NEWS – India’s First Sunken Museum Inaugurated

HIGHLIGHTS

• Inauguration Details
  • Date: July 29
  • Location: Humayun’s Tomb complex, New Delhi
  • Officially opened by: Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat
• Museum Features
  • Artefacts: Over 500 items, many on public display for the first time
  • Design Inspiration: Traditional ‘baolis’ (water tanks)
  • Exhibits: Mughal miniatures, manuscripts, coins, textiles
  • Immersive Gallery: 270-degree screen for virtual tours and animated presentation on Humayun’s Tomb
• Development and Collaboration
  • Developed by: Aga Khan Trust for Culture and Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)
  • Conservation Effort: 25 years, covering a 300-acre site including Humayun’s Tomb, Sunder Nursery, and Nizamuddin Basti
• Public Access
  • Opening Date: July 30
  • Occasion: Coincided with the 46th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in New Delhi

HUMAYUN’S TOMB

• Historical Significance
  • Built By: Hamida Banu Begum
  • Architectural Style: Mughal, with red sandstone facade, white marble inlays, and Persian-style garden layout
• UNESCO World Heritage Status
  • Significance: First garden-tomb in the Indian subcontinent, inspiring the design of the Taj Mahal
• Cultural and Architectural Impact
  • Represents: Symbolic paradise garden and Mughal architectural innovations