Hyderabad Heritage & Heritage Structures

[Ron7]

Last Heritage hurdle for city monuments

The main advisory committee (Heritage structure experts) of the International Council of Monuments and Sites (Icomos) is scheduled to visit Hyderabad again on October 31 for the final scrutiny of the Charminar, Golconda and Qutub Shahi Tombs before they are given the UNESCO World Heritage monument tag. This was revealed by the department of Archaeology and Museums.

The advisory body, along with Indian Heritage experts from Delhi, will arrive in Hyderabad on October 31 and remain in the city till November 3 for inspection purposes, said the officials.

“The suggestions given by the advisory committee of UNESCO have been taken seriously and implementation has already begun. The department has also removed small rocks and structures from around the tomb , said Mr G.V Ramakrishna Rao, archaeology department director.

Fingers crossed! Lets hope that all the monuments get the UNESCO world heritage tag which will add one more feather in Hyderabad's cap and help in bringing more tourists to Hyderabad!

[Ron7]

Hyderabad: A historic city

HYDERABAD, the capital of the south Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, is not like any other city. It has a very special place in history and heritage. Enjoying a multi-faced personality, Hyderabad has a distinctive character and identity of its own and enjoys long-standing relations with Oman and other Arab countries.
I would suggest the business community of Oman to build Oman’s cultural centre in this ancient city. This has been long overdue. Omani corporate houses can play a positive and historic role in this regard. One of the objectives of the proposed Omani Cultural Centre should be to bridge the gap in knowledge about our two people, cultures and societies, and to further promote the foundations for interaction based on our shared values. The Hyderabad-Oman cultural centre can be a useful tool for promoting understanding about Arab civilisation.
The strong links between the people of the two sides are a clear indication of their close and cordial relations. Anyone who traces the history and evolution of relations between this city and Oman can safely say that our relations stretch back over a long period and it continues to grow with increasing business, social and cultural exchanges. As a result of this long and close connection, the links between the two sides are not simply formal; it is a relationship between the two peoples.
Like some cities in Oman, Hyderabad presents a rare combination of the old world charm as well as modern life. Hyderabadi food specialities are popular in Oman. Hyderabadi dum biryani and haleem (a rich, nourishing and delightful meal) sell like hot cake in Muscat. In the old city of Hyderabad one pleasantly finds streets, lanes and by-lanes like the ones we see in Muttrah, while the other part of Hyderabad is famous as a major hub for the information technology industry in India, as well as the biotechnology and pharmaceutical capital of India. That explains why Hyderabad is also known as a modern old city!
Hyderabad is an important city from several other perspectives as well. People from this part of the world often go for treatment to this city, also known as the Apollo Health City, and they get good attention. Like Muscat, Muttrah and Sohar, in the old city of Hyderabad one can see handicraft markets bustling with activity. Visitors from Oman and other Arab countries like the exciting metal crafts (Bidri ware). The Salarjung Museum of this city has excellent and varied collections of this craft.
Famous for its historical monuments such as Charminar, Makka Masjid, Golconda Fort, Falaknama Palace and Qutub Shahi Tombs, this Indian city has been a beautiful and vibrant place with more than 400 years of history. Historically, Oman and India are very old trade partners. The foundations of Indo-Oman bilateral trade were built almost 5,000 years ago, which continues to grow to this day both in bilateral trade and people-to-people contacts.
Oman’s Poly Products LLC, the manufacturer of famous Raha mattresses, started Raha Poly Products Limited in Hyderabad in 1995, which is a huge hit like other Omani businesses in this city. The year 1996 saw the formation of the Indo-Oman Joint Business Council (JBC) with its first meeting in Muscat and the sixth one in Hyderabad in 2006.
Furthermore, Oman and many other Gulf countries have had longstanding relations with the people of Hyderabad. Over the past many decades, the people-to-people contacts have flourished and continue to grow. Arabs have business as well as spiritual links with Hyderabad because of our shared cultural values, beliefs, traditions and heritage. Some Arabs have had marriages in Hyderabad and have family relations also. To sum up, our corporate sector would do well to build a cultural centre in this beautiful city.

[Ron7]

Arts College: a historic masterpiece

The building in pinkish granite stone represents a harmonious blend of pillars and lintel style of Ajanta and Ellora

The architectural uniqueness stirs romance and the stunning structure blows the mind. The unspoiled edifice reveals majesty and is the nucleus of the 95-year old Osmania University. This is the College of Arts and Social Sciences of the famed OU, popularly known as the Arts College. It is one of the major heritage structures in Hyderabad. A team of experts travelled around the world to find the right design and the right person who could design this historic masterpiece.

The credit for the architecture goes to Monsieur Jasper, a Belgian architect.

Jasper prepared a detailed plan of all the university buildings. The execution of the plans was done by Nawab Zain Yar Jung, who was later awarded a Padma Bhushan for his outstanding service to the field of architecture.

The building in pinkish granite stone represents a harmonious blend of pillars and lintel style of Ajanta and Ellora.

The arches of the building are of Indo-Saracenic tradition. Octagonal pillars similar to the columnar architecture found in Ellora and Ajanta caves support the entire construction of the first floor.

The college exterior can be broadly divided into the centrepiece consisting of a grand arch which has a huge doorway designed after the Persian Pishtaq or the mosque of the yesteryears. On the either side of the centrepiece are two double-storied colonnaded galleries, each reflection of the other. The huge doorway with its marvellous arch, welcomes the staff, students and all the visitors to the striking interior.

Inside the college you’ll find the flooring, staircase balustrade and railings covered in pink terrazzo.

The flooring of the first and the second floor was done in Shahabad stones.

Atop the centre of the hallway you’ll find a fantastic dome with chandeliers set.

The dome is double-decked in structure, the first deck has sixteen sides and the second deck, a downward extension of the first, has sixteen windows related to each side of the first deck.

The dome has 32 inverted “A” symbols with 16 windows. But the uniqueness and strength is not confined to the building.

The youngsters shaped by the college over the years have turned out to be equally outstanding in their chosen spheres and the majestic building never fails to evoke nostalgia among the people who had passed through this portal of knowledge.

[Gudavalli]

Originally Posted by Ron7

Last Heritage hurdle for city monuments

Fingers crossed! Lets hope that all the monuments get the UNESCO world heritage tag which will add one more feather in Hyderabad's cap and help in bringing more tourists to Hyderabad!

Lets hope so

[sriece19]

Finally, Icomos team lands in Hyderabad

HYDERABAD: The International Council on Monuments and Sites (Icomos) finally arrive in the city on Wednesday and will carry out its inspection of Charminar, Golconda Fort and Quli Qutub Shahi Tombs starting today. The city has been pushing for World Heritage tag for these structures for many years now and has pinned its hopes on the visiting team for it to come through.

GV Ramakrishna Rao, director, department of archeology and museums, said the team will start its survey with a visit to the Quli Qutub Shah Tombs on Wednesday morning followed by the Golconda Fort in the evening where they will also attend the sound and light show. On November 2, the team will inspect Charminar followed by a separate visit to Chowmohalla Palace on November 3.

While officials of the Archaeological Survey of India and the department of archeology and museums remained tight-lipped about the Icomos visit, they were optimistic that all three monuments would make the prestigious World Heritage Monument tag. An archeology department official said, "Work has been moving at a fast pace so that the inspection goes well. All three monuments are being spruced up. We are confident of getting the heritage tag." Clearly, officials believe that their months and years of indifference to the city's crumbling heritage will not show with quick sprucing up efforts.

While the Bhagyalakshmi Temple and the Chilla in Charminar will continue to remain untouched, ASI officials said that the overhead water tanks used by the temple have been permanently removed after consulting temple officials. They however added that temple officials are yet to heed to their repeated requests of removing saffron flags and buntings put up during Dasara. Heritage activists noted that the authorities had failed to utilise the window of opportunity provided to them after the Icomos visit was delayed.

It was earlier reported in these columns that the series of inspections were scheduled to take place from September 25 onwards, but was delayed due to passport issues of one of the expert committee members. "Charminar continues to have lichen on its walls and the Qutub Shah tombs are surrounded by encroachments. The GHMC had hastily taken up demolition of these encroachments near the tomb complex but made little progress. We were informed that smaller encroachments will be removed for just one day," said an activist.

Meanwhile, a group of noted heritage activists said that the government has kept them isolated from the Icomos developments.

They said that despite making several requests with the government for a meeting with experts, they have received no reply. An activist requesting anonymity said, "They are afraid that we will speak about the Naya Qila issue where the government is clearly at fault. We want to appraise our concerns with the Icomos team but the government has completely shut us out."

[Ron7]

Temple-near-Charminar row gets murkier

Even as attempts to expand the disputed temple adjacent to historic monument of Charminar left a “Jali” or stuccowork of a window broken, the continuing row sparked the stray incidents of violence in old city of Hyderabad on Friday.

Despite the police making elaborate security arrangements in view of the Friday congregation in the nearby Mecca Masjid, groups of people of two communities gathered and indulged in slogan-shouting and stone-pelting.

The row had started day before, after the temple committee made an attempt to put up a shed over the temple, evoking protests from the other community. While police had brought the situation under control by stopping the construction work and taking 15 workers of the BJP and Bajrang Dal and some members of the temple committee into custody, tension started building up again on Friday morning as 200 Hindu activists gathered at the temple and continued shouting slogans.

A group of Muslims, coming out of the Mecca Masjid after the prayers also tried to rush towards the temple. The police and the Rapid Action Force had erected barriers and formed a human wall to keep the two sides away from each other.

Local MIM MLAs Ahmad Pasha Quadri and Moazzam Khan tried to pacify the crowd and persuaded them to disperse peacefully. However, in the melee some miscreants threw stones, damaging two vehicles. The police had to chase the crowd away.

While the Hyderabad Police Commissioner Anurag Sharma said that the dispute was resolved, the problem was still festering as the temple committee was insisting to put up with the shed.

State BJP president G Kishan Reddy, who visited the temple on Thursday and offered prayers there, alleged that the police was coming in the way of “repair work” at the temple under pressure from the MIM. He warned the police of grave consequences.

The wooden pillars erected by the temple committee were still in place. As one of the wooden pillars had nudged into a window of Charminar, its intricate stuccowork was damaged.

Meanwhile, the MIM MLA Ahmad Pasha Quadri met the Superintendent Archaeologist of ASI and demanded the mosque atop the Charminar should be opened for prayers by Muslims. He said that when people were being allowed to offer puja at the temple which was a recent addition, they cannot stop the other community from using its place of worship, which was also a part of Charminar.

The controversy over temple near Charminar is almost four-decade-old, during which the small temporary structure was developed into a concrete one. But, it has come to the fore again at a time when the International Council on Monuments and Sites is in Hyderabad to assess the claim that Charminar and other historic monuments of Hyderabad should be awarded the World Heritage status.

Sources said Charminar was unlikely to be accorded the status, given the presence of a temple as well as a Muslim shrine or ‘Chhilla’ and the failure of ASI in keeping up with the proper maintenance of the monument.

The ASI, the custodian of the monument is maintaining a steady silence on the row. There was no response from the ASI officials in Hyderabad. Despite orders from the Andhra Pradesh High Court, the ASI had failed to curb the illegal structure adjacent to and in vicinity of Charminar .

Damn it! Why this people had to start the violence now when ICOMOS had arrived to assess it? We will never get the World heritage tag to Charminar because of this useless ASI and the stupid politicians!

[Irrational_Indian]

While the temple and Chilla aren't certainly historical additions to the Charminar, they have represented what Charminar always stood for. Unlike most other Indian monuments ( Red Fort, Fathepur Sikri or Taj Mahal) , which have been protected by gardens and are visited by tourists Charminar has always been a part of the neighbourhood that sustained it. It has always been surrounded by people and it adds to it's shaan. The Charminar's a great piece of history but the people and the chaos around it adds to its beauty. Sort of like CST Mumbai. Plus, there's a story behind the temple. Legend says a really pretty lady asked a guard at Charminar, the address of the Nizam. The Guard asked her to wait. The Nizam killed the guard, thus binding the goddess of wealth to wait, eternally at Charminar. If true, it adds to the beauty of the monument. If the ASI can pitch like this, I'm sure we'd deserve a spot. Next up is Palaces of Hyderabad : Ritz, Errum Manzil, Falaknuma and Chowmahalla. And some day, a World Heritage City

[World8115]

Extension of temple illegal - ASI

The Bhagya Laxmi temple near Charminar. File Photo: Ravi Kiran, The Hindu

As the controversy rages over the Bhagya Laxmi temple near Charminar, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) refuses to be drawn into it. On the plea of the matter being ‘subjudiced’, officials decline to talk about the temple existing cheek-by-jowl to the historic monument.

The premier organisation tasked with protection of cultural heritage has no record about how long the temple is in existence. But officials are sure that the place of worship is existing prior to 1992 when the gazette notification was issued amending the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act of 1958 restricting structures around protected monuments.

As per rules the area within 100 meters of a monument is a prohibited area while the area within 200 meters comes in the regulated category. Modifications and repairs to buildings are allowed in these limits subject to prior permission. But the Bhagya Laxmi temple, officials say, falls under the prohibited limits and therefore any attempt to extend it constitutes an ‘illegal activity’.

Authorities are surprised at the way the construction activity was sought to be taken up at the temple during night. “Nobody from the temple committee approached us for permission”, say senior officials pleading anonymity.

Charminar came under the list of centrally protected monuments through a notification issued in 1951 and ever since it is being looked after by the ASI. Why is the ASI not in picture when the iconic monument is caught in the eye of the storm?

“The construction activity was already stopped by police and therefore there was no need for us to intervene”, officials say.

Ironically the controversy broke out when the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) team was in the city to take stock of the efforts made by the government to remove the encroachments around Charminar, Golconda Fort and the Qutb Shahi Tombs which are proposed for UNESCO world heritage tag.

However, ASI officials feel the present controversy will not come in the way of the city monuments getting the UNESCO heritage tag.

ASI officials dub as wrong reports of a hole being drilled in Charminar structure by the temple authorities. “We have inspected and there is no damage whatsoever”, an official remarked.

Authorities refuse to entertain the Majlis plea for permitting prayers at the mosque in Charminar. “This can not be allowed as when ASI took over the monument there was no such practice”, officials say.

Trust denies expansion of Bhagyalakshmi temple

Trustees of the Bhagyalakshmi temple in the Old City, currently caught in the midst of a communal tension, said on Tuesday they were only replacing worn-out bamboo structures with new ones ahead of the festive season. and were against violence at a time when authorities are strengthening security to thwart any violence.

Temple trustees say the controversial structure is nothing more than a space for devotees to conglomerate, especially on the occasion of Diwali. "Our family has been managing the temple operations for decades now. We are the fourth generation that has taken up the reins of the religious structure," claims Sasikala, one of the five trustees of the temple. "Each time there is damage to the bamboo structure we replace it. It is an ongoing process," she said.

Communal tension has triggered at Charminar and adjoining areas over rumours that the temple authorities were expanding the existing premises, fuelling fears of damage to the historic Charminar.

Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owasi has alleged that government inaction, mainly by the police was responsible for the communal tension over the past few days, which has seen stray incidents of stabbing in the area, while the high court ordered a status quo on any expansion of the Charminar temple.

Old timers say the existing temple structure was erected along the eastern side of the iconic Charminar and its doors opened to devotees from around the area in the late 1960s. While the temple took a physical form only 50-odd years ago, folklore has it that a holy stone (more like a milestone) had been laid at the same site several years ago, most likely during the Quli Qutub Shah period. Laced with 'haldi' and 'kumkum', the stone soon came to be 'idolized' as a symbol of prosperity by Hyderabadis.

Academician Anand Raj Varma said communal tension over the temple had also evoked in the past after the stone was replaced with an idol of Lakshmi and a temporary shed built to give it the feel of a temple. "Even then, tension prevailed in the area. But it was way milder than what we are seeing now," Varma adds.

Many contradict the popular version of the age-old narrative and maintain that the temple had no existence of any sorts, until just a few decades back. Claims about it being as old as the Charminar too are completely 'baseless', they insist. "It was unnecessarily erected by some locals. There was nothing at the site before that," argues historian Narender Luther.

With prominent parties in the area battling to keep their flags flying high, structures like the Bhagyalakshmi temple have become weapons of attack and retaliation, they explain.

The conflicts over its foundation notwithstanding, observers agree that the temple has been damaged many times over during the communal unrest of the 1970s. It is for this reason, they note, the area is flooded with heavy security each time a religious event unfolds in this part of town. "It has turned into an epicenter of 'demonstrative' politics over time," say analysts closing following the developments over the last few days.

But now, the trust says it might move the court to resolve the issue at the earliest. "We have thousands of people come in for 'Dhanteras' to the temple. Each one is given a coin for prosperity that day. We have to resolve the issue at any cost before that day," Sasikala added.

[World8115]

10 lakh sanctioned for Ashoor Khana restoration

Funds for restoration and renovation of the Badeshahi Ashoor Khana have been going back and forth between the Department of Archeology and Museums (DAM) and the government with precious little work being done. It was in early September that Dam was sanctioned Rs 21 lakh for restoring the Shiite place of worship to former glory but only Rs 6 lakh was used and the rest returned. With the month of Muharram round the corner, the Dam has now been sanctioned another Rs 10 lakh for restoration work of the structure.

It was during the Conference of Parties in September that the state government had sanctioned Rs 21 lakh for sprucing up the place in view of visits by delegates. Describing the sanctioning of funds as a result of 'urgency', Dam officials said that they had acted on orders from the government and hadn't called tenders due to unavailability of time and awarded contacts only on nomination basis. "Around Rs 1.29 crore was sanctioned for Paigah Tombs, Saidanima's Tomb and the State Museum a chunk of which has been returned. We were asked to submit bills and return the remainder of the sanctioned amount," said a Dam official requesting anonymity. With Muharram scheduled to be observed from November 16, around Rs 10 lakh has been sanctioned for renovation of the Ashoor Khana Khurd, popularly known as the mini-Ashoor khana, where the alam (standard) will be kept. The wooden roof is being restored with teak wood beams. A team of four carpenters and four masons has already started work.

"The roof is being restored to what it was when the Ashoor Khana was built more than 400 years ago. Work will be completed before Muharram," said GV Rama Krishna Rao, director, Dam.However, Ashoor khana officials were quick to point out that Icomos team member Chehryar Adil had expressed displeasure at the decaying place of worship and questioned why the structure wasn't renovated. They said that around 2 lakh devotees cutting across faiths and sects visit the Ashoor Khana in the first ten 10 days of Muharram.

[World8115]

Magnificent view


The Hindu GLORIOUS BEGINNING: Azakhana-E-Zehra, the Ashoorkhana, being spruced up in Hyderabad as the new year began on Saturday. Photo: Mohammed Yousuf

[Gudavalli]

St. Mary’s Church awarded ‘Minor Basilica’ decree

The church built in Indian Gothic style in 1840 is one of the oldest in the city.
This Christmas has brought along good news for Andhra Pradesh. After many efforts, St. Mary’s Church, Secunderabad, is now awarded with the ‘Minor Basilica’ decree by Pope Benedict XVI, thus, making it the first church in State to get the decree.

Basilicas are Catholic pilgrim sites, which receive large number of visitors every year and only the Pope can create a Basilica by a special decree, said Most Reverend Thumma Bala, Archbishop of Hyderabad, at a press conference here on Sunday. A formal announcement would be made on Christmas.

Built in 1840

The church built in Indian Gothic style in 1840 is one of the oldest in the city. The four bells installed here were brought from Italy in 1901. Factors like number of visitors, heritage importance, relics or sacred images are looked into before declaring it as a Basilica, he said.

As part of the expansion works, a new 24-hour small adoration chapel will be built in the church, besides a special museum depicting the basilicas history is also to be set up.

[Gudavalli]

A basilica for the believers

It came as a gift to the City of Pearls on the merry season of Christmas. The declaration of the St Mary’s Church, Secunderabad, as a minor basilica by the Pope Benedict XVI makes the shrine the first one in the State to be bestowed such great honour. Candlelight worship service, carols and Holy Communion marked the Midnight Mass celebrated in the beautifully illuminated church on Christmas eve. Roman Catholics from across the twin cities participated.

The church joins the list of 16 other Catholic churches in the country that have been accorded minor basilica status. It is a gift that everyone, especially the Christian communities in Hyderabad, will cherish. Across the world, minor basilicas are given special priestly privileges and are traditionally so named in view of their antiquity, historical value, architectural splendor and artistic worth. The St Mary’s Church was built by the efforts of Father Daniel Murphy.

The Archbishop of Hyderabad Rev Thumma Bala has described it as a moment of great joy and pride for not just the Christian brethren, but all the people of the State. "The St Mary's Church has now been raised to a higher level of religious importance. This church has a lot of historical importance and has become a major spiritual centre which is visited by a large number of people," he observed.

A jewel in the crown

Every Christmas brings us the greatest message: love in its pristine form. This year’s Christmas has something very special for believers in the city, parishioners of St Mary’s Church and the people of Andhra Pradesh in general. Most Rev Thumma Bala, the Archbishop of Hyderabad, has announced the avowal of Pope Benedict XVI who had declared the historically famous St Mary‘s Church in Secunderabad as a minor basilica in Andhra Pradesh.

So far the twin cities have been associated with great heritage monuments like Charminar, Golkonda Fort; historical structures like Tank Bund; and symbols of modernity like the HI-TEC City. St Mary’s Church will now be another jewel in the crown of Hyderabad. The term basilica began to be used more generally by the Roman Catholic Church to refer to an integral religious building. Basilica is a Catholic pilgrim site that receives tens of millions of visitors per year and only the Pope can create a basilica by a special decree.

Sharing the happiness on the elite honour, B Prashant, assistant parish priest, says, “God has planned everything. This is a proud and happy moment for many of us, for the people who come here. This is a glorious day for all of us. Christmas time could never have been anything better than this,”

The process of St Mary’s Church being declared as the basilica began with the great efforts of late Archbishop Marampudi Joji and brought to fruition with the prayerful blessings of the present Archbishop of Hyderabad Most Rev Thumma Bala so much so that the Church of Andhra Pradesh is greatly indebted to him, the great work of both the Archbishops for taking great interest and pursuing it to bring it to this state of affairs.

There are two types of basilicas in the world. The first ones are major basilicas which are located in Rome and are officiated by only the Pope. They are only four in number. The others are minor basilicas which are around the world. The St Mary’s Church now falls under the category of minor basilica.

Some of the minor basilicas in India are Basilica of Bom Jesus in Goa, Basilica of Mount Mary Church in Mumbai, St Thomas Cathedral Basilica in Madras and Basilica of our Lady of Good Health in Velankanni.

What makes it a basilica?
. The prominence that the church enjoys historically and spiritually
.The historicity of the church and the significance that it has in the background of the history
. The architectural values of the church are taken into consideration which has gothic style with curved arches and buttress
.Liturgical services held are very high in numbers
. The church is the abode of sacred relics
. The side altars are very important and the St Mary’s Church has 9

A heritage site
If you were to compare it with the Nawabi charm of the Old City of Hyderabad and its monuments with the Islamic influence, Secunderabad's fair share of architecture and landmarks seems more Victorian. The raison d'etre could perhaps be the fact that the British Army was stationed on this part of the twin cities.

From its large number of convent schools, churches and multi-ethnic influences to the deluge of English movies regularly screened at the erstwhile Sangeet theatre, the younger of the twins by 200 years decidedly bears the hallmarks of anglicisation.

Take a stroll down the busy Sarojini Devi Road, and tucked away within its sweeping stretch you'll find another of these - the 162-year-old St Mary's Church. Reminiscent of an old Irish chapel, it has been declared a heritage site. Formerly known as St Mary's Cathedral, this church was the seat and residence of the Vicar Apostolic of Hyderabad. Here's a little bit of history.

Father Daniel Murphy had come to India with Bishop Carew in 1839, and was given the mission of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. Most practising Christians will know that there are 4 main categories of Christian places of worship - chapel, church, basilica and cathedral. The cathedral is normally a much larger place of worship than a church, and is run by a bishop. In 1840, Bishop Murphy began to build a cathedral in Secunderabad, which was completed in 1850.

In 1864, owing to failing health, Bishop Murphy was forced to leave India. The vicariate was then entrusted to the Milan Seminary of Foreign Missions. Father Giovanni Domenico Barbero became Vicar Apostolic, and was consecrated Bishop of Doliche, at Rome, 3 April, 1870. He procured some Sisters of St Anne from Turin, and in 1871 established them at Secunderabad where they opened an orphanage and a girls' school. Popular as the St Ann’s School, it remains the most prominent landmark adjoining the church.

The exterior of the church is clearly Gothic in its architecture. Walk around the church and its edifice, and the deserted unkempt area behind clearly shows signs of being a witness of a bygone era. Sure enough, walk up the steps, and a board informs you that the foundation of the Church was laid, pretty ironically, on 15th August 1847. The hallowed interior has two altars of Mother Mary and St Patrick alongside St Jesus.

The church is not as ornate or elaborate as you'd expect from the regular decor of most period places of worship. Perhaps it was decided prayers play a more important a role here than beautification. There is a series of stained glasses at the ground level of the church which clearly needs some repair work, but its wooden pews make you want to rest and ponder awhile before taking leave.

There is a small crowd of devotees scattered around on weekdays, lost in pensive veneration. The hush inside, a mark of respect for the spiritual presence, is calming. Right next to the church, within the same premises, is a small prayer room called the St Jude's Shrine, where people come to meditate.

The church opens at the wee hour of 4.30am, and closes by 12pm; it again opens at 3pm to close at 8.30 pm. Masses are held in Telugu, Tamil and English. On Sundays there are 7 masses held during the day. The church wakes up from its serenity when there is a marriage or fest happening, which are mainly Christmas and Easter, drawing crowds from both the twin cities.

So, the next time you feel the need to imbibe the spirit of Thanksgiving or simply be part of a religious revelry, drop by at the St Mary's Basilica and witness its moments of gaiety combined with its Eucharist practice of sobriety. Ave Maria!

[Gudavalli]

152-year-old All Saints Church rededicated

In all, 230 members of the church garnered Rs 80 lakh to restore the church to its past glory

Thanks to the indomitable spirit of its members, the 152-year-old All Saints Church, Trimulgherry, has been restored to its former glory and rededicated.

Due to weathering over time, the gothic structure has seen chips fall off its turrets, tiles on the roof breaking up, termites eating into woodwork, and water seepage at several places.

The restoration work, which began in June 2011, concluded on Sunday, making the church ready and resplendent for Christmas.

The structure was painstakingly restored, with several portions either replaced or cleaned up thoroughly. The work had been assigned to the Agency for Providing Traditional Solutions on Restoration of Built Heritage (APTSORBH) -- a prominent agency that undertakes such work in India.

Rev S Sathia Joseph, presbyter-in-charge, said, “The church has a long tradition and is one of the few in the South India that resembles the churches in England. We are happy that we were able to restore it without tampering with the original shape of the structure. Traditional methods such as mixing of herbs, raw eggs, jiggery and lime wash were used.”

The inaugural service on Sunday was attended by a large number of people and other special invitees. Secretary Frederick Michael said, “It took us one and a half years to complete the restoration work. What is unique is the fact that all the funds for the work was borne by the 230 families which amounted to Rs 80 lakh.”

The grand re-dedication service was attended by Right Reverend Dr G Dyasirvadam, Bishop in Medak and the local priest Rev S Sathia Joseph, along with congregation members and the pastorate committee members.

[reivajarev]

Originally Posted by Irrational_Indian

While the temple and Chilla aren't certainly historical additions to the Charminar, they have represented what Charminar always stood for. Unlike most other Indian monuments ( Red Fort, Fathepur Sikri or Taj Mahal) , which have been protected by gardens and are visited by tourists Charminar has always been a part of the neighbourhood that sustained it. It has always been surrounded by people and it adds to it's shaan. The Charminar's a great piece of history but the people and the chaos around it adds to its beauty. Sort of like CST Mumbai. Plus, there's a story behind the temple. Legend says a really pretty lady asked a guard at Charminar, the address of the Nizam. The Guard asked her to wait. The Nizam killed the guard, thus binding the goddess of wealth to wait, eternally at Charminar. If true, it adds to the beauty of the monument. If the ASI can pitch like this, I'm sure we'd deserve a spot. Next up is Palaces of Hyderabad : Ritz, Errum Manzil, Falaknuma and Chowmahalla. And some day, a World Heritage City

I kind of agree with your post, actually the Charminar's experience and all its bazaars around was the best thing that happened in my India trip. But since this building/monument represent the city itself (It is the Eiffel Tower of Hyderabad) officials in charge should have been more proactive in protecting this beautiful landmark. If the Government does not act fast, this unique structure will be lost forever. I believe the entire area should be pedestrian only, keeping the bazaar, but removing all the traffic. Also,the structures built that have nothing to do with the building should be removed. I was shocked when I saw some type of temple right underneath the monument.
Minor things that will contribute to the safety of the visitors and the building should be done.As example, here are few things that I observed: stairs do not have handrails or lights. The balconies do not have proper fall protection, many exposed electric wires ( which could produce a fire). People wander around with out any guidance or control. All these things do not require a big budget to be implemented. Hope the officials in charge move fast before the monument is lost forever. By the way I loved Hyderabad

[Gudavalli]

GHMC ordered to restore Naya Qila gardens

HYDERABAD: The high court on Monday asked the GHMC to restore the Bagh-e-Naya Qila to the way it was before the latter allegedly took up digging in August this year.

A private contractor undertook digging in Naya Qila Gardens in August 2012 to create a channel to drain the waters of the Naya Qila lake.

When civil society activists reached there and staged a dharna, they were stopped by Golconda police who maintained that they were called by the Hyderabad Golf Association (HGA).

A high court order of February 2012 says that the HGA has given assurance that they would not carryout any work in the Naya Qila gardens until the Archeological Survey of India completes the demarcation exercise of the gardens, which is still underway. Jasven Jairath, convener of Save Our Urban Lakes (SOUL), and others had moved the high court against the violation.

When activists took up the matter with the GHMC then, the corporation denied involvement and filed a complaint with the police. Officials of the HGA were reported to have said that they had nothing to do with the digging.

The digging stopped when the court's intervention was sought. Meanwhile, the police inquiry into the incident identified the contractor as the culprit. Subsequently, the contractor was arrested around two months ago. Activists had voiced concerns that the contractor was made a scapegoat while those who had commissioned the digging were not cornered.

Activists also point out that the waters of the talab are used by farmers in the area to irrigate their fields. The farmers are involved in a pitched legal battle with the government over acquisition of their lands for the development of the Hyderabad Golf Course.

While disposing off the case on Monday, the court ordered that the GHMC should close the canal and restore it to its original condition. It is learnt that the corporation has been given four weeks to comply.

[Gudavalli]

Pink Anglican glow returns to All Saints Church

Soon after the grand sesquicentennial celebrations of the All Saints Church, a classic example of Gothic architecture in Trimulgherry entrenchment of Secunderabad cantonment, the devout were caught in a dilemma.

The church building, having passed through 150 Christmas and New Year seasons, was causing concern. Cracks developed in the rain-soaked tiled main and side roofs, disturbing the teak rafters that were supporting it. Turrets, too, developed cracks and lime plaster got chipped off from the walls while the embellishments were in bad shape. The pinkish Anglican hue, hallmark of the church, was on the verge of fading away.

The precarious condition of the structure made the devout huddle into series of meetings. There were two options before them --, the easier one being pulling it down and building a new one or opt for restoration, a long-drawn painstaking job. “The pros and cons were debated for days. The majority favoured restoration despite difficulties as it would mean bringing back the old glory, maintaining identity and ensure historic continuity of the church”, said Frederic Michael, honorary secretary of the Pastorate Committee.

CHURCHILL CONNECTION

If the choice was for a new building, it would have been a permanent loss of a landmark full of stately columns and majestic arches and more importantly the spiritual solace that was assured with church’s location in the serene, green surroundings of the Cantonment. It is not faraway from a military quarter ‘The Chateau’ where Sir Winston Churchill believed to have stayed as a British Army recruit. But nobody could confirm if he had ever visited this church.

Built in 1860 exclusively for the British Army personnel and consecrated by Bishop Gill, the church has a long history. A typical Garrison Church, it was presided by Army Chaplains before the baton was passed on to the Church of South India in 1947 and the services now are in English and Tamil. It had won the INTACH’s heritage award in 2002.

A technical committee was constituted with Uttam Nathaniel Isaac, a civil engineer, as senior consultant. After a search, the committee zeroed in on APTSORBH (Agency for Providing Traditional Solutions and Restoration of Built Heritage), a Tamil Nadu-based firm that earned a name in restoring old buildings including the St. Mary’s Church.

LABORIOUS TASK

It was a gigantic task, recalls Mr. Isaac. The list of works included re-laying of the side- roofs, replacement of entire gutter on the main roof, replacement of termite eaten rafters, the entire external plastering, repairs and polishing of the doors including the imposing 25-ft high main door fixing of glass on windows.

P. S. Rajan of APTSORBH detailed the process adopted in restoration. “We had to remove the loose and flaked plaster up to masonry core and then give a base coat of herbal additives to prepare it to receive the fresh lime plaster. Finishing of the surface was with traditionally made fine lime and a combination of additives. These include like aloevera, euphrobia, indigafera- tinctoria, gymnea sylvestal, egg and jaggery grounded in a power driven mortar and keeping it in a sump for a fortnight for fermentation. This mix was applied over the lime plastered surface,” he explained.

ALLURING FACADE

Eighteen months of highly skilled and hard work later, the church literally looks like rising from the ashes, resplendent in the pinkish glow with a milky white border. In the process, the face of King George VI above the main door that almost got hidden behind a layer of dust has reappeared again to greet the visitors. Stained glass window with rich colouring showing Jesus carrying the cross forming the altar piece, another feature, looks attractive.

The restoration work is commendable considering the fact that many of the heritage buildings in the twin cities are in a state of utter neglect and disrepair.

[Gudavalli]

Demand for 'heritage city' status to Hyderabad

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council Chairman A Chakrapani called upon the government on Wednesday to pursue with the Centre, a proposal to declare Hyderabad as a 'heritage city', since it has several monuments and buildings of historical importance.

He requested the Tamil Nadu governor K Rosaiah who hails from Andhra Pradesh to use his good offices to pursue the Centre to get the heritage status for Hyderabad.

Speaking at the 150 anniversary celebrations of the Mahabub College, Chakrapani said that if Hyderabad was delcared a "heritage city", the Centre would come forward to preserve monuments and buildings of historic importance.

The city has several buildings and monuments of heritage importance like the Charminar, Golconda fort, Mahbub College and many others.

[rockystone]

Aga Khan Trust to conserve Qutub Shahi Tombs

http://twocircles.net/2013jan10/aga_...ahi_tombs.html

The Aga Khan Trust for Culture has come forward to take up the task of conserving and beautifying Qutub Shahi Tombs here.

The trust will spend Rs.90 crore over the next five years for the purpose.

A memorandum of understanding on this was signed Wednesday among Department of Archaeology and Museums, Quli Qutb Shah Urban Development Authority and Aga Khan Trust in the presence of Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy.

Reddy said conservation and renovation of the tombs would help protect cultural tradition of the historic city of Hyderabad.

The Quli Qutb Shah Archaeological Park, comprising of the Qutb Shahi Tombs Complex and Deccan Park, is one of the most significant medieval necropolises with 70 structures.

They include 40 mausoleums, 23 mosques, five step-wells/water structures, a 'hamam', pavilions, garden structures and enclosure walls built during the reign of Qutb Shahi dynasty that ruled the Hyderabad region for 170 years during 16th and 17th centuries.

The structures reflect the Deccani style of architecture. The complex consisting of royal mausoleums with massive domes, mosques and pools built in Indo-Islamic style are replete with crenulations, freezes, tile work, floral designs in plaster and stucco work.

Aga Khan Trust for Culture has already entered into an agreement with Archaeological Survey of India to carry out a multi-faceted urban renewal initiative combining heritage site of Humayun's tomb, the adjoining Sunder Nursery and Nizamuddin Basti in New Delhi -- jointly referred to as Delhi Project Area.

[Gudavalli]

'Save signs of your glorious past'

HYDERABAD: A visiting American academic felt that the historical monuments in Hyderabad are 'unloved' and would disappear if the apathy of the government and the society towards them continues.

If the indifference to save historical heritage is not checked, "The link with the past would be irreparably snapped. What would be lost could never be recreated," Prof Rudolph Matthee of University of Delaware told TOI on Thursday.

Matthee who heads the John and Dorothy Munroe Chair of History in DU said this was the second time he was visiting Hyderabad in seven years. "The chase for good money and good living is fine. But my question is-should that make you indifferent to save the signs of your glorious past? The condition of the monuments saddens me," he said.

The scholar who will be leaving Hyderabad on Friday morning after delivering the Foundation Day lecture at Maulana Azad National Urdu University on Wednesday said that he found time to visit Bidar and Gulbarga. For him the situation of monuments there too was no different than in Hyderabad.

He said, "You have great Sufi tradition which is quintessentially Indian. It is a reflection of the Indian society which is inclusive, harmonious and syncretic. It accommodates people without looking at their faith and creed. I spent two hours at the Dargah of Hazrath Khaja Banda Nawaz in Gulbarga absorbing the spirituality in the atmosphere there."

Matthee who is an expert on Safavid Iran of 16th century said that the Deccani Sultans maintained pragmatic relations with Persia and exchanged diplomatic emissaries. The prosperity of the Deccan region attracted the intelligentsia from Persia who greatly contributed in the syncretism which is seen in the plateau. "The relations between Iran and the Deccan should be properly studied. The Centre for Deccan Studies at Manuu could take up research in that area," he felt.

[Gudavalli]

Foundation plans centre for heritage conservation

HYDERABAD: The Deccan Heritage Foundation is planning to set up a restoration centre in Hyderabad to conserve the cultural and architectural heritage of the region.

The DHF co-founder Helen Philon told TOI on Wednesday that the restoration centre would work in different areas of heritage. "The centre will not restrict itself to saving the architecture alone. There are other historical materials which too have to be saved for posterity. For instance, the proposed centre will have units to preserve paper, timber, metal or any other medium that could be saved," she said.

Philon, who edited the famous Silent Splendour: Palaces of the Deccan and authored a pictorial guidebook Gulbarga-Bidar-Bijapur, said the foundation would like to publish books highlighting the significance of saving environment and heritage targeting teenagers. "Our children will be the saviors of tomorrow. They need to be properly educated and made aware of how essential it is to save the environment and the heritage. The books would start coming out in about 12 months," she said.

Deccan Heritage Foundation (DHF) was established about one and half years ago in the UK and India to promote awareness on the cultural heritage of the region.

A book, Discovering the Deccan, published in association with the DHF will be launched in Hyderabad on Thursday. The book is a panoramic journey through historic landscapes and monuments of the region. It has photographs by Surendra Kumar and text by George Michell & Helen Philon.

"Many of the sites showcased in the book remain little known. They are threatened with neglect, misguided urban development and insensitive archaeological restoration. Through this book we intend to draw attention to the problems faced in preserving this unique heritage," Philon said.

Deccan is one region in India where the synthesis of various cultures and religions is still preserved. From the ancient Hindu, Buddhists to medieval Jewish, Christian and Islamic, one can find traits of all cultures. The Deccan is more open and all encompassing. Unfortunately, it is one of the most under-studied region too, she said.

Philon expressing happiness over the recently signed MoU between Aga Khan Foundation and the department of archeology and museums to conserve the Qutub Shahi tombs offered the foundation help. "We have the knowledge, they have the technical expertise. We can work together," she said.