History in Garde

Sunder Nursery is in the heart of the city of Delhi. It occupies an area of 90 acres and hase 20 heritage structures, of which six are UNESCO World Heritage monuments. Parts of the complex stand within the buffer zone of Humayun’s Tomb World Heritage Site. Conservation of the 15 monuments that stand within the Park and have also undergone the same careful conservation by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC)r as Humayun’s Tomb.

Restoring Sunder Nursery’s Historic Grandeur

Three of the nine Mughal era structures that stand within Sunder Nursery are considered to be of national significance viz. Sundarwala Burj, Sundarwala Mahal and the Lakkarwala Burj. As per the 2016 revision by UNESCO these three monuments too are a part of Humayun’s Tomb World Heritage Site – making it one of the densest ensemble of 16th century Tomb gardens in India.
Conservation works on these monuments has been carried out through a craft-based approach strengthening the age-old building skills, master craftsmen work alongside architects and engineers to match the work of their forefathers using traditional tools, techniques and materials.
Substantial conservation works have included restoration of original intricate plaster and ornamental patterns at the Sundarwala and Lakkarwala Burj, major structural repairs to Sundarwala Mahal and the Garden Pavilion. In 2010, following a Ground Penetrating radar Survey carried out in Sunder Nursery, a 17th century Mughal water tank was discovered. This Lotus Pond, south of the Sundarwala Mahal, has a unique multi- foliate design which has now been restored to its original function and provided a picturesque garden setting.

Conserving the Mughal-era Lotus Pond

In 2009 Earthworks revealed a 16th century lotus pond that would have stood within the enclosed garden of Sunder Burj & Sunderwala Mahal. Though dilapidated, the Lotus pond has been carefully restored and Lotus once again blooming here.

Together with the Garden Amphitheatre and the Flower Valley, the Lotus Pond is one of the prominent venues for various art and cultural events. It forms a perfect backdrop to art installations and owing to its proximity to the Park’s entrance zone, it provides a visual delight to all the visitors coming to Sunder Nursery.

Sundarwala Mahal

The Outstanding Universal Value of the Humayun’s Tomb World Heritage Site is due to this area being an ensemble of 16th century garden tombs of which Sundarwala Mahal is a prominent example. Conservation works on Sundarwala Mahal, which is a nationally protected monument included repair and rebuilding the western façade, restoring decorative plasterwork in the muqarnas and ornamentation, reinstallation of jallis, internal and external flooring, and restoration of the parapet wall.

Conservation and landscape development works on Sundarwala Mahal were supported by HUDCO, and were completed in 2015.

Mughal Garden Pavilion

Standing on the eastern side of Sunder Nursery, amidst dense vegetation, this exquisite structure was barely visible until the conservation works commenced in 2008. The pavilion is unique in Delhi on account of its architectural style, scale and ornamental plasterwork.

In 2009, selected Hibiscus and Chandni trees were planted which have now grown to make the conserved Garden Pavilion look even more beautiful. Had the Tunnel Road been built during the Commonwealth Games, the Garden Pavilion would have been lost as would half of Sunder Nursery!

Conservation

This garden pavilion possibly dating back to late 17th and 18th century was in a ruinous condition. Remarkably, the building has survived despite heavy vegetation having taken root on the building and neglect to an extent that several snakeskins were found in the structure during clearance works. Conservation works have been aimed at enhancing the cultural significance and ensuring structural stability and integrity of this unique building in Delhi.

A detailed documentation of the structure including architectural drawings, condition assessment and photo documentation was carried out as a first step. All vegetation on and within the structure was carefully removed. Forest Officer’s permission was received to cut one tree growing on the structure. The cracks in the structure were carefully stitched. Underpinning, in Lakhori brick masonry was carried out on all internal wall surfaces where over 80% of wall depth had been lost. The surviving ornamental plasterwork was consolidated and the entire wall surface carefully re-pointed. The sandstone brackets were re-installed on a design worked out in consultation with stone craftsmen on the basis of the lone surviving bracket, of which only 70% had remained intact.

The chajjas were re-installed on the basis of fragments found embedded in the parapet wall which indicated the thickness of the stone removed and the angle it was laid out at. The length of the chajja was worked out on the basis of study of similar buildings and experimentation on site.

The plinth, in a state of rubble, was conserved. Red sandstone restored on the roof edge and on the flooring of the pavilion and the plinth. The base layer of the ornamental plasterwork was restored on the external and internal wall surfaces. A new layer of lime concrete was provided on the roof.

Sandstone lattice screen fragments were discovered during clearance works; these provided the basis of re-installing the lattice screens in the three arched openings, one on each of the northern, eastern and western sides.

Arched Platform

Located just north of Sundarwala Mahal, this Mughal period arched platform is a significant architectural structure and was also recommended to be protected by the ASI by Zafar Hasan in the 1920’s. However, since being recorded by INTACH in the year 2000, the mosque has suffered tremendous damage and large-scale collapse as a result of neglect coupled with heavy vegetation growth. Following the conservation works undertaken here, not only has the structure been consolidated and strengthened, but the area around has been landscaped and hence, revived.

The Arched Platfrom is situated at the cusp between the landscaped garden zone and the wilderness zone of Sunder Nursery park. Therefore, it provides a perfect transition, and the lawn adjoining to it are the picnic lawns where special events for children like Birthday parties and picnics can be organized. If you need more information on it, please write to info@sundernursery.org

You may also write to:
Government Sunder Nursery…
New Delhi, Delhi 110013
www.sundernursery.org
info@sundernursery.org
011-21420556

Lakkarwala Burj – Garden

The Outstanding Universal Value of the Humayun’s Tomb World Heritage Site is due to this area being an ensemble of 16th century garden tombs of which Lakkarwala Burj is a prominent example.

This domed, rubble built, and externally plastered building occupies the centre of an 8’ high platform. The monument, with arched openings in each of its four sides has profusely ornamented interiors with Quranic verses in incised plasterwork encircling the room. Conservation works on Lakkarwala Burj, which is a nationally protected monument included repair and rebuilding the western façade, restoring decorative plasterwork in the muqarnas and ornamentation, re-installation of jallis, internal and external flooring, restoration of parapet wall.

The Outstanding Universal Value of the Humayun’s Tomb World Heritage Site is due to this area being an ensemble of 16th century garden tombs of which Lakkarwala Burj is a prominent example.

Conservation

Following an exhaustive architectural documentation and condition assessment carried out at the onset of the project, a conservation and landscape plan for Lakkarwala Burj was developed for the monument and adjoining area.

The ornamentation on the internal wall surfaces was cleaned to expose the original details, and missing incised plaster work was reconstructed following the original pattern. Missing lime punning was replaced with new lime punning. Lakkarwala Burj, like Sunder Burj has Quranic inscriptions, which too were restored in matching style of calligraphy. The parapet over the lower arcade required to be partially dismantled and rebuilt. Sandstone lattice screens in the eight arched openings in the neck of the dome and the four openings over the doorway were restored.

Following works carried out on the ceiling and the internal wall surfaces in 2010, conservation works on the façade commenced in late 2011. The decorative edging of the arched openings was restored, and upper plinth was paved in red sandstone. Paving has been laid in a generous slope for effective drainage ensuring minimum damage to the structure. Entire stone floor surface has been hand dressed by craftsmen.

Landscape

Creating a pleasant garden and enhance the historical setting of Lakkarwala Burj, a 16th century Mughal monument

To the east of Lakkarwala Burj, along the access from the Central Vista, a rose garden was created in 2010, with the rose planting transplanted here from the vehicular roundabout around the Sunder Burj. The landscape plan ensured no damage was caused to underlying archaeology discovered during clearance works.

The rose garden comprising of 31 rectangular beds, and 19 rose varieties has a neatly laid out Delhi Quartzite paving and brick-tile paving. Inset tiles with geometric designs were made out of Dholpur to highlight pathway intersections. Grass lawns were also extended beyond the rose garden to the excavated lake promising the area a serene environment. 8 Ficus Benjamina plants from the ongoing Central Axis were carefully transplanted to the southern edge of Lakkarwala Rose Garden and are doing well.

Sunder Burj – Gardens

The Outstanding Universal Value of the Humayun’s Tomb World Heritage Site is due to this area being an ensemble of 16th century garden tombs of which Sunder Burj is a prominent example. Following the conservation woks undertaken here, and with the recognition that “Humayun’s Tomb and the other contemporary 16th-century garden tombs within the property form a unique ensemble of Mughal-era garden-tombs,” in 2016 UNESCO expanded the World Heritage Site boundaries to include the Sunder Burj and its garden. Conservation works on Sunder Burj were carried out in partnership with the Archaeological Survey of India and with support from

– US Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation.

Sunder Nursery Lake

The lakes and rivulets are a significant element of the landscape master plan designed by landscape architect M Shaheer. In early 2018, the lakes were made operational. Every drop of rain that falls on Sunder Nursery is either stored in the lakes and underground tanks or recharges the ground water aquifers through the seven 16th century wells discovered in Sunder Nursery. In developing Sunder Nursery, the Aga Khan Trust for Culture ensured that each of the historic wells were painstakingly de-silted of the accumulated rubbish to their original depth. Similarly, all new constructions such as the Garden Amphitheatre and car parking are connected with the network of underground pipes laid here to ensure effective rainwater harvesting.

Sunder Nursery Lakes & Rivulet houses over 30 lakh litres of water and is home to several species of water-living plants, floating plants and submerged. This lake created in the low-lying area, serve as a holding tank for water required for irrigation, and encouraging birds in the rivulet zone.

Handcrafted sandstone chaddars were installed on the higher lake to allow a picturesque waterfall in the Mughal tradition adjacent to the principal central vista. There are lakeside pavilions built near lakkarwala Burj, also in handcrafted sandstone elements. There are several fountains installed to aerate the lake water.