In a move to make Delhi a major tourist hub, the Delhi Government is working on conservation and restoration of the Mughal-era Azimganj Serai. On Tuesday, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and officials of the Delhi Archaeological Department reviewed the progress of the works being done at the 16th Century monument located in Sunder Nagar, Nizamuddin.
Speaking about the conservation project, Sisodia said that the buildings of historical importance like Azimganj Serai have remained neglected for a longer time, due to which these buildings have suffered a lot.
“The government is ensuring the work of conservation and beautification of Azimganj Serai is done with utmost care so that the monument built in the 16th century, can get back its rich identity,” said Sisodia. “Once the conservation and beautification work of the famous Azimganj Serai is completed, it will emerge as a major tourist destination in Delhi. It will not only attract tourists but will also make them aware of the centuries-old rich history of Delhi,” said Sisodia.
The project is being carried out by the Department of Archaeology, Government of NCT of Delhi, which is responsible for the protection, conservation and maintenance of monuments in Delhi, which is beyond the purview of the Archaeological Survey of India, Government of India. Azimganj Serai is the earliest Mughal period Serai in Delhi currently standing within the boundary of Delhi Zoo and located in the north of Sunder nursery. All four corners of the monument have elegant octagonal bastions. The square plan consists of 108 arched cells which are in an advanced stage of deterioration. “Currently, the Serai stands in isolation within dense vegetation and is not easily accessible to visitors. Its ruinous remains clearly visible from Sunder nursery depict original context and connectivity of monument with the old grand trunk road. Azimganj Serai is just 600 meters away from boundary of World Heritage Site of Humayun’s tomb,” said official.