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. The majestic tomb built in 1602, is one of the largest tombs at the Qutb Shahi heritage park complex reaching to a total height of 60 m. Conservation works included removal of cement plaster, which were a later addition, and restored using lime plaster which was originally used on the dome, wall surfaces and plinth.
The present flooring in the upper chamber will be replaced with granite stone blocks/slabs, maintaining the original levels and slopes. Other missing damaged and decorative plasterwork will also be restored.
Conservation of the Dome
The dome over 10 meters in radius and over 15 meters in height has an approximate area of 1600 square meters. It had signs of deterioration with cracks on the surface permitting water ingress and vegetation growth. On inspection, the dome was found to be covered with cement mortar thereby causing the original lime plaster below to disintegrate.
The merlons below the dome were damaged in portions and the ornate band below had vegetation growth loosening the mortar and causing moisture retention inside. The drum below was also finished with cement mortar and had signs of deterioration.
OUTCOME:
- Erection of scaffolding on the entire dome surface was carried out simultaneously. On account of the large scale of the dome, this was both a very challenging and risky endeavour.
- At the onset all the cement and loose lime plaster from the dome was carefully dismantled.
- Removal of cement revealed holes that were up to 1.1 meters deep in the dome surface and which were thought to be have been made during 20th century repairs to support the scaffolding and later superficially filled without adequate protection against water ingress into the dome’s masonry. All such holes were carefully repaired with stone masonry in lime mortar.
- 1600 square meters of surface was plastered with traditional lime mortar.
- Over two dozen craftsmen were simultaneously engaged on the dome for the duration of the re-plastering to minimize the joints in successive layers of lime plaster.
- The merlons were repaired with the original details cleaned and finished while missing portions restored.
- The missing portions of the ornate band below the merlons were also similarly restored carefully matching the original in all respects.
Conservation of the External Surfaces
The external surface below the dome had signs of ageing of the final finish and thin layer of finish was flaking at several portions. Modern repairs had been carried out in cement which led to further damage to the underlying lime plaster. Vegetation growth was also seen in many portions of the surface.
OUTCOME:
- After cleaning the monument manually using brushes and water, any loose plaster and cement was dismantled
- The battlements were repaired and restored using traditional lime mortar.
- The four corner minarets 7 m tall were also repaired and covered with a final finish of lime plaster.
- The intricate flower bands, arch details were restored by master craftsmen with traditional lime mortar.
- New granite stones were fixed to the existing rainwater spout for drainage of rainwater away from the terrace and to ensure no water seepage occurs into the monument from these points.
- The projected gallery with highly ornate stucco patterns below the minarets have been repaired at portions and finished with a final coat of matured lime putty with additives.
- The plain plastered surface below the projected gallery has been repaired at portions with traditional lime mortar and covered with the final coat of lime putty.
- The lower recessed portions leading to the doorways had highly ornate patterns which were covered with paint. All the layers of paint were removed and the galleries were restored.
- On inspection, it was found that the principal tomb chamber originally had openings on all four sides with the openings on the north and the south closed at a later date. The external facade of the doorways was marked with ornate bands on all sides. Except for the east side, these bands were tampered and covered with modern layers in cement. The bands on the south and the north side have been restored.
Conservation of the Tomb Chamber
The internal portion of the dome spans 12 meters in height springing from a 16 sided polygon above the terrace level. A large floral medallion measuring 3.85 meters in radius ornaments the domed ceiling. The central medallion and the internal surface above the terrace level were covered with several layers of paint. The openings at the terrace level were covered with cement lattice screens.
OUTCOME:
- On investigation of the loose plaster at the cenotaph level, original details were found to be covered with cement thereby altering the original patterns of mouldings and stucco.
- From the central medallion on the domed ceiling, the cement and modern paint layers were removed, repaired and restored by master craftsmen using traditional lime mortar and natural colours.
- The entire internal surface was cleaned and scrapped manually and the repairs were carried out at necessary portions.
- The cement screens were replaced with non-intrusive MS grills, thereby restricting the entry of birds as well as allow more light and ventilation into the monument.
- The 96 merlons atop the series of arches were documented to detail and carefully conserved with minor missing portions restored.
- Original details at the main cenotaph level were restored as per the evidence revealed on removal of cement plaster. This included arch mouldings, bands, arch crowns restored with lime mortar.
- Dismantling of the cement and loose plaster at the main cenotaph level also revealed the existence of the openings at the north and west side as well. The entire surface was plastered and the openings were marked with recess and grooves.
- The modern panel doors on the south and the east side were replaced with historically appropriate wooden doors.
Parapet Restoration
Archival image revealed that the tomb had a stone block parapet similar to that of the Tomb of Muhammad Qutb Shah and Tomb of Hayat Baksh Begum up till the 19th century sometime after which the existing metal parapet seems to have been installed. The stone edging on the parapet was also found to be missing at several portions.
OUTCOME:
- Over 2 meter long granite stone blocks of matching texture were procured with each stone weighing in excess of 5 tonnes
- The preparation of stone blocks to desired shape, profile, width and height commenced by chiselling down the stone blocks.
NEXT STEPS:
- The dressed stones will be prepared over the next 12-18 months and fixed thereafter.
- Cement concrete from the plinth needs to be removed and replaced with traditional lime mortar and granite stone slabs ensuring long term preservation.
Parapet Restoration
Archival image revealed that the tomb had a stone block parapet similar to that of the Tomb of Muhammad Qutb Shah and Tomb of Hayat Baksh Begum up till the 19th century sometime after which the existing metal parapet seems to have been installed. The stone edging on the parapet was also found to be missing at several portions.
OUTCOME:
- Over 2 meter long granite stone blocks of matching texture were procured with each stone weighing in excess of 5 tonnes
- The preparation of stone blocks to desired shape, profile, width and height commenced by chiselling down the stone blocks.
NEXT STEPS:
- The dressed stones will be prepared over the next 12-18 months and fixed thereafter.
- Cement concrete from the plinth needs to be removed and replaced with traditional lime mortar and granite stone slabs ensuring long term preservation.
Restoration of the Crypt
This structure is the only tomb in the complex with the grave chamber accessible. The documentation of this crypt level reveals that the monument was enlarged with a peripheral bay created at a date later than the original construction. It was also discovered that ground/ earth levels in the crypt have been insensitively altered with original levels of the peripheral bay being significantly lower originally. There were alterations made to the facade by blocking arched openings with brick lattice screens, which had also disfigured the original form and design of the structure.
OUTCOME:
- In an effort to determine original floor levels, clearance of earth dumped within the crypt has been carried out at several points in the crypt.
- This has revealed that for the original extent of the building large boulders served as the flooring.
- In the peripheral section, where two bays have been added at a later date, the lime concrete flooring was found almost 50 cm. below existing levels.
- Two feet depth of earth has been removed from the two peripheral bays and almost one foot depth removed from the original limit of the monument.
NEXT STEPS:
- The intrusive brick screens on the elevation of the ground level were additions made during the late 1980’s and will be removed completely and replaced with simple recessed metal grills to limit visitor access while allowing ventilation and restoring view corridors.
- The floor levels will be restored to drain water away from the monument.
IMPACT:
The completion of the restoration works on the external facade up to the plinth level has not only ensured long term preservation but also revived the original intent of the builder. The indication of doorways has revealed new facts that these monuments would have been open on all the sides and would be an important investigation in all the monuments built later to this.
Restoration of the Crypt
This structure is the only tomb in the complex with the grave chamber accessible. The documentation of this crypt level reveals that the monument was enlarged with a peripheral bay created at a date later than the original construction. It was also discovered that ground/ earth levels in the crypt have been insensitively altered with original levels of the peripheral bay being significantly lower originally. There were alterations made to the facade by blocking arched openings with brick lattice screens, which had also disfigured the original form and design of the structure.
OUTCOME:
- In an effort to determine original floor levels, clearance of earth dumped within the crypt has been carried out at several points in the crypt.
- This has revealed that for the original extent of the building large boulders served as the flooring.
- In the peripheral section, where two bays have been added at a later date, the lime concrete flooring was found almost 50 cm. below existing levels.
- Two feet depth of earth has been removed from the two peripheral bays and almost one foot depth removed from the original limit of the monument.
NEXT STEPS:
- The intrusive brick screens on the elevation of the ground level were additions made during the late 1980’s and will be removed completely and replaced with simple recessed metal grills to limit visitor access while allowing ventilation and restoring view corridors.
- The floor levels will be restored to drain water away from the monument.
IMPACT:
The completion of the restoration works on the external facade up to the plinth level has not only ensured long term preservation but also revived the original intent of the builder. The indication of doorways has revealed new facts that these monuments would have been open on all the sides and would be an important investigation in all the monuments built later to this.
Muhammad Qutb Shah’s Tomb
This monumental mausoleum stands just north of the Badi Baoli. Traces of ceramic glazed tile-work on the petals on the dome, mouldings and on the neck of the dome are visible; the latter being when the 20th century plaster on the dome has fallen. Archival photographs revealed that the entire dome was tiled and there is a strong possibility that much of the original tile-work remains below the 20th century plaster layer. This is the only dome in the complex which, in the Iranian tradition, would have been tiled completely.
Samples of tiles have been tested at three scientific centres to understand their physical and chemical composition. Experiments are now ongoing to produce a glaze layer matching the colour of the existing tiles. It is planned to begin removing the 20th century plaster layers from the dome surface to understand the extent of tiles remaining on the dome, with or without their glazing layer. Restoring tilework to portions of the dome should be attempted where this is missing, to ensure authenticity of material, form and design as well as structural stability as this is more a protective layer even if ornamental in appearance.