India's First Sunken Museum at Humayun's Tomb Set to Open

The first sunken museum at Delhi's Humayun Tomb complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, will open on July 30. The museum displays Mughal heritage and the Nizamuddin area's history over seven centuries, featuring artefacts, 3-D videos, and paintings. The inauguration coincides with the 46th UNESCO World Heritage Committee session.

India is poised to unveil its first sunken museum at the Humayun Tomb complex in Delhi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, on Monday.

It will be open to visitors starting July 30, according to a senior official from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat will inaugurate the museum alongside Prince Rahim Aga Khan, coinciding with the 46th UNESCO World Heritage Committee session here.

The museum, designed after medieval 'baolis' (water tanks), highlights Mughal Emperor Humayun's legacy and the Nizamuddin area's heritage spanning seven centuries. Key exhibits include the Humayun's Tomb finial dislodged in a 2014 storm, ancient artefacts like 'farmans', an astrolabe, and a 16th-17th century warrior's helmet.

The construction began in April 2015 at the 16th-century tomb and was initially slated for a 2017 inauguration. Visitors will explore Humayun's life through paintings, scrolls, and artefacts, with innovative 3-D technology recreating the 14th-century Nizamuddin Dargah complex.

Strategically located at the heritage complex entrance, the museum ties together Nizamuddin, Sunder Nursery, and the 16th-century tomb. The principal gallery, 'Where the Emperor Rests,' showcases Humayun's interests in astrology, arts, and architecture through rare paintings, digital exhibits, and architectural models.

The museum is part of an urban renewal initiative by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture on behalf of the ASI.

(With inputs from agencies.)