Telangana scores double win at UNESCO heritage awards

Subject :Art and Culture

Context:

Telangana scored a double win at the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation with a Distinction of Merit for the restoration of the 17th century stepwells inside the Qutb Shahi Tombs Complex in Hyderabad and an Award of Merit for the conservation work on the Domakonda Fort, built in the 18th century in Kamareddy district.

About the Qutb Shahi Tombs Complex-

Located in the Ibrahim Bagh (garden precinct), close to the famous Golconda Fort in Hyderabad, India.
Qutb Shahi Tombs are built in Persian, Hindu and Pathani styles of architecture.
They contain the tombs and mosques built by the various kings of the Qutub Shahi dynasty ruled during 18th century.
The galleries of the smaller tombs are of a single storey while the larger ones are two storied.
In the centre of each tomb is a sarcophagus which overlies the actual burial vault in a crypt below.
The domes were originally overlaid with blue and green tiles, of which only a few pieces now remain.
The complex was put by UNESCO on its “tentative list” to become a World Heritage Site in 2014, with others in the region, under the name Monuments and Forts of the Deccan Sultanate (despite there being a number of different sultanates).
Seven Qutub Shahi Tombs

Sultan Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk
Jamsheed Quli Qutb Shah srival Ibrahim Quli Qutub Shah Wali (1550-1580)
Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah (1580-1612)
Sultan Muhammad Qutb Shah (1612-1626)
Abdullah Qutb Shah (1626-1672)
Hayat Bakshi Begum (Died: 1667) She was the only daughter of Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah.

Restoration

The Telangana State Archaeology and Museums Department, in collaboration with the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, has restored the tombs.
The restoration of the stepwells within the complex was funded by the US Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation.

Domakonda Fort-

Built in the 18th century in Kamareddy district, Telangana.
It has an elevated compound of granite rocks that forms the fort wall, followed by a wooden door on an entrance door to the beautiful two-storied fort structure, which consists of great stuccowork.
This fort is also called “Gadi Domakonda” or “Killa Domakonda” as it houses a palatial mahal inside and popularly called “Addhala Meda” (Glass house).