Pinnacle of Deccani Architecture Unique Necropolis of Qutb Shahi’s Architectural Significance
The architectural style of Qutb Shahi monuments develops from the earlier Bahmani style and is a synthesis of Pathan, Hindu forms and can be seen to be evolving over 17 decades. Surviving as a ‘Heritage Park’, and presently nominated to the tentative list of world heritage monuments, visitor experience and understanding of these diverse building types could help form the critical ‘first impression’ of the Qutb Shahi heritage for visitors en-route to Golconda and prior to visiting Charminar and other Qutb Shahi built heritage of Hyderabad. With the tomb structures of all eight rulers of the Qutb Shahi Sultans located here the ensemble provides a unique understanding of culture of the era. The necropolis is the only surviving complex of this nature where architectural styles used during an entire significant dynasty are found in one ensemble. During the Qutb Shahi period, these tombs were held in great veneration but after their reign, the complex fell into neglect. Comprises of over 70 structures encompassing 40 mausoleums, 23 mosques, 6 baolis, a hamam, pavilions, garden structures and enclosure walls. Many of these rival the greatest Mughal structures in scale and represent almost two centuries of funerary architecture. No other ensemble of structures in the Deccani kingdoms of Ahmednagar, Berar, Bidar, Bijapur or Gulbarga includes as many monuments of striking grandeur and complexity reflecting a unique synthesis of architectural styles.
Improving Quality of Life Historic Landscapes Restored Architectural Conservation
In keeping with the AKTC objectives, the project will establish a model conservation process that would include greater public-private partnership for conservation of our built and intangible heritage, extend the craft based conservation approach adopted at various sites worldwide, include training opportunities for archaeologists and conservation professionals, demonstrate that conservation effort can lead to improved Quality of Life and socio- economic development of communities residing in historic neighbourhoods. The connections with Golconda Fort will be revived allowing the site to serve as a starting point for the Qutb Shahi trail of Hyderabad leading to a significant interest in its heritage both locally and internationally. Nearly 15 hectares within the Heritage Park are being converted into an ecological zone by introducing appropriate tree species and enhancing bird habitat unique to the region. Thereby creating suitable and significant heritage zones wrapped by ecological and formal landscapes. The monuments in Qutb Shahi Heritage Park are built in a unique architectural style which is an integration of Persian, Pathan and Hindu forms, built in granite and lavishly embellished with lime- stucco ornamentation. Surfaces of the historic buildings are ornamented with intricate incised plasterwork and few monuments also bear glazed tilework. Each structure, especially the tombs stand within wide terraces, and together comprise a magnificent ensemble.

Project Background

The Qutb Shahi Heritage Park is a unique site with no other necropolis, anywhere in the world, matching the grandeur, diversity and completeness – the latter as mausoleums representing the entire reign of the Qutb Shahi’s stand here. Apart from the tombs the site boasts of several mosques, large baolis or step-wells, garden structures and one standing hamam or bath-house.

With the Aga Khan Development Network and the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust & Allied Trusts both committed to undertaking development projects in Hyderabad, it was in 2011 that the Tomb complex was first considered to be the focus of a major urban conservation project coupled with landscape restoration. The state government was welcoming from the start and this led to a collaborative exercise to carry out an exhaustive architectural documentation of the structures and topographical surveys in 2012.

Following an improved understanding of the site, conservation requirements as well as landscape strategy formulated by landscape architect M Shaheer (Shaheer Associates) an integrated Conservation Plan was submitted in 2012 to the Department of Archaeology & Museums and the Qutb Shah Urban Development Authority (in whose possession Deccan Park presently is).

The MoU between Department of Archaeology & Museums (DAM), Qutb Shah Urban Development Authority (QSHUDA), Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) and the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) was signed on 9 January 2013 and shortly thereafter the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust & Allied Trusts agreed to provide funds to undertake conservation works on 10 principal monuments over a five year period.

However, on 22 January 2013, on the petition of a group of vested interests possibly seeking to encroach land, the Wakf Tribunal passed orders preventing AKTC from undertaking any conservation works. This order was vacated nine months later, following public outcry, when the 16th century Badi Baoli collapsed in excessive rains and several other monuments suffered similar deterioration.

Since November 2013, with the enthusiastic support, supervision and guidance of the Department of Archaeology & Museums, Government of Telangana, conservation works, including dangerous and major repairs on the Badi Baoli have now been undertaken. Of critical importance was to setup local sources for traditional building materials – lime, granite, sand of superior quality and to set up the infrastructure required to implement a major 10 year conservation project.

The Conservation Plan was Peer Reviewed prior to commencing works. Department of Archaeology & Museums, Sir Dorabji Tata Trust & Allied Trusts and AKTC are in agreement that a project of this scale will benefit from annual independent expert review in addition to the quarterly Project Committee meetings.

The commencing of conservation works has confirmed the significant alteration the structures have suffered through the 19th and 20th centuries wherein stucco plaster patterns have been altered beyond comparison, glazed ceramic tile-work simply plastered over, extensive use of cement mortar has been used accelerating decay and deterioration. It is understood that while evidence of original treatment has survived on one or more structures, in most cases there is only an understanding of past alterations and accordingly will reflect on the conservation strategy.

Stucco plaster patterns on each of the 72 structures standing within the complex present a unique conservation challenge, with several alterations, including with cement, carried out in the past. Early on, together with the accumulation of archival photographs and material, a matrix was developed to enable decision making with regard to the repair or replacement of stucco plaster patterns.

A grant of the US Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation has allowed one season of archaeological excavations to be undertaken and has revealed several structures still analysed that reveal without doubt that residential buildings also stood within the ‘tomb complex’. Extensive water features – aqueducts, baths fed with terracotta pipes have also come to light.

Significantly, remnants of enclosure walls have now established that both the tomb of the first king, Sultan Quli Qutb Shah as well as the tomb of Ibrahim Quli Qutb Shah stood within enclosed gardens – thus negating the commonly held belief that unlike the Mughals in the north – the Qutb Shahi’s did not build enclosed gardens to site the tombs. These discoveries will inform the landscape restoration.

On the request of the committee’s responsible to conduct the Friday or Eid prayers, conservation works have also commenced on Abdulla’s Mosque where several tonnes of cement concrete needed to be removed from the roof and at the Idgah where over 30 layers of paint had covered the intricate 16th century stucco plaster patterns.

Building on the works carried out in 2014, the emphasis of conservation works in 2015-16 will be the south-west quadrant where conservation works and landscape restoration would be carried out hand-in-hand.

The commencing of conservation works has confirmed the significant alteration the structures have suffered through the 19th and 20th centuries wherein stucco plaster patterns have been altered beyond comparison, glazed ceramic tile-work simply plastered over, extensive use of cement mortar has been used accelerating decay and deterioration. It is understood that while evidence of original treatment has survived on one or more structures, in most cases there is only an understanding of past alterations and accordingly will reflect on the conservation strategy.

Stucco plaster patterns on each of the 72 structures standing within the complex present a unique conservation challenge, with several alterations, including with cement, carried out in the past. Early on, together with the accumulation of archival photographs and material, a matrix was developed to enable decision making with regard to the repair or replacement of stucco plaster patterns.

A grant of the US Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation has allowed one season of archaeological excavations to be undertaken and has revealed several structures still analysed that reveal without doubt that residential buildings also stood within the ‘tomb complex’. Extensive water features – aqueducts, baths fed with terracotta pipes have also come to light.

Significantly, remnants of enclosure walls have now established that both the tomb of the first king, Sultan Quli Qutb Shah as well as the tomb of Ibrahim Quli Qutb Shah stood within enclosed gardens – thus negating the commonly held belief that unlike the Mughals in the north – the Qutb Shahi’s did not build enclosed gardens to site the tombs. These discoveries will inform the landscape restoration. On the request of the committee’s responsible to conduct the Friday or Eid prayers, conservation works have also commenced on Abdulla’s Mosque where several tonnes of cement concrete needed to be removed from the roof and at the Idgah where over 30 layers of paint had covered the intricate 16th century stucco plaster patterns.

Building on the works carried out in 2014, the emphasis of conservation works in 2015-16 will be the south-west quadrant where conservation works and landscape restoration would be carried out hand-in-hand.