Nearly four centuries after it was built, the Mecca Masjid near Charminar in Hyderabad is undergoing one of the most significant restorations. Two sections of the masjid have been sealed to allow workers to carry on the work in an unfettered manner.

....

Like almost all the old buildings in Hyderabad which have been subjected to unscientific restoration efforts over the years, the Department of Archaeology and Museums had to remove multiple layers of the ceiling. “The ceiling had a layer that was nearly 1.5 feet which we had to remove. Dozens of trucks were used to remove the debris from the terrace. It even had a layer with clay tiles,” said Dilip Yadav, one of the workers on the site. The archaeological department is using limestone mortar and old curing techniques to ensure that the issue of seepage does not arise.

....

“We are working towards retaining the original façade. There will be no hanging wires. One of the difficulties with heritage buildings is that we cannot do internal wiring. We are working out a solution where the wiring will be as unobtrusive as possible, and even the electrical fixtures will not stand out like anomalies,” said A.K. Khan, Telangana Government Advisor on Minority Affairs.