22. Abdullah Mosque
Many of the Qutb Shahi sultans and nobles built scores of mosques throughout their period, one such mosque is the Abdhullah mosque situated at the north of Abdullah’s Tomb built during the king reign. It is flanked on two sides with two large minarets and two smaller minarets at the back - a feature which started from the period of Muhammed Quli Qutb Shahi - which is also seen at the Char Minar. The style and architectural details in the monument dates to the highly evolved period of the Deccani Style of architecture.
Inappropriate 20th century repairs had caused significant deterioration to the structure and the mosque committee approached the Wakf Tribunal seeking urgent repairs by the Department of Archaeology. AKTC was in turn requested to undertake the repairs.
Outcome
- Following investigations, over 40 cm of cement concrete and loose lime concrete weighing over 120 tonnes was removed from the roof of the Mosque.
- The existing water spouts were cleared of vegetation and repaired to ensure quick disposal of rainwater.
- Following which 15 cm of fresh lime concrete was laid on the roof to adequate slope and to original levels.
- The loose plaster from parapet walls were dismantled and fresh lime plaster was applied to the internal surface of the parapet wall.
- The damaged and broken stone chajjas below the parapet wall were repaired.
- The loose and damaged plaster from the external surface from the ground upto the parapet chajjas was dismantled on the west, north and south side.
- Fresh coat of lime plaster was applied to the external surface from ground upto the chajjas. This required over 600 square meters of wall surface to be plastered.
- Missing dressed stones on the base of front minarets were replaced with stones of similar texture and colour. 15 damaged stones were replaced.
- The lattice screens on the north and south side were repaired.
- All the cement plaster from the internal surface was dismantled.
- The cells were cleaned of the debris exposing the decorative dressed stone columns.
- Fresh coat of lime plaster was applied to the entire surface up to 2 meters height exposing the dressed stones.
- The internal surface above 2 meters was cleaned with soft tools and brushes to expose the original lime surface clearing the algae and lime wash.
Next Steps:
- Restoration of the highly ornate merlons on the parapet walls.
- Restoration of the lattice screens in the openings on parapet walls.
- Final finish of the external plaster.
- The missing details on the minars would be replaced and repaired.
- The damaged portions of the front surface would be restored.
- The existing paving outside the monument would be lowered to its original level based on evidences on site.
- Restore the roof medallion.
- Restore the internal surface completely with final finish of lime putty.
- Repair the internal stone flooring
- Lower the level of the external courtyard to expose steps to mosque chamber
23. Tomb of Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah
Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah (1581- 1611), the fourth king of the Qutb Shahi dynasty laid the foundation of Hyderabad. During his reign, the dynasty reached the zenith of its material and cultural life. Well versed in Persian, Urdu and Telugu, he composed verses with clarity of thought and pure diction.
The majestic tomb built in AD 1602, is one of the largest tombs at the Qutb Shahi heritage park complex reaching to a total height of 60 m. Raised on a vaulted structure which houses the original grave of the Sultan, it marks the beginning of the double terraced tomb construction. The upper terrace consists of a recessed bay at the center on all four sides. Each of these are supported by two large granite pillars, 7m high and supported brackets which recall the influence of Vijayanagara architecture. The bulbous dome sits majestically and looms large over the entire area.
A. Restoration of the Dome
One of the largest dome in the complex, this has developed cracks and large portions of plaster have also fallen from various portions. Based on a top to bottom approach, it is necessary to fix the dome marking the beginning of the conservation works on the monument. The dome over 10 meters in radius and over 15 meters in height has an approximate area of 1600 square meters.
Outcome
- The erection of scaffolding on this huge dome has been started in the last week of December.
- Owing to the huge size and the design of the structure, the scaffoldings have to be erected with caution which is expected to complete in around 60 days.
- Around 50 sets of scaffoldings have been erected.
Next Steps
- Complete the erection of over 800 sets of scaffoldings around the dome for the commencement of works.
- Install alloy chain on the dome which would ease the vertical movement as well as future maintenance of the dome.
- Commence with the restoration works on the dome.
- Following repairs to the dome, conservation works on the mausoleum will be carried out as with those nearing completion at the tomb of Jamshed Quli Qutb.
B. Discovery of tiles in the crypt
The crypt of the monument was covered with inappropriate stone flooring. Also, the original levels of the monument had been tampered. The entry to this monument looks quite inappropriate as compared to the grandeur of the monument. To determine the levels and understand the nature of the support, it was necessary to make trial trenches at strategic locations. This would also provide some clues of a grander entry.
Action Taken
- Trial trenches were made at strategic locations at the crypt of the monument to reveal the linkages of the supporting structure to the main structure.
- Trial trenches however revealed heaps of tiles which might have fallen from monuments. They had been covered with earth.
- Five different colours of tiles belonging to the Qutb Shahi period were found.
- Some of the pieces of tiles had multiple colours and patterns similar to the ones remaining on the Tomb of Ibrahim Quli.
- Literature studies revealed the mention of the use of tiles on this monument.
- The samples of tiles have been sent to laboratory along with other tiles for testing of composition and dating of the tiles.