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The effort of Aga Khan Trust for Culture and Telangana Tourism is to restore the Tombs to how they were nearly 500 years ago," Telangana Tourism secretary Venkatesham said

Hyderabad: The first phase of the restoration of the Quli Qutb Shahi Tombs taken up by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) would be completed by January next year, said Telangana Tourism secretary B Venkatesham here on Friday.

Connecting park with Qutb Shahi tombs proposed

Days after its inauguration, the Deccan Park is a roaring hit among the locals with hundreds of people thronging the 32-acre park. On Sunday, about 6,000 people visited the park which is a non-ticketed facility as of now.

Work on restoration of original parapet wall in progress under aegis of Aga Khan Trust for Culture
Visible for miles around, Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah’s tomb is one the grandest monuments in the tombs complex at the foothill of Golconda. Built during his lifetime in the early part of seventeenth century, the tomb being restored by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, now radiates grandeur in its off-white colour amidst the dark and dappled grey monuments in the area.

The Paigah Tombs are just 4 km southeast of Charminar and yet, it is hard to find them, lost as they are in a maze of alleys. Blink and you could miss the entrance, hidden behind a tree in a quiet street, not far from Owaisi Hospital. The lime and mortar tombs are 200 years old and house the final resting place of several members of the Paigah family, who distinguished themselves in every field, while being loyal to the Nizams. Rahmatullah, the caretaker, is all praise for the Archaeology Department that took up the protection of this place in 1989.

Global Ismaili community leaders to participate in the event in Hyderabad

The Shia Ismaili community on Tuesday will celebrate the Diamond Jubilee or the 60th year of Aga Khan as the 49th hereditary Imam (spiritual leader). This worldwide celebration brings together the global Ismaili community, partners of the Aga Khan Development Network, the government and the faith’s community leaders in over 25 countries.

His Highness the Aga Khan and Minister of Tourism and Culture Dr Mahesh Sharma at the foundation ceremony of the Humayun's Tomb site museum.

AKDN / Narendra Swain

His Highness the Aga Khan addresses the gathering at the 2004 Aga Khan Award for Architecture (AKAA) ceremony, held at Humayun's Tomb in Delhi. Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh looks on.

AKDN / Gary Otte

Hazar Imam meets with Prime MInister of India Rajiv Gandhi at a Luncheon 1989-02-14

Derelict Deccan Park that lies unused for the past 15 years will be developed by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) and merged with the Qutub Shahi Tombs

A new lease of life is in the offing for the beleaguered Deccan Park that lies close to the Qutub Shahi Tombs and the historic Golconda Fort.

Developed at a cost of Rs 3 crore, the Deccan Park right from the beginning was ridden with one controversy or the other and as a result has not been thrown open to public.

A mammoth undertaking to restore and develop Delhi’s Nizamuddin will end this time next year. How has it transformed one of the most historic and touristy areas of the country?

Mayank Austen Soofi

On Thursday, 4 February 2016, the Aga Khan Academy, Hyderabad had the pleasure of hosting a visit by the Honourable Kathleen Wynne, Premier of the Province of Ontario, Canada. The Premier was accompanied by 33 members of her official team from the larger 75-member 'Canada Mission to India' trade delegation.

Tuesday 26 January 2016

Princess Zahra Aga Khan gave the keynote of the Opening Ceremony of the 36th Asian Racing Conference in Mumbai.

In the late 19th century my great-great-great grandfather was racing horses all over undivided India. He had brought his stock from Persia, where the family had been breeding horses for many generations.

Included in those horses in the late 19th century, were Shere Ali, who won the Arab Derby in 1869, Khusroo who won the Winner’s Handicap in 1870, and Maharaj, who won loads of stuff including the Governor’s Cup and the Derby in 1872.

Princess Zahra at Asian Racing Conference Mumbai, India January 26, 2016

Princess Zahra Aga Khan will give the opening address at the Opening Ceremony of the 36th Asian Racing Conference at the National Sports Club of India in Mumbai on Monday, Jan. 26, 2016.

The address has special significance given that the history of her family's involvement in racing and breeding began in India in the 1800's with Aga Khan I.

The green silks with red epaulets of His Highness the Aga Khan IV are famous in top-class racing in Europe and throughout the world.

Hyderabad, India -- The old Qutb Shahi Tombs in India's southern Hyderabad city are getting a new life as they are being restored under a project sponsored by the United States.

The 400-year-old tombs have got grant of over USD100, 000 for the excavation work.

The United States, in collaboration with Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) - world's leading conservation body, are undertaking restoration and conservation project of the royal necropolis, said deputy chief of mission, U.S. embassy, Michael Pelletier.

September 28, 2013
(Hazar Imam was presented a gift from the Indian Jamat of a late 18th century bronze incense burner of the Moghul period )

President and Leaders of the Jamat,

If the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) doesn't improve the quality of conservation of Taj Mahal, the monument's maintenance could be handed over to the Aga Khan Foundation.

Talking to India Today, a senior ASI official said that the Ministry of Culture is planning to portion out the monument, giving the maintenance of its various areas to different organizations on the grounds of a Corporate Social Responsibility campaign that began in 2013 with the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation signing up for the maintenance of the monument.

The spiritual leader of the Ismaili sect Prince Karim Al Hussaini Aga Khan, founder and Chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network, visited the Aga Khan Academy here on Friday to review progress of the school.

The Aga Khan was accompanied by his son Prince AlyMuhammed, his daughter Princess Zahra and her children Sara and Iliyan. The visit to the academy allowed the Aga Khan to assess first-hand the progress made since his last visit in September 2013 when the school was formally inaugurated.

Spiritual leader of Ismaili sect Prince Karim Al Hussaini Aga Khan visited the Taj Mahal on Wednesday. Following the visit, he commented "Thank you for letting me visit the Taj for the second time." He wrote the same comment in the monument's visitors' book.