Ismaili.NET - Heritage F.I.E.L.D.

Work will start on the construction of the “country’s first” sunken museum on April 7 at the iconic Humayun’s Tomb site, which after its completion in 2017 will showcase the heritage of the Nizamuddin Area over the last seven centuries.

Expected to be completed in 30 months, the project has been pledged a fund of Rs 49 crore from the tourism ministry. Inspired from the medieval baolis (water tanks) of northern India, the underground site museum, with a built-up area of 9,000 square metre, will marry modern 21st century architecture with Mughal-era craftsmanship in its design.

Union minister for culture Mahesh Sharma will lay its foundation stone on Tuesday in the presence of Prince Karim Aga Khan IV.

The Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC), which is building the museum on behalf of the ASI as part of the urban renewal initiative, says, it will be located at the entrance zone of the World Heritage Complex and would serve as a bridge between the three sites of Nizamuddin, Sunder Nursery and the 16th century Tomb.

“The principal structure where the galleries will be located is six metre below the ground level while the gallery block rises four feet above the ground level and the roof is treated like a Mughal Garden,” said project director (AKTC) Ratish Nanda.

The museum will include galleries, library, seminar halls, crafts centre and cafeteria, among others.

The finial of the Mughal monument, which was knocked off in last year’s storm will be its “centre-piece”, he said.

“Besides, several other finials, sandstone and marble elements, terracotta pipes, over 400 earth toys found at the site of nearby Isa Khan’s tomb, among others will also be housed,” he added.
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