DOCUMENTATION
(Art-287)
ASSIGNMENT-02
TOPIC:
DOCUMENT ON CONSERVATION OF
HUMAYUN’S TOMB
SUBMITTED BY:
SUBMITTED TO:
JAYESH LUNAWAT
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
UID: 18BAR1108
AR. DAMANPREET CHUGH
FOURTH SEMESTER
CONSERVATION AND
REFORMATION OF HUMAYUN’S
COMPLEX AND HUMAYUN’S TOMB
- BY ISA KHAN TRUST
“…ONE SHOULD MAKE SURE AT THE VERY OUTSET THAT THERE IS A TRULY
PHILOSOPHICAL BASIS SO THAT ‘CONSERVATORS’ SHALL NOT ONLY BE GOOD
PRACTITIONERS, BUT SCHOLARS AS WELL, KNOWING NOT ONLY WHAT THEY
DO, BUT WHY THEY DO IT…”
-Rawlins, I. 1945, a founding member of the International Institute for Conservation of Historic and
Artistic Works
LOCATION MAP
The site was chosen on the banks of Yamuna river, due to its proximity
to Nizamuddin Dargah.
MAP OF DELHI
TIMELINE
1567- THE ‘ORIGINAL’ TIME OF THE BUILDING WHEN IT WAS
BUILT.
The location of the tomb in that particular site opens the discussion of
constructing political power through monuments. The tomb was located in that
particular site primarily due to two factors- 1) its proximity to the first Mughal
city built by Humayun in Delhi, and more importantly 2) its proximity to the
famous Auliya tomb so that it could draw upon the religious significance of the
buried person and establish an association with Humayun and indirectly to
Akbar, its patron.
1857- COLONIAL PRESERVATION EFFORTS OF THE ASI UNDER
THE AEGIS OF THE BRITISH IMPERIAL POWERS
1993- ITS MODERN DESIGNATION AS A WORLD HERITAGESITE.
Humayun’s Tomb was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in1993, and
extensive conservation work has been carried out since. This began with restoration
of the garden, restoration of pathways, repairing of water channels, and even
planting shrubs and other plants that were popular in the time of the Mughals.
INTRODUCTION
Humayun's tomb is the tomb of the Mughal Emperor Humayun in Delhi, India
built by Akbar.
Designed by Mirak Mirza Ghiyas, a Persian architect.
The Tomb stands on a 120-square-metre platform and reaches a height of 47 metres.
Built of rubble masonry, the structure is the earliest example of the use of red sandstone
and white marble in such great quantities.
The central walkways, terminate at two gates. It has two double-storey entrances, the
West gate which used now, while the South gate, which was used during Mughal era.
Aligned at the centre on the eastern wall lies a baradari, literally a pavilion with twelve
doors, finally on the northern wall lies a hammam, a bath chamber.
On the south-east of Humayun's Tomb there is a fine square tomb of 1590-91, known as
the Barber's Tomb.
N
Floor plan Section
In plan it is an irregular octagon with four long and four short sides.
It is surmounted by a 42.5 m high double dome clad with marble flanked by
decorative pillared kiosks (chhatris)
The middle of each side is deeply recessed by large arched vaults with a series of
smaller ones set into the face.
The interior is a large octagonal chamber with vaulted roof compartments
interconnected by galleries or corridors. This octagonal plan is repeated on the
second storey.
Elements of design
Line the use of horizontal and vertical lines in the Elevation.
Shape the shape of the dome is bulbous.The arches are pointed.
Colour because of the use of red sandstone and white marble the color. The
entire structure is red and white.
Texture the combination of rough texture Of the sandstone and the soft
texture of the white marble.
ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES
The most striking visual feature of the tomb is its size and its garden setting. In terms of
both these features, the tomb established an unprecedented example in Indian Islamic
architecture.
Four central axial water courses define Char Bagh Garden's
quadrilateral layout at Humayun's Tomb
One of the eye-catching features of the tomb is its raised plinth that is the cause of its
visibility on the city skyline today. But historically its importance lay in the 56 cells
housed within that raised plinth and that were used as the burial place of almost 100
royal descendants and relatives.
Red box showing the plinth
The built form of the building (especially the dome), though apparently derived from
existing Sultanate and Timurid examples, is distinct from either. It attempts to fuse
together the formal aspects of both these types. By doing so he established a link as the
successor to the glorious Timurid’s of Iran as well as the Islamic empire in India.
Timurd examples
Sultanate example
Sultanate example
Dome of Humayun’s tomb
WHITE SANDSTONE WITH RED STANDSTONE
The use of red sandstone with white marble is a reference to the previous architecture of
the Delhi Sultanate and places the building as a logical continuation in the same tradition.
AESTHETICS
These elements contribute to the visual treat at Humayun's tomb. A very well chosen rich red
gravel used for the Paths.
A delightful fountain, water flowing in the stone-edged channels and planting rising from
below the walkway to above the walkway, as it should.
A chadar (water sheet) cascading into a pool.
Humayun's Tomb Garden has a symmetrical plan. Because the word chahar bagh means
'four garden', etymologically, it is tempting to think of this as a classical example. But it
now seems unlikely that the old Persian, Timurid and Afgan gardens which inspired this
pattern were themselves symmetrical.
SYMBOLISM
The building can be considered a memorial to the expansion and the establishment of the
vast Mughal Empire in India, a symbol of a vision of kingship and an affirmation of the
Mughal power and permanence in India.
It can also be considered as embodiment of the secular principles promoted by Akbar. In
building such a remarkable monument, Akbar (to whom the patronage of the building is
attributed), provided the city of Delhi with a visual and religious signifier.
THUS INSPIRED…
It inspired several major architectural innovations, culminating in the construction of the Taj
Mahal.
ORNAMENTATIONS
e interiors
mosque
Conservation works on the tomb required clea
have included major structural the
repairs on the dome, restoration sEGGERGETHT
of the ceiling and the finial YJRYJYurfaces
re-plastering
lime
following
removal
cement plas
The
RECOVERING ORIGINAL PLASTER WORK mosque
the interiors of the mosque also required
cleaning of the stone surfaces and re-
plastering with lime mortar following the
removal of cement plaster
The GardeN
surviving sunken garden and in turn the
original/ historic setting of the mausoleum
• Revealed several hundred terracotta
objects, in addition to architectural
elements that have been reused.
ISA KHAN ENCLOSURE GATEWAY
Isa Khan’s tomb pre-dates the building of Emperor Humayun’s tomb and the structure is
significant for the profuse ornamentation – glazed tiles, plasterwork, stone elements such as
finials and lattice screens – that adorn the building.
Conservation works in the Isa Khan’s garden tomb enclosure, have included reconstruction
of the collapsed portions of the gateway; structural repairs to the garden retaining wall;
restoration of the 2.5 m high finial on the dome; major structural repairs to the Mosque that
stands within the enclosure; de-silting of a well discovered within the garden, amongst
others. Stone finials to the canopies as well as the tiles that covered the canopy are to be
restored.
The discovery
RESTORING that the
INTERNAL outer garden was originally four feet below the levels of the garden
CEILING
that surrounds the tomb required 125,000 cubic feet of earth to be manually removed to
restore historic levels
ISA KHAN’S GARDEN TOMB
ISA KHAN’S MOSQUE
BU-HALIMA GARDEN
BU-HALIMA GATEWAY
ARAB SARAI GATEWAY
ARAB SARAI GATEWAY
HUMAYUN’S TOMB ENCLOSURE WALL
HUMAYUN’S TOMB CONSERVATIO N
Working on a World Heritage Site where integrity and authenticity had been compromised
by past repairs posed a significant challenge as did the need to reconstruct collapsed portions
of structures that had been left unattended for a century.
NIZZAMUDDIN EAST
ISA KHAN’S GARDEN TOMB
BU-HALIMA’S GARDEN TOMB
AFSARWALA ENCLOSURE
ARAB KI SARAI
NIZZAMUDDIN EAST
upper Plinth
Sandstone paving area lifted and re-laid to
provide appropriate slopes and original
layout wall that had collapsed were
reconstructed
enclosure wall
40 arches in the enclosure wall that
had collapsed were reconstructed
lower Plinth
12,000 sqm. of plinth
restored to the original
architectural details
With the Mughal details uncovered, conserved, restored where these had been obliterated by 20th
century repairs, the Mughal grandeur has been once again revealed in parts. Similarly, major
works have been undertaken to halt the accelerated deterioration that had set in as a result of past
repairs with modern materials.
Million kilos of concrete was removed from the roof, 200000 square feet of lime plaster restored,
40,000 square feet of stone paving lifted and reset on the plinth and similarly on the sandstone
platform, wooden doors used as firewood in 1947 restored to the mausoleum and damaged stone on
the facade repaired or replaced with stone blocks prepared in the manner of the Mughal builders.
HUMAYUN’S TOMB THROUGH THE AGES
THE DOME OF THE TOMB CHAMBER IS ENRICHED WITH GILDING AND ENAMEL; FROM
THE CENTRE A TASSEL OF GOLD LACE ONCE DEPENDED MAJOR ARCHER, AD 1828.
Built in the 1560’s, the mausoleum of Emperor Humayun, w agriculture in the 18th and
19th centuries. Following the arrest here of Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last Mughal emperor,
the British interest increased and a European garden was super-imposed here in the 1860’s.
In the early 20th century Lord Curzon instructed for the Mughal layout to be restored. In
1947, the tomb was used as a refugee camp and decline once again set in. In 1993 the
garden-tomb was inscribed on
the World Heritage list and in 1997, Aga Khan Trust for Culture commenced the garden
restoration. AKTC commenced conservation of the mausoleum in 2007 with funding
support from the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and in partnership with the ASI. In 1997, the Aga
Khan Trust for Culture commenced a major programme, to source archival material related
to Humayun’s Tomb and its setting. Study of Mughal chronicles and research at worldwide
archives has revealed significant information that has informed both the garden restoration
and the conservation of the mausoleum as venerated and a place of pilgrimage for the Early
Mughals. Built as a family tomb, over 160 mughal family members continued to be buried
1849 a.d 1850 a.d 1864 a.d 1880 a.d
the earliest photograph Agriculture in the walled British landscaping of western/ River flowing on the
garden entrance zone of the garden. western edsge
1910 a.d 1947 a.d 1997 a.d 2003 a.d
Restoration works done by Lord Refuse camps during partition The garden, before Humayun’s tomb after
Curzon 1997-2003 restoration conservation
VIEW OF HUMAYUN’S TOMB GARDEN 1997
VIEW OF HUMAYUN’S TOMB GARDEN 1997
STONE FAÇADE
RED-WHITE CONTRAST OF THE FAÇADE IS THE PREDOMINANT ARCHITECTURAL
FEATURE OF THE MAUSOLEUM.
The pattern of the stonework is carefully worked out to emphasize the significant parts of the building.
Age, neglect, inappropriate repairs using cement and severe water seepage from roofs
above led to large scale deterioration of the sandstone on the arcaded façade on the
ground level.
A stone-by-stone scientific study revealed that almost 7% of the façade required to be
replaced. However, once works commenced, on the advice of the master craftsmen, this
rose to 12% of the façade.
Matching stone was carefully sourced from the Mughal quarries of the Agra – Dholpur
region and prepared using hand tools from quarrying to finishing, in order to ensure the
appropriate historic finish and use of only the most suitable stone.
HUMAYUN’S TOMB LOWER PLINTH
BEFORE CONSERVATION
BEFORE
CONSERVATION
DURING CONSERVATION
RESTORING ORNAMENTAL PLASTERWORK
On each façade of the mausoleum are 17 arched openings, and one each of the four corners.
Though the facing of this spectacular arcade is clad in sandstone with marble inlay, the ‘half-
domed’ wall surfaces are plastered with ornamental star shaped patterns. Water percolation
from the terrace led to most of the original lime mortar disintegrating and then replaced with
cement plaster in the 1990’s, obliterating decorative plasterwork where traces of this had
remained.
The principal conservation challenge was to restore the ornamental plasterwork of the ‘half-
domed’ surface which comprises less than 1% of the façade yet is a prominent architectural
feature.
Lime plaster, applied in layers, then incised to bring out the desired patterns transformed the
character of the mausoleum, from ruinous to splendour. The final 1 mm thick layer of lime-
marble dust plaster not only served as a protective layer for the underlying plaster but the
Mughals used it to mimic white marble. The ornamental patterns in incised plasterwork were
once again emphasized with red lime plaster obtained by the traditional additive of geru
powder.
HUMAYUN’S TOMB ARCADE PLASTERWORK
Wherever original lime plaster layers had survived, these were retained and additional lime plaster carefully
matching the original in composition restored to missing portions only.
HUMAYUN’S TOMB INNER CHAMBERS
RESTORATING MUGHAL PLATFORMS
Overlooking the Char Bagh, a 21 m deep sandstone terrace, surrounds the principle tomb
structure. Persistent archival research revealed a plan, prepared in AD 1880, of the
sandstone plinth indicating the exact paving pattern prior to all 20th century repairs.
Though many of the sandstone slabs still bear the mason marks of the Mughal masons,
almost the entire paving had been altered during past repairs which had also altered the
slopes leading to significant water seepage to the chambers below.
Almost 70% of the 5800 sq.m. of the sandstone plinth required to be lifted and reset with
only stone pieces beyond repair replaced with new stones - matching the original in size
– and in the process of restoring adequate slopes, also restoring the Mughal paving
pattern
Similarly, rising 1.2 m above the garden, the stone paving on the plinth also required to
be lifted and reset following the removal of concrete laid over the stone in AD 1956
Removal of 3150 cum cement concrete layer
from the original dq paving
Lifting up the settled stones up to 3000 kgs and
relaying them
450 rmts red sandstone edging lifted and
partially replaced
HUMAYUN’S TOMB CONDITION ASSESMENT
HUMAYUN’S TOMB UPPER PLATFORM
Conservation works aimed at restoring original slope to ensure no water percolation to
chambers belowtakes place, restoring the pattern as documented in the 1880’s as well as
replacing inappropriate stone (on account of thickness, finish, texture and colour) with
stone matching the original
3D laser scan survey of the sandstone terrace revealed that past repairs – of which the most
intrusive were those carried out in 2003-5 had also reversed the slopes and created a
shallow drain along the edge of the mausoleum.
Furthermore once works commenced it was discovered that many stones had been reused
during past repairs by reversing the stone and chisseling it down – thus resulting in a stone
which was of a thin section and thus inappropriate to use.
ENTRANCE CHAMBER CEILING
HUMAYUN’S TOMB MAIN HALL
HUMAYUN’S TOMB MAIN HALL
Several layers of paint and lime- wash were applied to the internal wall surfaces of
Humayun’s Tomb chamber in the late 20th – early 21st century. The resulting dirty
appearance did not resemble original condition at all and severely compromised the
authenticity. Please also note stains caused by water seepage from lattice screens due to
increase in roof levels.
RESTORING TILE WORK
Though tile fragments were visible on the canopies, it was only after a careful scientific
study that original patterns could be determined. These tiles represented an important
intention
of the Mughal builders and thus remained a focus of the AKTC conservation project.
Though many of the tiles found on the canopies had lost their glaze, it was agreed from the
onset that all existing tiles would be retained. With craft techniques lost in India, the
conservation
process required three years of experimentation that commenced under the guidance of
master craftsmen from Uzbekistan. 20,000 individual pieces in the five colours used were
prepared in the experimentation phase until tiles matching the mughal tiles could be
prepared.
Each tile piece for use was made to specific size as per impressions recorded in the plaster
where possible. Tiles were prepared by youth from the adjoining Nizamuddin Basti in
electric kilns set up within the Humayun’s Tomb complex
Restoration of tilework adds a so far unknown dimension to the Indian red and white
philosophy of the monument, namely an architectural reference to the country of origin of
the Mughals in present day Uzbekistan, to the blue and green domes of Samarkand and
Bukhara. It would underline the architectural universalism of the original design of
Humayun’s tomb. The Mughal builders considered the facing of the chhatris with glazed
tiles so important that they repeated it for the cupolas of the chhatris of Akbar’s tomb at
Sikandra (completed 1613).
- ebba Koch
RESTORING TILE WORK ON CANOPIES
HUMAYUN’S TOMB CANOPY
Five colours of tiles were found to have been used at the Humayun’s Tomb canopies and
for each of them thousands of samples were prepared –
totaling over 20000 samples. all original tiles found on the canopies – even with their
glaze lost – have been retained and new tiles exactly matching the original applied only
where cement layers had been applied in past repairs.
DOME AND TERRACES
Humayun’s Tomb boasts of a grand double dome of a scale never before seen in India. The
condition assessment revealed that the outer dome was leaking and the plaster on its inner
surface had been completely lost. Conservation works required careful removal of cement
from the joints of the marble dome and then filing the joints with lime mortar.
Preliminary studies revealed 40 cm of concrete was laid on the roof in the 20th century.
Removing over 1 million kilograms of concrete without any vibrations that could cause
damage to the masonry posed a significant challenge. The removal commenced with a thin
and deep cut using a diamond edged blade on a grid pattern. Specially imported low
vibration tools then widened the cut to allow stone-carvers to remove the concrete using
traditional hand tools, in a yearlong exercise. A layer of lime
concrete matching the original in composition of brick aggregate, sand, brick dust and
traditional additives such as fruit pulp, molasses, was then laid over the roof to original
slope.
Manual removal of 1 Million
kilos of concrete from the roof
THE MARBLE JOINT HAVE BEEN CLEANED AND RE-POINTED
SOUTH GATEWAY
RESTORING ORNAMENTAL PLASTERWORK
BARBER’S TOMB BEFORE CONSERVATION
NORTH PAVILLION: BEFORE CONSERVATION
BADARI/EAST PAVILLION: BEFORE CONSERVATION
NILA GUMBAD: BEFORE CONSERVATION
NILA GUMBAD: INTERNAL CEILING
INFERENCE
The reclamation of the Mughal Emperor Humayun's sixteenth century garden tomb, the
gem of Mughal design that originates before the Taj Mahal, was finished by the Aga Khan
Trust for Culture in September of 2013. Six years of preservation works and 200,000 work
days embraced by ace experts have been required to reestablish the Tomb's Mughal
delicacy.
Fulfillment of the rebuilding expands on the promise made by the Aga Khan in 1997, on
the event of the 50th commemoration of India's autonomy, to reestablish the Tomb's
nurseries. Since 2007, the Urban Renewal Initiative, actualized by the Aga Khan Trust for
Culture (AKTC) in organization with the Archeological Survey of India, a few government
offices and co-subsidizing accomplices, included: protection of more than 30 landmarks;
the creation, by a broad program of arranging, of a 36 hectare (90-section of land) city park
in the Sunder Nursery Batashewala Complex; and critical upgrades to the personal
satisfaction for the occupants of Hazrat Nizamuddin Basti, a store of seven centuries of
living society.
To reestablish the first plans of the Mughal manufacturers of Humayun's Tomb - a large
number of which had been undermined by twentieth century works - experts were required
to expel a million kilos of cement from the rooftop and a great many square meters of
concrete from the dividers, roofs and floors of all structures inside the nursery walled in
area. Experts likewise needed to reestablish stone joints in the vault with lime infill to
make the arch watertight; recreate the fallen arcade of the nursery fenced in area divider;
reestablish the tile work to the rooftop overhangs while restoring tile causing abilities in
India; to apply 21,000 square meters (225,000 square feet) of lime mortar, for the most part
to the internal surface of the twofold arch and to the 68 little tombs on the ground level;
reset 5400 square meters (58000 square feet) of sandstone on the porch following the first
examples and inclines; and lift the 3700 square meters (40,000 square feet) stone plinth,
which was covered under twentieth century concrete, among different works.
Notwithstanding the accentuation on coordinating the principles of Mughal-period
craftsmanship, the task adopted an art based strategy to preservation that offers a model for
restoring these quick vanishing abilities while at the same time making work.
Together with the protection chips away at Humayun's Tomb, various bordering landmarks
have been reestablished, including: Nila Gumbad, Isa Khan's nursery tomb, Bu Halima's
nursery tomb, Arab Serai portals, Sundarawala Mahal and Burj, Batashewala gathering of
Monuments, Chausath Khambha, and Hazrat Nizamuddin Baoli.
All preservation works were gone before by a program of careful recorded research and
thorough documentation, including the utilization of condition of-craftsmanship 3D laser
filtering and autonomous companion surveys. A multi-disciplinary group including
protection modelers, archeological specialists, history specialists, among others, managed
the procedure.
With regards to AKTC's general mean to use culture in manners that invigorate financial
CONCLUSION
A fundamental necessity for you as a protection professional includes a capacity to blend
an entire pontoon of data and, from examination of it, make suggestions about intercession
works. These works may include, fix and upkeep or, where called for, changes of
utilization, recovery, restoration, and so on.
The notable record that the advantage holds and offers must not be undermined by such
work of mediation. It is, along these lines, officeholder upon you to unmistakably
comprehend the ramifications of any proposed intercession work; this dependent on point
by point information through research and examination about what it is that makes the
advantage huge and what, regarding its deteriology, is a risk to that importance.
You should have the option to mediate in a manner that shows regard for criticalness and
yet perceives that change might be inescapable. It is the capacity to oversee proper change
that imprints out great protection practice.
You should have the option to examine and decipher data you gather from the structure
itself, as an essential source, and records and other narrative and auxiliary sources that help
center your comprehension of importance.
You should have the option to propose an appropriate analytical procedure to help with
increasing better information about the benefit, its texture, utilization of materials and
structure. The entirety of this information is basic so as to detail a comprehension of the
advantage, its criticalness, what undermines that essentialness and how it is to be secured.
“The object of conservation is to prolong the life of cultural heritage and, if possible,
to clarify the artistic and historical messages therein without loss of authenticity and
meaning. Conservation is a cultural, artistic, technical and craft activity based on
humanistic and scientific studies and systematic research. Conservation must respect
the cultural context.”
REFERENCES:
https://www.akdn.org/project/humayuns-tomb-conservation-completed
https://www.akdn.org/akdn/press-release/humayuns-tomb-restoration-inaugurated-indian-prime-
minister-and-aga-khan
http://www.nizamuddinrenewal.org/conservation/humayun-tomb/conservation.php
https://archnet.org/sites/6396
https://www.tatatrusts.org/article/inside/tata-trusts-humayun-aga-khan
https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/232/
THANK
YOU
