Latest news with #AgaKhanTrustforCulture
Time of India
30-05-2025
- Time of India
Ditch day plans, unwind by Delhi's lakes on summer evenings
Want to hang out with family and friends, but the sweltering heat is stopping you? Step out when the sun goes down and head to one of Delhi's many lakes, where the vibes are cool, the skies turn gold, and there's a lot to do – or not – as you unwind amid nature. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now From taking a walk with your doggo and listening to the birds sing to enjoying a boat ride – the city's water bodies offer a relatively cool and pretty chill way to spend summer evenings. We take you through the scenic lakeside spots in the city that you can visit over the weekend. Naini Lake A North Delhi gem, Naini Lake is perfect for paddle boating and evening strolls. 'The lake is visited by many residents and college-goers in the evening. A 30-minute paddle boat ride costs Rs130 for four people. The motorboat ride costs Rs250 for six people,' shares a Delhi Tourism employee. Naini Lake 'Good time to spot resident birds' While migratory birds have departed, resident birds can be spotted in and around the lakes of Delhi during late summer afternoons. Kavi Nanda, a member of Delhi Bird Foundation, shares, 'During this time, most lakes in Delhi are home only to resident species. One may spot egrets, spot-billed ducks and herons. There's a good chance of spotting spot-billed ducks with chicks or coming across active heronries, egrets, cormorants, storks and ibises. The green patches around these water bodies are also ideal for spotting summer birds like the Indian golden oriole, Asian koel and common hawk-cuckoo.' 'Good time to spot resident birds' Sunder Nursery Lake With floral blooms on both sides of the walkway, the lake at Sunder Nursery offers a picture-perfect pause amid the heritage gardens Sunder Nursery Lake "For centuries, water bodies – baolis, temple tanks – have served as places of social congregation for people. At Sunder Nursery, the five-acre lake is a favourite among families and groups of young friends. Here, screaming wild ducks, red-vented ibis, screeching owls and squaking mynas turn the evenings into a therapeutic retreat," says Ratish Nanda, CEO, Aga Khan Trust for Culture Bhalswa Lake Tucked away in Northwest Delhi, Bhalswa is a vast lake popular for its water sports and peaceful birding spots Bhalswa Lake Purana Qila Lake Adjacent to Delhi's historic fort, this lake is known for its view of the centuries-old fort Purana Qila Lake Hauz Khas Set against the backdrop of medieval ruins, Hauz Khas lake draws crowds for evening walks, jam sessions, photography and chilled-out evenings Hauz Khas
The Hindu
21-05-2025
- The Hindu
A museum that promises a peek into the past but is caught in a legal tangle
The museum building is almost ready, the catalogue of artefacts to be displayed has been prepared, the access and exit are also set. But, the entrance to the interpretation centre of the Qutb Shahi Heritage Park in Hyderabad remains locked up. As the world celebrated World Museum Day on May 18, it was one more year that the museum, financed through Swadesh Darshan grant, and constructed by the Telangana State Tourism Development Corporation with design by award-winning architect Siddhartha Talwar, remains in a limbo. The museum at the Qutb Shahi Heritage Park almost mimics the one at the Humayun's Tomb that was inaugurated recently by Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. Sunk into the ground like the stepwells of Telangana, the museum building does not block the view of the tombs. In Delhi, the Humayun's Tomb World Heritage Site Museum has been receiving rave reviews, including from Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi, who now appears keen to get the museum at QSHP up and running. Both have been executed by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture. Listed for display in the museum are the rare artefacts from the collections of the State Museum, never before seen Qutb Shahi manuscripts, textiles, armoury, paintings, stone inscriptions, and inscriptions. The fabulously rich and cultured Qutb Shahis ruled Golconda and Hyderabad between 1518 and 1687. But there is not a single museum that showcases or conveys the grandeur or information about that period. So near yet so far The site photographs juxtaposed with the architect's drawings make the museum appear like the adage 'so near yet so far'. The building's shell is already built and exposed to the rain – raising the fear that the building built at the cost of crores will start to deteriorate. 'We have the catalogue ready. We have the artifacts ready. An interpretation centre is one of the keys to make sense of such a vast heritage site with layers of history and archaeology. I have been promised by the local legislators that they will make the legal hurdles disappear,' informed Ratish Nanda, CEO of Aga Khan Trust for Culture which has worked on the project with the Telangana State Tourism Department.
Hindustan Times
14-05-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Delhiwale: Last Mughal's wives
Delhi is a megapolis of graves. Entire neighbourhoods (including certain super-fancy hotels!) are raised on graveyards. In parts of the city, even ordinary houses are built around graves. Only a minuscule number of these centuries-old graves are privileged with elaborate tombs, belonging to saints and emperors. Most other graves lie in anonymity, their identities lost to time. Exceptions exist, and a few of such lonesome graves belong to figures with notable status. Like the handful of graves that lie in the forgettable passage separating the all-marble Chausath Khamba monument from poet Ghalib's marble tomb, in central Delhi's Hazrat Nizamuddin Basti. Heritage walking tours step out from the former, and step into the latter, without bothering about the seemingly random graves littering the intervening space. Almost nobody is aware that these are actually the graves of the last Mughal emperor's wives. Following the failed uprising of 1857, Bahadur Shah Zafar was exiled by the British to distant Rangoon. Only one of his wives, Begum Zeenat Mahal, was permitted to accompany the unfortunate emperor. Like Zafar, she too died in that far-off land. But the emperor's other wives remained in a turbulent Delhi, fated to be buried in Nizamuddin Basti. This detail appears fleetingly in a tiny passage in Maulavi Zafar Hasan's book Memoirs of the Archaeological Survey of India. An ASI official, he had sourced this precious information from Stephen Carr's book Archaeology and Monumental Remains of Delhi. Today, these graves bear no inscriptions, but per the aforementioned authors, they mark the resting places of Zafar's wives Begum Ashraf Mahal, Begum Akhtar Mahal, and Begum Taj Mahal. Explaining the logic of their burial in this area, Ratish Nanda of Aga Khan Trust for Culture, who authored a two-volume catalogue of more than a thousand Delhi monuments, explains that Chausath Khamba happens to be close to the dargah of mystic Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya, the shrine venerated by the Mughals all through their rule. Each of the 18 rulers maintained a connection with this Sufi terrain; either through pilgrimage, architecture or by making the ground their final resting place. (In fact, just before being arrested by the British, Zafar handed over the sacred relics that were in possession of the Mughal emperors to Hazrat Nizamuddin's shrine.) Consequently, Zafar's wives—plus some of his daughters—found their posthumous homes within these sacrosanct acres (Zafar's younger brother Mirza Jahangir was luckier, being buried inside the premises of the aforementioned shrine). This evening, a band of friends are huddled inside the Chausath Khamba monument. On becoming aware of the significance of the stones outside, they sombrely stand around the graves, offering their regards to the forgotten women of the Mughal royalty. See photo.
Hindustan Times
13-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Five eateries proposed at Humayun's Tomb in Delhi
A visit to the iconic and historical museum at the lush green Sunder Nursery will soon have an added element of varied culinary experiences, as plans are underway to open a restaurant, three cafes, and an ice-cream parlour close to the Humayun's Tomb museum. From Monday, the Government Sunder Nursery Management Trust (GSNMT), one of the bodies that oversees the preservation, maintenance and development of the 90-acre heritage park, has invited an Expression of Interest (EOI) for the food establishment, officials said. Located near the entrance of the Sunder Nursery, the museum was opened in August last to officials, the museum serves as the entrance to both Humayun's Tomb and Sunder Nursery park. According to the tender document, the food establishments next to the museum will offer diverse food options that cater to various dietary preferences, including vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free, and incorporate locally sourced, organic, and sustainable ingredients. 'Seasonal menus that reflect local, fresh produce and the natural surroundings are highly encouraged, contributing to a connection between the dining experience and the environment. The menu should also offer a variety of beverages, and regional Indian beverages, ensuring they align with the health-conscious and sustainable values of the park,' the document states. The last day for submitting the applications is May 22, according to the tender document. Currently, Sunder Nursery has a famous food establishment which caters to the hundreds of people that throng the park daily. It also hosts a farmers' market on weekends, besides giving space to a number of cultural and musical events . The upcoming food establishments will further enhance the visitors' experience, said Ratish Nanda, CEO, the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, which designed and built the museum. 'The cafes and the restaurant will serve the 2 million annual visitors to the World Heritage Site as well as the people of Delhi. We are hopeful that with the cafes and restaurants become operational within the next 2-3 months,' said Nanda. According to the document, all applicants who have obtained the tender documents after payment of the application fee will be invited to participate in a pre-bid meeting to be held on May 23. The museum is a facility of the Archaeological Survey of India but has been designed and built by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture — at the culmination of 25 years of conservation effort at the 300-acre Humayun's Tomb, Sunder Nursery and Nizamuddin Basti area of Delhi, as part of which over 60 monuments have been conserved.
Time of India
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Three-day long celebration of classical dance forms amid Sunder Nursery's heritage gardens
Madhavi Mudgal (Pic: Innee Singh) SPIC MACAY (Society for the Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture Amongst Youth) concluded a spectacular three-day classical dance festival at the enchanting amphitheatre of Sunder Nursery to mark World Dance Day & World Heritage Day . Held from April 18 to 20, the festival witnessed large and enthusiastic crowds on all three days, reaffirming the timeless appeal of Indian classical dance . The event was organized in association with the Aga Khan Trust for Culture and the NGO Sudha Sangini. Shovana Narayan performing Kathak (Pic: Innee Singh) You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi The beautifully curated celebration featured daily performances by eminent artists across all eight classical dance forms, including Odissi, Kuchipudi, Mohiniyattam, Kathakali, Manipuri, Kathak, Bharatanatyam, and Sattriya. The lush Mughal-era setting of Sunder Nursery created a stunning backdrop, heightening the spiritual and aesthetic experience for audiences. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Florida's Leading Patio Deck Builders (See if I qualify) Patio Deck Designs Learn More Undo Kaushalya Reddy on the nattuangam and Yamini Reddy performing Kuchipudi (Pics: Innee Singh) The programme was inaugurated on April 18, and each day was graced by a legendary exponent of Indian classical dance as Guest of Honour, who also offered a reflective talk on the deeper meaning of dance. On Day 1, Padma Vibhushan Dr. Sonal Mansingh, Former MP, Rajya Sabha, spoke on the ubiquity of dance in nature and its role in elevating the human spirit. On Day 2, Padma Bhushan Dr. Uma Sharma emphasized the importance of abhinaya in classical dance traditions. On the final day, Padma Bhushan Dr. Raja Radha Reddy traced the historical journey of Indian classical dance and spoke about the foundational guru-shishya parampara. Raja Radha Reddy and Sonal Mansingh were some of the chief guests Bharatnatyam exponent Geeta Chandran The festival featured a rich lineup of eminent artists, including Odissi exponent Madhavi Mudgal, Kuchipudi dancer Su. Yamini Reddy, Mohiniyattam dancer Vid. Bharati Shivaji, Kathakali dancer Thiruvattar B. Jagadeesan, Manipuri dancer Dr. Sinam Basu Singh & Konjengbam M. Devi, Kathak exponent Shovana Narayan , Bharatanatyam exponent Vid. Geeta Chandran , Sattriya dancer Su. Anwesa Mahanta. Kathakali dancer Thiruvattar B. Jagadeesan and Mohiniyattam dancer Bharati Shivaji Each performance not only captivated with technical precision but also offered a window into the philosophy and storytelling embedded in India's classical heritage. The initiative was led by Suman Doonga, former National Vice Chairperson of SPIC MACAY, and Ratish Nanda, Chairperson of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, who played a key role in curating the experience in harmony with the heritage setting. Kiran Seth The spirit of nishkam seva (selfless service) that SPIC MACAY promotes was palpable throughout the event. The festival left behind echoes of rhythm, devotion, and cultural pride, a true celebration of Indian dance in all its classical grandeur. Manipuri dancer Dr. Sinam Basu Singh & Konjengbam M. Devi Sattriya dancer Anwesa Mahanta
