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| Source: The Aga Khan Trust for Culture. |
The restoration of the 11-acre Batashewala complex in Delhi, India – undertaken by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture in collaboration with the Archaeological Survey of India with a grant from the US Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation – has been completed.
The Complex, which is adjacent to the Humayun’s Tomb world heritage site, had suffered from decades of neglect and inappropriate development. The complex encompasses three 16th century garden-tombs, including the tomb of Mirza Muzaffar Hussain, grand-nephew of Emperor Humayun and son-in-law of Emperor Akbar.
The conservation effort, begun by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture in 2011,worked to reverse the damage through a multi-disciplinary effort aimed at restoring the historic architectural character of the site. Traditional materials and building techniques were employed in order to replace 20th century alterations carried out with modern materials, such as cement. Portions of the structures and the enclosure walls – demolished in 1989 to create a camp site – were reconstructed. The Mughal char-bagh landscape design of the two enclosed gardens were restored. Trees favoured by the Mughals – mango, neem, citrus, amongst others – were planted.
The Batashewala complex will eventually be connected to the other gardens through the Humayun’s Tomb Site Museum, which began construction on 7 April 2015.
Read our blog post on the Humayun's Tomb Site Museum here.
Read our blog post on the Humayun's Tomb Site Museum here.