Prepared and compiled by MALIK MERCHANT

Delhi’s first site museum for a world heritage monument promises to be nothing less than a first class experience — Times of India, October 2, 2014

Stepping into the doors of the newly curated Humayun, one is transported back in time to the grandeur and magnificence of the Mughal era — Times of India, July 25, 2024

Update: The Museum was inaugurated on July 29, 2024. Read story HERE.

The Indian media is abuzz with the inauguration of the Humayun World Heritage Site Museum, a one-of-a-kind Sunken Museum, at the historic site of Humayun’s Tomb in New Delhi, India, on Monday, July 29, 2024. Prince Rahim Aga Khan, eldest son of Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, the 49th Hereditary Imam of Ismaili Muslims, and India’s Minister of Tourism and Culture, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, will jointly inaugurate this unique project. The Sunken Museum, with its innovative design, state-of-the-art facilities, and unique approach to interpreting the rich history and culture of the Mughal era, is set to redefine the cultural landscape of the region. The Indian Express reports in a new article that it will open for visitors from July 30, 2024.

The museum’s opening coincides with an ongoing 46th Session of UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee (WHC) in New Delhi, which designated Humayun’s Garden Tomb as a World Heritage Site in 1993. Despite its cherished status, the 16th-century jewel of Mughal architecture, which predates the Taj Mahal, was in a state of decay. It was marked by cracked masonry, broken stonework and worn gardens. The Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) began engaging in its restoration as a gift to India by His Highness the Aga Khan on the 50th anniversary of the country’s independence in 1997. The restoration process involved meticulous conservation work and innovative techniques. After 15 years of dedicated work by AKTC, the restored Tomb was inaugurated on September 18, 2013, by India’s then Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, in the presence of His Highness the Aga Khan.

At the inauguration, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh praised the successful restoration of the monument, stating, “I think we have found a good model in the public-private partnership that has restored this great monument to its earlier glory.” His Highness the Aga Khan also spoke of the importance of partnerships: “What we honour, above all else, is the spirit of partnership in which this work has unfolded. In my view, the ethic of partnership must be at the centre of a successful project.” This successful collaboration model serves as an inspiration, instilling hope for preserving other cultural treasures.

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The need for a museum and visitor centre at this World Heritage Site became apparent in recent years. Two million people visit the Humayun’s Tomb complex annually, including over 500,000 children. An even more significant number of pilgrims — from across the world and of many faiths — visit the adjoining Dargah of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya, the 14th-century saint. In response to the dramatic increase in visitors, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) called for a Site Museum. The Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) proposed the construction of a state-of-the-art site museum to be built at the entrance to the World Heritage Site.

On April 7, 2015, Dr. Mahesh Sharma, then Minister of Tourism & Culture, and His Highness the Aga Khan launched the construction of the museum at the Humayun’s Tomb Complex.

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The Business Standard article  states that the museum will house over 500 artifacts from the National Museum, ASI, and the Aga Khan Trust for Culture collections. Each piece, displayed for the first time, tells a story about the central character, Humayun, about whom not enough is commonly known. The museum is the gateway to Humayun’s Tomb and the cultural context of the Nizamuddin area, where the emperor rests. The Sunken Museum, the first of its kind in India, will include a permanent exhibit, temporary exhibit galleries, an auditorium for film screenings, a souvenir shop and a café. Live demonstrations of building crafts such as stonework, plasterwork, and other prominent Mughal crafts will be a permanent activity, providing visitors with a comprehensive and immersive experience.

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The sunken, low-profile design was inspired by traditional water tanks in northern India, known as baolis. This design ensures that the visual aesthetics of adjacent 16th-century monuments, such as the Sabz Burj, Isa Khan’s Tomb, and Sundarwala Burj, will not be disturbed.

Barakah will inform readers about the museum’s opening and other events during Prince Rahim and his younger brother Prince Ali Muhammad’s visits to Hyderabad, New Delhi, and Mumbai.

Date posted: July 27, 2024.
Last updated: July 30, 2024.

A different version of this story appears on Barakah’s sister website, Simerg.

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External link(s): The following is a selection of links to external articles published about the Humayun World Heritage Site Museum:

• Indian Express: Sunken museum at Humayun’s Tomb site to be inaugurated tomorrow (July 28 story)
• Conde Noste Traveller: Delhi’s newest museum at Humayun’s Tomb displays unseen artefacts from the Mughal emperor’s life
• The Times of India: When Every Artefact Tells a Tale: Mughal Era Brought to Life at Humayun Museum
• Indian Express: Mughal-era coins, helmet that doubled as cooking vessel during emperor’s exile: What’s inside Humayun’s Tomb museum
• Economic Times: Humayun Museum opens its doors to Delhi: Delve into the era of Mughals
• Native Planet: Delhi’s Humayun Tomb to Host India’s First Sunken Museum, Opening Next Week
• The Week: Sunder Nursery now homes Humayun’s Tomb World Heritage site museum
• The Hindustan Times: Humayun’s Tomb in Delhi set to open on Aug 1
• Latestly: ‘Country’s First’ Sunken Museum at Humayun’s Tomb To Be Inaugurated on July 29

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