Exclusive Report: '17th Century Persian Garden' Unearthed In 'Naya Qila Of Golconda Fort' In Hyderabad

With tanks, fountains and waterscreens, this garden which was a replica of `paradise', is testimony to the grandeur of Qutb Shahi era.

After months of excavations, the Archaeological Survey of India has unearthed the lost Persian garden inside the Naya Qila, replete with deep tanks, long channels, intact pathway and pipes for fountains. The once symmetrical garden dates back to Abdullah Qutb Shah's time, between 1656 and 1672.

First referred to by Ghulam Yazdani (1917), the garden was mentioned in the past tense even back then. Another reference to this `lost' garden can be found in historian Sherwani's 1974 publication Qutb Shahi Dynasty, where he writes, “Probably , it once extended on both sides of the beautiful channel which brings water from a large cistern. An open platform called the Dal Badal Chabutra is in the north of the garden. The channel as well as the garden is planned on Mughal pattern.“

For the first time, it seems like these words have sprung to life.The well laid out garden that stretches more than 400 metres has a series of tanks, fountains, recessed rooms with water screens, series of gazebos, shaded walks and water tanks. At the head of the garden is a raised settlement tank below which is a row of symmetrical holes for creating the water screen over two rooms, one of which has collapsed. On either side of the raised tank are a series of steps to reach the garden, which is set at a lower level. The symmetry continues over the full length, with the water channels, tanks and spaces for walks on either side. At the other end of the garden is a huge square tank, once used for boating.

As dozens of workers dig and unearth the garden, the ASI officials park themselves in a tent and supervise it. “There are references to a garden by Yazdani. That's why we took up this excavation. But till we complete the excavation and document it we cannot speak to anyone,“ said an ASI official at the site of the excavation.

But, a 1954 ASI guide to Golconda had already documented it, proving that this garden was intact as recently as the 1950s! Only last week, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao made a case for Hyderabad by writing to Union Minister of State for Culture, Mahesh Sharma: “Since there are certain reports that the nomination dossier for Delhi as 'imperial city' may be withdrawn by India on account of objections raised by the Ministry of Urban Development, instead of India's chance at a World Heritage Site being missed altogether at the upcoming 2015 session of the World Heritage Committee, India could name Hyderabad as its official entry.“

Incidentally, the Naya Qila fort is out of bounds for commoners as it is guarded by security men of Hyderabad Golf Association. And though it is a heritage site where construction is not permitted, an iron grill has been fixed to the fort walls and the contours of the fort have been changed including by filling up portions of the lake and blasting of the pathway to the Hathian Ka Jhaad (Boabab tree). 

The lake on the other side of the garden whose water was pumped into the garden with Persian water wheels has nearly disappeared. “They are supposed to demarcate the full tank level of the lake, but it is all very confusing. And according to Hyderabad Metroplitan Development Authority there should be no building activity . But, there is nobody to implement the law,“ says Lubna Sarwath of Save our Lakes (SOUL).

With the uncovering of the Persian garden, which hopefully will lead to its preservation and protection, the case for Golconda fort as a World Heritage Site will only become stronger. Currently , the Golconda and Qutb Shahi tombs complex are languishing in the Tentative List of World Heritage Site.

“Only a few weeks back Hyderabad was named as second best city to visit in 2015.

Golconda has a strong case for being declared a World Heritage Site. But the push has to be made by the Central Government. The State can at best clear up minor problems like encroachments and maintenance,“ said MA Qaiyum, former Deputy Director of Archaeology and Museums Department.

“Till now, we have been plagued by multiple authorities, differences and rivalry (the Golconda is under ASI custody , while the Qutb Shahi tombs are under the protection of State Archaeology Department). Now, as the state government has taken keen interest in protection and promotion to make Golconda a World Heritage Site.It is only a matter of time before we get this recognition,“ said Anuradha Reddy , Intach Convener. It is described as: “A beautifully terraced oriental garden with underground summer resorts and studded with mango and other trees. The garden is irrigated by means of a broad stream of water expanding in two places into extensive cisterns and ultimately terminating in a broad tank.The stream and tank are wide enough for pleasure boating.“

So what happened in the past four-five decades? How did the garden disappear? The answers are as vague as memories of the garden... “This land was covered with high grass and the neighbourhood people used to come to cut the grass. We don't know when it happened, but over time all the evidence of the water channel and garden disappeared,“ says Venkatesh Goteti, who used to frequent the area in the '90s with his friends.(As the garden is out of bounds, we had to photograph the site from the Moti Darwaza parapet wall and the Naya Qila Darwaza wall)

To represent a master piece of human creative genius. To exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architec ture or technology , monu mental arts, town-plan ning or landscape design.

To bear a unique or at least exceptional testimo ny to a cultural tradition or to a civilisation which is living or which has disappeared.

To be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history .

To be an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement, land use, or sea-use which is representative of a culture (or cultures), or human interaction with the environment especial ly when it has become vul nerable under the impact of irreversible change.