Hyderabad: The restoration of the Paigah Tombs, a hidden historical site in Hyderabad, is expected to be finished by the end of this year. Located just a few kilometers from Charminar in the Old City, these tombs once belonged to the powerful Paigah family.
“The restoration is being carried out with great attention to detail and requires highly skilled craftsmanship to preserve the delicate designs,” said a member of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC), which is executing the conservation. “We hope to complete the work by year-end,” he informed.
Unlike modern concrete structures that can be repaired quickly, heritage conservation is a painstaking, step-by-step process, said Anuradha Reddy, convener of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), Hyderabad chapter. “First, we document the site thoroughly to understand what needs to be done. Then, we use materials that match the original structure. Regular and sufficient funding is critical, especially for paying skilled artisans and technical experts. That’s one reason for the delays,” she explained.
Despite the ongoing work, the site remains open to the public. “Visitors are welcome throughout the restoration period. By the end of the year, major conservation works, particularly those aimed at preserving intricate surface ornamentation and artwork, will be complete,” an AKTC representative said.
Speaking about the architectural style and materials, the project director, who is in charge of the restoration, explained, “We’re working primarily with lime mortar, not cement. Cement only came into use much later. These tombs follow an Indo-Persian architectural style, common in structures over 200 years old.”
Each tomb is unique in design, though they may appear similar at first glance. “No two tombs are exactly the same. That uniqueness is what makes this site architecturally significant,” the director said.
The conservation effort is being led by a team of 30 highly skilled craftsmen, many of whom have been associated with the site for over two decades. “These artisans come from various parts of India and belong to families with long traditions of working in heritage construction. Their training involved hands-on learning to replicate the exact techniques used in the original structures,” the director explained. Once completed, the restored Paigah Tombs are expected to draw more attention as a cultural and architectural marvel of Hyderabad’s heritage landscape.
