of my empire, which should be without
a rival in any country; and for this reason I ordered that all builders and stone-masons should be set apart for my own
especial service,” wrote Timur.
A similar thing happened when the Northern sultanates conquered the Southern kingdom of Vijayanagara in 1565.
Thousands of master craftsmen rendered jobless shifted to the wealthier northern kingdoms resulting an efflorescence
of architecture and craftsmanship including in Golconda that we can now see and admire.
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Printable version | Feb 26, 2018 8:07:34 AM | http://www.thehindu.com/society/history-and-culture/hyderabad-crafts-

conquerors-and-continuum/article22844258.ece
© The Hindu

Deccan Chronicle, 1st March, 2018
Times of India, 1st March, 2018
Hyderabad

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AGA KHAN DEVELOPMENT NETWORK

Pictorial report of Conservation Works

4. NEWS ARTICLES ......................................................... 26

AGA KHAN TRUST FOR CULTURE 3

A fresh coat of traditional lime concrete was laid for base of 30 mm

AGA KHAN TRUST FOR CULTURE 5

AGA KHAN TRUST FOR CULTURE 7

AGA KHAN TRUST FOR CULTURE 9

AGA KHAN TRUST FOR CULTURE 11

AGA KHAN TRUST FOR CULTURE 13

Later added cement finial Removal of cement finial

AGA KHAN TRUST FOR CULTURE 15

AGA KHAN TRUST FOR CULTURE 17

AGA KHAN TRUST FOR CULTURE 19

Grass was planted along the pathway and is being maintained.

AGA KHAN TRUST FOR CULTURE 21

Granite stone coping laid on the

Necessary toe-walls have been built at strategic locations to ensure

AGA KHAN TRUST FOR CULTURE 23

The US Ambassador to India, Kenneth I Juster and the US Consul-General,

AGA KHAN TRUST FOR

Andhra Jyoti, 17th February, 2018

Eenadu, 17th February, 2018

Eetemad Urdu Daily, 17th February, 2018

The Munsif Daily, 17th February, 2018

AGA KHAN TRUST FOR CULTURE 27

The Hindu, 17th February, 2018

Manam, 17th February, 2018

LIVING HYDERABAD HISTORY & CULTURE

Hyderabad: Crafts, conquerors and continuum

AGA KHAN TRUST FOR CULTURE 29

Receive the best of The Hindu delivered to your inbox everyday!

ENTER YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS GO

Printable version | Feb 26, 2018 8:07:34 AM | http://www.thehindu.com/society/history-and-culture/hyderabad-crafts-

The Hindu, 24th February, 2018

The Hindu, 27th February, 2018

AGA KHAN TRUST FOR CULTURE 31

Deccan Chronicle, 1st March, 2018

Times of India, 1st March, 2018

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