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22 September, 2020

Conservation work at Quli Qutb Shah Heritage Park, Hyderabad

The conservation project at the Qutb Shahi Heritage Park, supported by Tata Trusts, is an example in best practices of built heritage conservation

Exterior façade of the Tomb of Abdullah Qutb Shah with scaffolding in place
Exterior façade of the Tomb of Abdullah Qutb Shah with scaffolding in place
Exterior façade of the Tomb of Abdullah Qutb Shah with scaffolding in place
Exterior façade of the Tomb of Abdullah Qutb Shah with scaffolding in place

Craftsmen from Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and West Bengal returned on-site at the Qutb Shahi Heritage Park in July and August 2020, when restrictions on the nationwide lockdown eased in several parts of the country, to continue the conservation work being supported by Tata Trusts, in partnership with Aga Khan Trust for Culture. This photo essay captures the ongoing work on two monuments in the park – The Great Mosque and the Tomb of Abdullah Qutb Shah – that date to the 17th century.

The processes depicted in this photo essay include the removal of 20th century cement concrete layers on the floor, re-plastering using lime mortar and lime putty made with organic additives, carving of lost ornamental stucco details, and re-instatement of missing edging granite stones on the projected plinth that have been chiselled by hand by stone craftsmen, with each stone weighing over a 1000kg.
 
Image courtesy: Aga Khan Trust for Culture

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Art Conservation Initiative Arts and Culture Conservation South India
Exterior façade of The Great Mosque with scaffolding in place
Exterior façade of The Great Mosque with scaffolding in place
Re-plastering one of the minarets of The Great Mosque with lime putty
Re-plastering one of the minarets of The Great Mosque with lime putty
Stucco work on the ornamental jalis at The Great Mosque
Stucco work on the ornamental jalis at The Great Mosque
Carving of lost details on the interior façade of The Great Mosque
Carving of lost details on the interior façade of The Great Mosque
Exterior façade of the Tomb of Abdullah Qutb Shah with scaffolding in place
Exterior façade of the Tomb of Abdullah Qutb Shah with scaffolding in place
Craftsmen re-plastering the surface of the dome of the Tomb of Abdullah Qutb Shah
Craftsmen re-plastering the surface of the dome of the Tomb of Abdullah Qutb Shah
Stone craftsmen installing hand chiselled granite stone on the plinth of the Tomb of Abdullah Qutb Shah
Stone craftsmen installing hand chiselled granite stone on the plinth of the Tomb of Abdullah Qutb Shah
Carving of lost details on the exterior façade of the Tomb of Abdullah Qutb Shah
Carving of lost details on the exterior façade of the Tomb of Abdullah Qutb Shah