HYDERABAD: The work on restoration of 30 of the 72 monuments at the Qutb Shahi Heritage Park in the old city here will be completed next year. And, the entire project is expected to take 10 years for completion.
With 72 monuments spread over 108 acres, the 400-year-old Qutb Shahi Heritage Park or ‘Seven Tombs’ is a unique necropolis comprising gardens, mosques, wells, etc that have been devoid of its due share of respect. Experts associated with the ongoing conservation of the heritage monuments believe that the site will transform into a major international heritage attraction after completion of the restoration work.
The Aga Khan Trust for Culture, which restored Delhi’s Humayun’s Tomb which has 50 monuments spread over 300 acres ,in its first not-for-profit public- private partnership conservation project in the country, has taken up the Qutb Shahi Heritage Park apart from many other international conservation projects.
Principal secretary (tourism) BP Acharya, addressing the media from the tombs on Tuesday, said that following the memorandum of understanding signed between the department of state archaeology and AKTC in January 2013, conservation work had been taken up in November 2013. According to him, the work will be completed in 10 years in a phased manner. AKTC is spending over Rs 100 crore on conservation-restoration and the state Rs 85 crore on landscaping and museums.
Project director Ritesh Nanda said the conservation work using the traditional lime mortar prepared on site would ensure the survival of the monuments for another 500 years. Of the 72 monuments, conservation of 30 will be completed by 2016. Conservation work began in the south-western end, ensuring that 75 per cent of the heritage park is open to visitors at any given time. Of the 72, twenty are major monuments.
In the last one and a half years, experts have reconstructed 600 cu.m of western wall of the Badi Baoli. Jumshed Quli Qutb Shah’s tomb, which has almost deteriorated, has been restored. Enclosure of Sultan Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk’s tomb has been unearthed 9 feet below the ground. A traditional lime- based roof layer has been built for Abdullah’s mosque after removing 400 tonnes of concrete. Conservation work commenced at Fatima Sultana’s tomb, the Idgah, Muhammed Quli Qutb Shah’s tomb, Hamam and several other minor monuments.