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

Rahim’s tomb, Delhi’s own monument of love built nearly 50 years before the iconic Taj Mahal, which stood in a ruinous condition with a “risk of collapse” has finally received a new lease of life after six-year-long “monumental conservation” work.

A multi-disciplinary team of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC), in partnership with the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and support of a corporate conglomerate, worked extensively on the project which married traditional craftsmanship with cutting-edge technology.

ew Delhi [India]: The entry for Nila Gumbad at Humayun Tomb Complex in the national capital was opened on Saturday for the general public.
Union Minister Prahlad Singh Patel opened the gate and also leads a morning walk at Humayun Tomb Complex as part of the Fit India Movement.

In 2017, Nila Gumbad was declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage Monument as part of the extended Humayun’s Tomb World Heritage Site.

New Delhi: The Aga Khan Foundation on Tuesday partnered with the German embassy, which will provide Rs 41.5 lakh for rebuilding of a traditional ‘baoli (water stepwell) in the Humayun Tomb’s complex here.

It was announced during the signing of a memorandum of understanding by Aga Khan Trust for Culture Chief Executive Ratish Nanda and the German envoy Martin Ney in the Mughal-era Arab Ki Sarai premises.

The Arab Ki Sarai, an Archeological Survey of India (ASI) protected monument, houses an out-of-use stepwell.

By Express News Service

Located in the Phisal Banda suburb of Santosh Nagar, Paigah Tombs are the final resting place of erstwhile Hyderabad State’s nobility -- the Paigahs.

HYDERABAD: The Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) along with the State government has also taken up the much-needed conservation works at the Paigah Tombs. As of now the documentation works have been started by the AKTC, after which they will take up the actual restoration works.

New Delhi: InterGlobe Foundation and the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) Tuesday announced they would collaborate to conserve and restore Abdul Rahim Khan-i-Khanan's tomb in the capital.
Popularly known as Rahim and immortalized through his dohas's or couplets, Rahim was amongst the most important ministers in Akbar's court. He was one of the Navratnas and continued to serve Salim after his accession to the throne as Emperor Jahangir.

Hyderabad: A search for Hakims’ tombs in Google will take you to a monument in Pakistan! However, the little less known fact is that there are two such tombs in the heart of Hyderabad, located within the seven tombs complex.
The restoration work on Hakims’ tombs being done by Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) is nearing completion and is expected to be thrown open for visitors soon, said Ganesh Reddy, Manager Operations for AKTC.

According to Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) listing of ancient structures in Delhi, Arab Sarai was built in 1560 by Hamida Banu Begum, who was chief consort of Mughal emperor Humayan, to accommodate 300 Arabs she had brought back from Mecca.

The lofty eastern gateway of a walled enclosure built in the 17th century — which was originally a market built during Jahangir’s reign along side Arab ki Sarai, Nizamuddin East — has been restored to its old glory.

The restorer, Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC), began restoration work in January 2017.

As many as 15 monuments dating back to 16th century nearby the majestic Humayun Tomb are now back to their splendour here in Nizamuddin area.

Along with this, a nursery spread in a 90-acre area, which houses these monuments, has also been transformed into a magnificent heritage city park.

The heritage park offers a unique blend of nature, culture and ecology.

Thanks to the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC), under which the monument restoration and city park development, work has been done in line with the those created by it in Kabul, Cairo, Mali and Zanzibar.

Many of the Mughal rulers, perhaps most of them, were also exceptional leaders in the acumen and insight which they brought to their leadership roles. They were statesmen who would have excelled in any time

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.

New Delhi: Chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network, Prince Karim Aga Khan, called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today. He is currently on a visit to India, and will be awarded the Padma Vibhushan by President Pranab Mukherjee tomorrow.

The Capital will have its first sunken interpretation centre linking three historic sites -- Humayun's Tomb, Sundar Nursery and Nizamuddin Basti -- if multiple agencies required to give clearances come together and give the go-ahead for the project.

Interpretation centres, popularly known as site museums that detail the history of a cultural or natural heritage, have been largely missing from the Indian arena. The project, a first of its kind in the country, has been conceptualised and designed by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture.

Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim
Your Excellency Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
Minister for Culture Shrimati Chandresh Kumari Katoch
Mr. Ratan Tata
Honorable Ministers, Excellencies
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen

Let me first extend my special thanks to the Prime Minister, whose presence honours all of us.

Press Trust of India New Delhi

Aga Khan, the chairman of Aga Khan Development network, arrived here today on a 12-day India visit during which he will meet President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Vice President Hamid Ansari.

Khan would preside over an inauguration ceremony to mark the completion of the restoration of Humayun's Tomb Heritage site tomorrow.

The restoration work at the heritage site has been carried out by the Aga Khan Trust.

Humayun's Tomb -- the 16th century magnificent Mughal marvel -- will be the first stop in Delhi tomorrow for US President Barack Obama, who will pay tribute to India's rich cultural heritage through his visit to the monument.

Obama, accompanied by his wife Michelle, is expected to drive to the beautiful red-stone monument in south Delhi, which now sports a new look after a major renovation exercise.

New Delhi, Nov.7 : Spending almost an hour at the 16th century Humayun Tomb complex, the Obamas held hands and listened carefully as the officer of the ArchaeologicalSurvey of India (ASI) explained in detail the history of the complex. They asked a few questions about therestoration work that the ASI and Aga Khan Trust were doing.

New Delhi, Nov.7 : It was as close to the slum-dog moment as the Obamas could get in their India tour. The US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama met with 16 children of labourers at the Humayun’s tomb in New Delhi today.

The children, aged between five and seven, do not go to a regular school because they are too poor. They receive informal education due to the voluntary efforts of Mr K.K. Mohammad, the Superintendent of the Archaeological Survey of India who has taken upon himself to get some basic literacy tools to these kids.