Humayun’s Tomb Site Museum and Conservation Gallery

Unveiling views of the Tata Trusts supported Conservation gallery as part of the upcoming Humayun’s Tomb Site Museum

Between 2008 and 2011, the Tata Trusts supported the conservation of Humayun’s Tomb in Delhi, a UNESCO world heritage site. The initiative was undertaken by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture in partnership with the Archaeological Survey of India. In over a decade-and-a-half, the Aga Khan Trust for Culture has not only restored Humayun’s Tomb and the surrounding gardens and monuments, but also worked towards the revival of the Nizamuddin neighbourhood with health and education-focused efforts.

As visitor footfall at the Humayun’s Tomb complex surged, the Aga Khan Trust for Culture embarked on building the Humayun’s Tomb Site Museum and interpretation centre, aimed at educating the public about Mughal architecture, the craft histories of built heritage, and the social and cultural history of the neighbourhood.

In 2019, after supporting the conservation of Humayun’s Tomb, the Tata Trusts further supported the establishment of a conservation gallery within the site museum. This gallery aims to shed light on the conservation processes, which adhered to the best practices of built heritage conservation, placing traditional craftsmanship at the centre of its conservation philosophy.

The conservation gallery will include architectural replicas of portions of Humayun’s Tomb, the conserved 18-foot-tall copper-gold finial that will be installed in-situ, and scaled models of Humayun’s Tomb.

As the museum gears up to open to the public in April 2024, here are some highlights from the conservation gallery under preparation at the site museum, where the Tata Trusts supported elements have been installed.

Image courtesy: Aga Khan Trust for Culture

Aerial view of the Humayun’s Tomb complex, with the site museum in the foreground, and the restored Humayun’s Tomb in the background.