Rebirth of Mughal life below ground

The country's first sunken museum will enthrall history enthusiasts not only with its artefacts but also its architectural design

Sounds of hammering and nailing have mingled with the chirping of birds and the mellow tinkle of water in the geometrical channels at Humayun's Tomb in New Delhi for nearly a decade now. Visitors to the 440-year-old Mughal monument are used to the presence of modern-day stone cutters and masons, who have been working in the complex as part of the revitalisation efforts undertaken by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, or AKTC. Now, in continuation of the programme to unify the three historical sites of Humayun's Tomb, Nizamuddin Basti and Sundar Nursery into one unique heritage precinct, AKTC is constructing the country's first ever sunken site museum. This will be the first of the site museums planned for the 25 adarsh or "model" monuments designated by the Union Ministry of Culture.

Commissioned at the behest of the Archaeological Survey of India, which had first expressed the need for such a structure in 2010, the museum will be located in the entrance zone of the Mughal emperor's memorial complex. It will link the three heritage sites and focus on bringing alive the seven centuries of pluralistic cultural traditions, art and architectural history of the Nizamuddin area. "The design of the principal structure brings together 21st-century architecture with Mughal craftsmanship," says Guntej Bhushan, project manager, AKTC. "Modern technology allows us better understanding of the site and access to flexible materials, while the Mughal era is brought alive by traditional craft techniques."

Since the new structure will be located within a heritage monument, it was imperative for it not to display an alien character. "That's why it is sunken," explains Bhushan. Ground-penetrating radar surveys were conducted to ensure that no archaeological remains existed on the chosen site. The design has been inspired by the medieval baolis, which even though sunken, were well-lit and ventilated. To be completed in 2017, the museum will have a built-up area of 9,000 sq m and will include galleries, a library, seminar halls, crafts centre and a cafeteria. "We are expecting 1.5 million to 2 million people to visit the museum on a regular basis. The design of the building has to facilitate quick movement without compromising on the time that the visitors spend at each gallery," says Bhushan. "There will be 100 major artefacts on display along with 3D models of the entire site. The restored copper finial of the tomb as well as jaalis and other architectural elements recovered during conservation will also be on display." The exhaustive library will be a reference point not just for school children but for scholars as well.

The new structure will be placed in unique landscaping created by the legendary Mohammad Shaheer. "On one side is the Sunder Nursery, which is already under development, and the other side - which is just in front of the tomb - is also a green area. The first effort is to integrate these areas," says Shaheer. Both parts of the site museum are located in areas populated by large, fine trees and their shade will be used to advantage in the design. "The roof of the underground museum is imagined as a carpet of trees, in sync with the Persian tradition of garden carpets. The traditional motif here is going to be the central water channel with vegetated borders and trees on either side," says the landscape expert. The overall design will help explain Mughal architecture, while plants commonly known to the Mughals will be chosen for the landscaping.

Besides a permanent area to showcase craftsmanship, the museum will also have a temporary gallery space to allow exhibitions of associated themes. "Delhi has absolutely no space for these. We are hoping to create a space for Mughals," says Bhushan.

The site museum at the Humayun's Tomb heritage complex will open in 2017