India’s historic Qutb Shahi Heritage Park, which spans 106 acres – more than double the area of the Taj Mahal complex – and comprises of 40 mausoleums and 23 mosques dating back 170 years, is being restored as part of a 10-year conversation project in Hyderabad, the capital of the southern state of Telangana.

The site, made of the Qutb Shahi Tombs Complex and Deccan Park, was established by the Qutb Shahi dynasty in the 16th and 17th centuries, and is said to be “one of the most significant historic medieval necropolises in the world”. Alongside numerous mosques and mausoleums, the park also includes six step-wells, a hammam, and pavilions as well as water and garden structures. ... Featuring tombs of all eight rulers of the Qutb Shahi dynasty, the park is said to be the only surviving complex that showcases the different architectural styles used throughout an entire dynasty as one ensemble piece. The historic structures feature lime stucco ornamentation, intricate incised plasterwork and glazed tile work.

The restoration project was signed by India’s Department of Archaeology and Museum (DAM), Quli Qutb Shah Urban Development Authority (QQSUDA) and the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) in 2013, but significant restoration works were undertaken last year with additional funding from the Indian government as well as the US Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation.