Humayun’s Tomb made news in 2010 when US President Barack Obama and wife Michelle were photographed here,staring at the monument’s majestic elegance. On Thursday,the World Heritage Day,the Humayun’s Tomb complex will return to make news again to announce the unveiling of its most attractive structure,Isa Khan’s Tomb,after a two-year-long restoration.

Isa Khan’s Tomb,part of UNESCO World Heritage Site of Humayun’s Tomb,has a dome that resembles a plump inverted flower. But time and state negligence had robbed this flower of its beauty and fragrance. A 27-month-long conservation drive has attempted to infuse that lost beauty back into the tomb.

The restoration drive was jointly funded and undertaken by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture and the World Monuments Foundation,with help from the Archeological Survey of India. The project is part of a larger urban renewal project in Delhi that includes 50 monuments.

On Thursday,Union Minister for Culture Chandresh Kumari Katoch will open Isa Khan’s Tomb to the public. Almost 2,000 school children will be taken there for a heritage walk and design workshops.

Isa Khan was a noble in the court of Sher Shah Suri in the 16th Century. Suri ruled Delhi between the reigns of Humayun and Akbar.

Isa Khan’s Tomb is a resplendent example of the concept of a garden tomb,which pervaded that era. It combines the garden and the grave,symbolic of life and death.

This tomb is the only historical monument in India which has been restored by a non-government body. A key official of the restoration project said other than returning the mausoleum its lost glory,the project has also successfully achieved its objective of imparting knowledge of traditional architecture and design to the craftsmen who worked on it.

“We got them trained in making tiles in the Central Asian style,where the Mughal and Suri dynasties originated,” he said.

Today,the Mughals are primarily associated with their taste for rich architecture — the Indo-Persian school of architecture. But their love for fruity and floral plantations was legendary. Mughal monuments were designed in the centre of gardens primarily consisting citrus plantations. That same refreshing,tangy citrus scent will burst into the precincts of Isa Khan’s garden tomb again now with the generous re-plantation of this genus.

When restoration was underway in 2011 at this garden tomb,serendipity visited the project team. The monument suddenly had India’s oldest “sunken garden”. The official said,“The idea was to align the tree top-level with the eye level,so that when one stands on the courtyard of the main structure,one sees a carpet of green,giving a ‘sinking’ effect to the encircling vegetation.”

For a monument to achieve the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage Site status,its features must contain an “outstanding universal value”. The Humayun’s Tomb complex made the cut because it is not just the mausoleum of the second Mughal emperor,but an ensemble of 16th Century garden tombs like Bu Halima,Batashewala,Neela Gumbad and others,besides Isa Khan’s tomb.

The restoration project’s staff boasts of an “inclusive approach” undertaken while giving the garden tomb complex a makeover.

“For us,the craftsmen were the project’s centerpiece. We focused on the quality of work and not the traditional dihaari (daily wages) system. We also employed latest technology,like laser scanning and GPRS pointing,to fine tune things. Laser scanning helped to make an error-free structural assessment of the monument and GPRS pointing helped to locate underground archeology,if any,before we started work,” the source said.

Revival of the Garden tomb

On World Heritage Day,Union Minister for Culture Chandresh Kumari Katoch will open the Isa Khan Tomb to visitors,after a 2-year restoration drive

Isa Khan was a noble in the court of Sher Shah Suri in the 16th Century

His mausoleum is an example of the concept of garden tomb,which pervades that era. It combines the garden and the grave,symbolic of life and death

Dome — resembling an inverted plump flower — had weathered owing to time and negligence

Restoration jointly funded,and undertaken by Aga Khan trust for Culture and World Monuments Foundation,with help from ASI

It is the only historical monument in India restored by a non-government body

The project is part of a larger urban renewal project in Delhi which includes 50 monuments

For the project,craftsmen were trained in making tiles in the Central Asian style,where the Mughal and the Suri dynasties originated

Along with a crafts-based approach,latest technology,like laser scanning and GPRS pointing,was used to fine tune the work.

Words are not enough to describe the feeling of utter amazement one feels as one steps into Safdurjung‘s Tomb. My first visit to this tomb – aptly described as the last flicker in the lamp of Mughal architecture — was an unforgettable and enriching experience.

The mausoleum is surrounded by lush gardens in Mughal style. The interior of the tomb with Safdurjung‘s cenotaph has a mysterious,yet serene air about it. My friend and I stood there awed by the amazing architecture,utterly captivated by its peaceful charm.

Amidst the city’s noises,there is this one place where you can be at peace. So when it was time to go,I didn’t feel like leaving. One just cannot have enough of its beauty. I look forward to going there again. I’d say it’s a must-visit place for its serenity and architectural value.

n Muskaan Sharma,XII-B

On April 9,our school organised a trip to Safdurjung’s Tomb for the students of Class XII. I was very excited about the trip as I’ve never been there. I did not know anything about Safdurjung so I thought he would be just another historic personality who would have fought many wars. When I arrived at the tomb,I was enthralled by the majestic monument with a white marble dome. It was surrounded by beautiful gardens and fountains. We were told the fountains don’t work due to water shortage in the city. While walking up the steep steps of the monument,one could see the tomb in the centre of a vast hall. One just can’t ignore the beautiful carving on the walls of the monument. We were told that Safdurjung was prime minister of Mughal Emperor Mohammad Shah. Safdurjung’s Tomb was inspired by the Taj Mahal and Humayun’s Tomb. Although the tomb was undergoing renovation, it remained open for general public. It was truly an unforgettable trip. The hard work of the architects is evident in the intricate carvings inside the tomb. This place is definitely worth a visit.

n Chetan Jajodia,XII – BCom. A

Described as ‘the last flicker in the lamp of Mughal architecture’,Safdarjung’s Tomb epitomises beauty and serenity. It was built by Shuja-ud-Daulah in memory of his father,Safdarjung,who served the Mughal Emperor Mohammed Shah as his prime minister. The garden tomb is characteristic of the Indo-Islamic architectural style. The central tomb is the main attraction of the complex. It has a huge dome which gives it an appearance of a ‘maqbara’. The walls of the tomb have fine and elaborate plaster carvings influenced by the pietra dura style. There are four water canals cutting across the garden to form a typical ‘charbagh’. Octagonal towers in the corners add more beauty to the central tomb. The garden is built in the Persian style and one can enter it through a gate with intricate Rajputana carvings on it. The whole tomb is made of red sandstone.

The way the Archaeological Survey of India has tried to preserve this monument is appreciable. But being responsible citizens of this country,we must also help protect and maintain our monuments. I am grateful to my school and The Indian Express for organising this heritage walk. It was truly an enlightening visit. This brush with history was an enriching one.

n Ananya Das,XII Sc A

Safdarjung’s Tomb — once you visit it,the mystique charm of the monument will remain with you for long. This tomb is considered the “the last flicker in the lamp of Mughal architecture in India”. It was built for Safdarjung,the powerful prime minister of Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah. Safdarjung’s son Shuja-ud-Daulah constructed it in 1754.The fact that the monument is an amalgam of different architectural styles ignited my interest. The tomb has influences of the Humayun’s Tomb and the Red Fort in its design. As soon as I entered the monument,my eyes instinctively went up to the dome and I was mesmerised by the beautiful symmetrical designs. The dome seemed too high for someone to carry out such elaborate and perfect carvings. But the fact that it was done points to the mastery of the craftsmen in those days. The huge gardens,spacious balconies,corridors and the water canals fascinated me. The serene grave of Safdarjung reminded me of the spirit behind the construction of the monument — a son’s reverence,love and gratitude towards his father. The tomb also houses Shuja-ud-Daulah’s wife’s grave. The complex also included the three-domed mosque and three beautiful pavilions.

As we were got ready to leave,I turned again towards the tomb,wanting to get one last look of this magnificent structure. If only I could stand and stare a little longer.

n Apoorva singh,XII

“You employ stone,wood and concrete,and with these materials you build houses and places,that is construction. But when you suddenly touch my heart,you do me good and make me say ‘This is beautiful’,that is architecture.”

Life gets a fresh breath when history rises from its grave. It happened with me April 9,while we were counting our steps to Safdarjung’s Tomb. The tomb built for Safdurjung,the prime minister of Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah. It was built in 1754 in the Mughal style and is described as “the last flicker in the lamp of Mughal architecture”. Today,it’s in a dilapidated condition,with cracks in the walls and the tomb’s walls turning yellowish grey from white. But though the tomb has lost its pristine beauty,it still gives a mystique feeling. The central tomb has a huge dome. There are four water canals leading to the four corners of the building — one has an ornately decorated gateway while the other three corners have octagonal towers. The canals are four oblong tanks,one on each side of the tomb. On the whole,the tomb has been decorated with cheap material,pointing to the economic conditions of that time. But in spite of this,I realised that the people in those times were full of life.

n Gayatri Chetal,XII Com-B

After tolerating the chaos of Delhi roads on a daily basis,one longs for some quiet time in a serene place. Safdarjung’s Tomb on Lodhi Road is one such place. It was built by Shuja-ud-Daulah after his father’s death in 1754. Safdarjung’s Tomb is a garden tomb with a marble mausoleum. It was built in 1754 in the Mughal style. Its façade is decorated with elaborate plaster carvings. There are four water canals inside the tomb leading towards one ornately decorated gateway and three pavilions with octagonal towers. I would like to thank The Indian Express for giving us the opportunity to learn about our past.

n Harshita Kakar,XII Com-B

My visit to this incredible heritage site was fascinating experience. The Safdarjung’s Tomb was constructed by Shuja-ud-Daulah for his father Safdarjung who was the prime minister of Mughal Emperor Mohammad Shah. The main entrance is a huge decorated gate with arrow silts. The tomb stands majestically surrounded by verdant lawns. The amalgamation of the Indo-Islamic and Hindu styles for the construction of the tomb is highly appreciable. It consists of chattris,minarets and cosmic signs. The way the Archeological Survey of India has tried to preserve the Safdarjung’s Tomb is commendable. I express my heartiest thanks to The Indian Express for giving me a chance to visit this historical place.

n Kashish Chaurasia,XII Com B

Safdarjung’s Tomb was built in 1754 by Nawab Siraj-Ud-Daulah,the son of Safdarjung Mirza Muqim Abul Mausum Khan,the prime minister of Mughal Emperor Mohammad Shah. Safdarjung’s Tomb is a beautiful mausoleum and is counted as a major heritage site in India. It is described as “the last flicker in the lamp of Mughal architecture “ because it reflects the last phase of Mughal architecture. The tomb is enclosed by a tall wall and can be entered through an imposing gateway. There are large pleasant gardens with elegant palm tree-lined paths surrounding it. We could see the remains of the water courses and fountains which had divided the garden up into four squares. The pavilions on the wall are run down and are now used for storage. The tomb stands on a high terrace in the centre of the enclosure. It is a solid square structure built of highly decorated red sandstone with a central marble dome. Apart from Safdarjung’s grave,there is another grave here,that of the wife of Shuja-ud-Daulah. The chambers in the room are surrounded by eight rooms. All the apartments are rectangular in shape except the corner ones that are octagonal in shape.The central chamber is beautifully carved and surrounded by rhombic compartments. The mosque,built in red sandstone on the second storey,was added later.

Safdarjung’s Tomb is a quiet haven in the middle of the city’s din. The tomb is similar to Humayun’s Tomb in its architecture. The environment around the tomb is extremely calming and to visit such a beautiful place is a refreshing experience.

n Namrata Das,XII Sc A

source: http://www.indianexpress.com / The Indian Express / Home> Cities> Delhi / by Express News Service / April 22nd, 2013