The royal necropolis will no longer be a desolate place. In the days to come it will have many things in store to attract the visitors. The final abode of the Sultans of Golconda is finally getting a facelift. A visit to the Qutb Shahi tombs will show how the entire place is being developed to transform it into a world heritage site.
A renewed effort is on by the Department of Archaeology and Museums to boost tourism. For the last three months, nearly a 1,000-strong labour force is working with the aid of JCB machines to dig up the place for laying landscaped gardens. All around the domed structures, lime concrete is being laid and on it Rudraram variety granite slabs are put. Besides giving a new look, the flooring work helps prevent rain water from seeping into the foundations of the tombs.
Central funds
This granite slab work is going on at a brisk pace around all the seven tombs. The work is being executed with central funds assistance of Rs. 5 crore. Of this Rs. 4 crore is already released. Besides the tombs, development of Hakimpet-Shaikpet sarai, Khazana Building museum and Premavati Mosque is also planned. “The Qutb Shahi tombs will have a new look in next two months,” said P. Chenna Reddy, director, Archaeology and Museums.
It is also proposed to lay cut stone flooring on the pathways to the tombs. The area around the mausoleums of the 5{+t}{+h} king, Abdullah Qutb Shah and sixth king, Mohd. Qutb Shah, will have beautiful gardens. Plants of different hues will be sown here besides laying Korean grass to give the entire place an aesthetic look.
Not just this. Ceremonial entrance and exit are also planned at the Qutb Shahi tombs. Two big arches will be put up at the main gate. But alignment of the arches is proving difficult as the compound wall of the Deccan Park built by Quli Qutb Shah Urban Development Authority is coming in the way. Unless the compound wall is dismantled it is difficult to put up the arches, it is said.
The beautification work over, visitors will have wonderful take-home memories of Hyderabad, the famed land of Koh-i-Noor.
