ARCHITECTURAL STYLE

• These design of the Qutb Shahi tomb structures are based on the designs of the earlier Bahmani tombs of Bidar though the
stucco ornamentation is carried out here on a far greater scale.
• It can be said that the architectural style which is an integration of Persian, Pathan and Hindu forms built in local granite
and profusely ornamented.
• The monuments of the Qutb Shahi tomb complex had played a significant role is establishing a unique architectural
language for the Deccan region. The entire group on monuments represents the building art of Deccan style.
• Regardless of plan type the Archaeological Park is dominated by bulbous domes raised on the drum decorated with leaf
pattern borders along with the merlon shaped parapets. The external facades are extensively decorated with stucco work
In floral pattern in various forms. Broadly, the significant architectural features include:

DOME: The skyline of the complex is dominated by a series of bulbous domes built over the extended drum or a tall central
grave chamber. The base of the domes are decorated with plaster works in floral and leave forms and are crowned with
finials in various shapes and profiles.
 FINIALS
BULBOUS DOMES

HIGH PLINTH: All the mausolea stand on a raised

platform built of local granite
stone with the more significant structures boasting of
large blocks of finely
dressed Ashlar stone blocks which would have been a
huge challenge to carve
and transport in the 16th century.
INCISED PLASTER WORK:
The external and internal wall surfaces are
highly
embellished with intricate incised plaster work
in floral patterns. Design and
patterns of the plaster patterns are similar in
all the buildings.
GRANITE STONE MASONRY :
The wall surfaces are either of Ashlar masonry using
huge blocks of local granite stones or rough Ashlar masonry finished with lime
plaster works.

PARAPET WALLS :
The facade is dominated by highly decorative battlemented
parapet wall. Built in stone masonry and covered with layers of lime plaster to
give a decorative profile. Metal (Iron/ copper) anchors have been used for the
anchoring and stabilization of big pieces of decorative elements. In some of the
structures the parapet stands over the floral bands or jallies or a combination of
both, with minarets at regular intervals.
MINARETS :
The corners at the parapet level are emphasized with the construction
of minarets with ornamental dome shaped tops. The minarets are themselves
decorated with stucco plaster work.

GLAZED TILE WORK :

Abdullah Qutb Shah Tomb, Tomb of Muhammad Quli Qutb
Shah V, Ibrahim Quli Qutb Shah Tomb have minor remains of the glazed tile
works indicating that such ornamentation covered a significant portion of the
facade originally. At the tomb of Adullah Qutb Shah, there are remains of yellow,
orange, cobalt blue and green glazed tile work on the corner minarets at the
upper floor. Originally, the minarets had a band of Quranic inscription in cobalt
blue of which only a few traces now remain. Similarly, the tomb of Muhammad
Quli Qutb Shah V was originally extensively decorated with glazed tile work on
the central dome; these of turquoise and green glazed tile remnants of which
are visible under a new plaster layer as well as on the ornamental leaves at the
base of the dome. Finally, external wall surfaces of Ibrahim Quli Qutb Shah’s
tomb were originally ornamented with intricate glazed tile work remains of which
are still visible on the eastern and northern wall façades. Existing remains of the
glazed tile work provide significant information about the original design of the
glaze tile work.
The six types of tomb structures according to ground plan are:

1. SQUARE PLAN
Several of the tomb structures are four sided. Squinch arches at each of the four corners allow an octagon that eventually
transforms into the circular dome with a series of stepped projections. Most structures of this plan form have an entrance
on the eastern and southern sides.
Tomb of Fatima Sultan (1625 AD)
Tomb of Premavati (1662 AD)
Tomb of Taramati (1662 AD)
Commander’s tomb (1612AD)
Tomb of Ibrahim Quli Qutb Shah (1580 AD)
Tomb of Kulsum Begum (1543AD), are some of the structures that are square single chamber tombs of similar
architectural style including external architectural features.
ii. SQUARE TOMB WITH AN ARCADED VERANDAH
Several of the larger tombs have an arcaded verandah on all four sides with a terrace over it giving the tomb structure a
stepped appearance. Though each arcaded bay of the verandah is roofed by a vault, there exists a usable flat roof
above. These tomb types are covered with a bulbous dome and include the tombs of Sultan Muhammad Qutb Shah (1611 -
1625 A.D) and Abdullah Qutb Shah(1626 - 1672 A.D)
iii. ARCADED PAVILION TOMBS
Mostly square, two twin structures and some of the unknown tombs follow the open pavilion plan with three arched
openings on each side. Internally, these have an arcaded octagonal grave chamber roofed with a bulbous dome raised
on a sixteen sided drum.

iv. FLAT DOMED SQUARE TOMBS

Small tomb structures comprising a single chamber of low height with openings on all four sides and covered with a shallow,
almost flat dome.

v. RECTANGULAR TOMB
Of the 39 recorded tomb structures, there is a single rectangular shaped structure with openings in each of the four sides.

vi. OCTAGONAL TOMB

Similarly, only one structure, in the Archaeological Park i.e. Jamsheed Quli Qutb Shah Tomb, built in 1550 AD, is octagonal in
plan externally as well as internally. This structure also has an appearance of a double storied structure from outside.
CURRENT SENARIO

SULTAN MUHAMMAD QUTB SHAH TOMB

SULTAN MUHAMMAD QUTB SHAH
IBRAHIM QULI QUTB SHAH
ABDUL HUSUN QTUB SHAH
CONSERVATION WORK
1. Vegetation removal

a. Vegetation that has taken root on dome and wall surfaces and is causing significant damage needs to be carefully and
scientifically removed. In recent months the Department of Archaeology has removed trees from dome surfaces and this
needs to be continued.
b. As is scientific practice the roots will need to be dried prior to removal and care must be taken to cause minimal damage to
the masonry in the removal process. This will require chemical poisons.

2. Cleaning of the surfaces

Cleaning of the historic surfaces is a careful process in which no chemical should be used and it should always be executed
under the supervision of the specialists. Cleaning of the surfaces is required for the following deposits :

a. Lime Wash/ Paint removal: Most of the

historic surfaces have lost the original
details due to addition of layers of the
Lime wash over wall and domes surfaces.
Where applied these disfigure the
original surface finish and as such will
require to be removed by soft brushes/
sand-paper.
b. Algae- would be removed using soft nylon brushing of the surface while ensuring no damage to historic surfaces occur.
c. Soot deposits needs to be cleaned using hot water or steam based techniques
d. Graffiti –Graffiti which have been created using pencil or pens needs to be cleaned using water based techniques

3. Checking water seepage

Water is the biggest enemy for a historic building which is responsible for all material
and structural deterioration of historic fabric. Basically, three types of water ingress
have been identified for the monuments of the Qutb Shahi tomb complex which are
i) water seepage from the domes,
ii) water seepage from the terrace, and
iii) capillary water rise from the ground.
Following conservation works are proposed to check the water ingress in the
monuments of the complex:
a. Flat terrace repair works- Lots of water logging areas were observed in the flat terraces which need to be repaired. Added
layers of the concrete and the decayed lime concrete would be dismantled and redone with stone/ lime concrete in appropriate
slope mixed with traditional water repellent additives with a final finish of lime. Cracks running over the terrace would be
repaired using lime based materials. In case of the loose materials underneath the concrete, hydraulic lime slurry would be
grouted for the consolidation. Original levels would be retained to conserve the original drainage system of
the structure.
b. Providing water outlets- All the water outlets would be repaired and consolidated. Projected water outlets would be
provided at the same place to revive the original drainage pattern of the monument.
c. Dome repair works- All the holes would be filled up and repaired using masonry materials and lime mortar maintaining the
original profiles of the dome. The structural cracks would be stitched and repaired. The deteriorated and decayed plaster would
be replaced with the lime plaster work as per existing details. The finials of the dome wherever they are loosely fitted
would be repaired and re-fixed in position as per the original fixing details.
d. Plinth protection - A plinth protection would be provided along the external wall of the monuments to stop the capillary
water rise.