India's First Sunken Museum Opens at Humayun's Tomb, Delhi

The country's first sunken museum, located at Humayun's Tomb complex, was inaugurated on Monday evening by Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. The museum showcases over 500 artefacts never seen before and is expected to be a significant addition to Delhi's cultural landscape.

Inspired by medieval baolis or traditional water tanks, the museum's layout highlights the legacy of Mughal emperor Humayun and the heritage of the Nizamuddin area over the past seven centuries. The museum will open to visitors from July 30, according to a senior official from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

Public-Private Partnership

The museum was developed by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) in collaboration with the ASI. It marks the culmination of 25 years of conservation efforts within the 300-acre site that includes Humayun's Tomb, Sunder Nursery, and Nizamuddin Basti. The public-private partnership model used for this project could be applied to other sites in India and globally.

At the inauguration ceremony held on the lawns of the iconic site, Shekhawat said, "The tomb complex with many old monuments dotting the premises is a shining example of how development and conservation of heritage need to go hand in hand to meet governance objectives and help boost tourism."

Technological Integration

The museum features an immersive gallery with a 270-degree screen offering virtual tours of World Heritage Sites' monuments and gardens. This gallery also includes an animated feature on the evolution of Humayun's Tomb over 500 years. Advanced technology is used to recreate the timeline of the 14th-century shrine through 3-D videos and detailed wooden scale models.

Prince Rahim Aga Khan attended the inauguration alongside several delegates from the UNESCO World Heritage Committee session, scholars, architects, diplomats, and craftsmen involved in the project. Ebba Koch, a leading authority on Mughal architecture and one of the consultants for the museum project, also attended.

Rich Cultural Display

The museum displays a variety of artefacts including Mughal miniatures, manuscripts, architectural elements, coins, contemporary art, astrolabes, celestial spheres, stone inscriptions, glassware, and textiles. A highlight is an astrolabe and a celestial sphere from the 1840s era.

"This museum is a new monument for the Mughals and a great gift to Delhi and to India," Koch remarked during the ceremony. The centrepiece is the finial of Humayun's Tomb which was knocked off during a storm in 2014.

Historical Significance

The museum serves as a link between Humayun's Tomb and Sunder Nursery while bridging history with modern times. "Museums and historic landmarks preserve and reveal the story of humanity," said Prince Rahim Aga Khan.

Construction began in April 2015 at this iconic 16th-century tomb. Initially planned for completion in 2017, it faced delays but now stands ready as a testament to India's rich cultural heritage.

AKTC’s Director General Luis Monreal explained that they initially considered building a tunnel to connect Humayun's Tomb with Sunder Nursery but opted for a museum instead. "This museum will become a useful prototype that will be replicated at other sites and elsewhere in the world," he said.

Shekhawat invited everyone to visit this beautiful museum to experience India's rich cultural heritage firsthand. He emphasised that cultural heritage is one of India's greatest assets.

The inauguration coincided with the ongoing 46th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in New Delhi. The event saw attendance from various dignitaries including Prince Rahim Aga Khan.