PAIGAH TOMB COMPLEX - ART AND CULTURE
News: US
fund to help restore Paigah Tombs in Hyderabad
What's in the news?
● The
necropolis of noblemen dating from the Asaf
Jahi era known as Paigah Tombs Complex in Santosh Nagar is set to be
restored with funding by the US Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation.
● The
US Chargé d’Affaires (CDA) ambassador A. Elizabeth Jones said that the $250,000
grant will fund the restoration process.
Paigah Tomb Complex:
● The
Paigah Tombs are just 4 km southeast of
Charminar, Hyderabad.
● The
Paigah tombs or Maqhbara Shams al-Umara
is a necropolis belonging to the nobility of the Paigah family who served the
Nizam of Hyderabad in various capacities.
● The
tombs, comprising the resting place of several generations of Paigah nobles and
are at least two centuries old and the complex of tombs, made of lime and
mortar as well as marble.
● It
remains one of the major attractions in Hyderabad for their architectural
flamboyance and craftsmanship with extensive
jaali work and floral stucco ornamentation.
● The
tombs are the finest examples of the enthralling Indo-Islamic architecture, which is a blend of both features of Asaf Jahi and Rajputana style.
● One of the most notable tombs is that of Hussain-Un-Nissa Begum, daughter of the fifth Nizam who was married to Kursheed Shah. Known for being a replica of Mumtaz Mahal’s tomb inside Taj Mahal, this tomb boasts of beautiful pietra dura inlay work on Makrana marble.
Who are Paigahs?
● The
Paigahs were among the most influential
and powerful families of Hyderabad in the 18th century.
● Paigah
is a Farsi word, which says ‘footstool’. It means Right-hand man in English.
● Since
the time of the second Nizam of Hyderabad, the Paigahs were given the
responsibility to take care of the security and defence of the region.