Back to its grandeur

The 16th Century Idgah in the Qutb Shahi tombs is set to regain its original grandeur, in time for Id prayers this year

HYDERABAD,TELANGANA,19/06/2015: After much delay the Agha Khan Trust for Culture commenced repair work of the step well at Qutb Shahi Tomb complex here on Friday, The double -storied, octagonal tomb of Jamshed Quli Qutab Shah ( 1543-1550 ) is scaffolded for repairs inside the Quli Qutb Shah Archaeological Park near the Golconda Fort in Hyderabad , The Qutb Shahi Tombs Complex is being restored by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture and Aga Khan Foundation, is one of the most significant historic medieval necropolises with 70 structures within its complex, encompassing 40 mausoleums, 23 mosques, five step-wells and water structures, a ''hamam'' (mortuary bath), pavilions, garden structures and enclosure walls built during the reign of the Qutb Shahi Dynasty that ruled the Hyderabad region for 170 years in the 16th â 17th centuries. --Photo: Nagara Gopal

It will be a perfect Id gift. When the faithful gather next month to offer Id prayers capping 30 days of fasting, they will be in for a pleasant surprise. Most would wonder whether it is the same Idgah they have been praying at year after year.

Yes, the 16th Century Idgah in the Qutb Shahi tombs is going to offer a different experience this time. For the first time in the last 400 years one can see the Idgah in its original grandeur — complete with the lime stucco ornamentation and intricate flower pattern.

Thanks to the Agha Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC), the ancient place of worship is fast regaining its past glory. By next month it will be ready for the worshippers to pray in an ambience reminiscent of the Qutb Shahi era.

The AKTC, which is undertaking conservation and landscape restoration of the sprawling Qutb Shahi Heritage Park, is working overtime to refurbish the Idgah for next month’s Id-ul-Adha namaz. “This Idgah posed a big challenge as it is all covered up in layers of paint over the years. We have removed at least 50 layers which were 4 to 5 inches thick,” says Ratish Nanda, project director, AKTC.

About 20 expert craftsmen drawn from Delhi and Rajasthan are working on the Idgah for the last six months. They have carefully chipped off the green and white paint on its wall and minarets exposing the highly ornate stucco plaster patterns on the medallions and merlons.

The elaborate flower design and craftsmanship bearing Turko-Iranian influence, draws sighs of ecstasy. There are ten minarets flanked by two turrets on either ends. Some of the minarets had tilted dangerously and would have probably fallen had not the AKTC stepped in. Now all of them have been carefully straightened.

There are seven arches with the ‘mihrab’, where the Imam leads the prayers, in the centre. They too are restored. Huge scaffolding is erected to reach the Idgah which is 6 meters high and 31 meters wide.

What is the material being applied? It is lime, white marble powder, molasses, belgiri (wood apple) and tesu flower which gives the yellow taint. “All these are finely ground along with sand of 600 microns,” explains Rajpal Singh, chief engineer, and adds that the work done now will last for another 500 years.

In keeping with the tradition of building Idgahs outside the town, Sultan Quli Qutb Shah, founder of the Qutb Shahi dynasty, built the Idgah away from the main basti, Mohammadnagar. The Qutb Shahis were men of refined taste and culture. The decking up of a simple functional building like Idgah only reinforces this trait.