Ismaili.NET - Heritage F.I.E.L.D.

Derelict Deccan Park that lies unused for the past 15 years will be developed by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) and merged with the Qutub Shahi Tombs

A new lease of life is in the offing for the beleaguered Deccan Park that lies close to the Qutub Shahi Tombs and the historic Golconda Fort.

Developed at a cost of Rs 3 crore, the Deccan Park right from the beginning was ridden with one controversy or the other and as a result has not been thrown open to public.

A mammoth undertaking to restore and develop Delhi’s Nizamuddin will end this time next year. How has it transformed one of the most historic and touristy areas of the country?

Mayank Austen Soofi

On Thursday, 4 February 2016, the Aga Khan Academy, Hyderabad had the pleasure of hosting a visit by the Honourable Kathleen Wynne, Premier of the Province of Ontario, Canada. The Premier was accompanied by 33 members of her official team from the larger 75-member 'Canada Mission to India' trade delegation.

Tuesday 26 January 2016

Princess Zahra Aga Khan gave the keynote of the Opening Ceremony of the 36th Asian Racing Conference in Mumbai.

In the late 19th century my great-great-great grandfather was racing horses all over undivided India. He had brought his stock from Persia, where the family had been breeding horses for many generations.

Included in those horses in the late 19th century, were Shere Ali, who won the Arab Derby in 1869, Khusroo who won the Winner’s Handicap in 1870, and Maharaj, who won loads of stuff including the Governor’s Cup and the Derby in 1872.

Princess Zahra at Asian Racing Conference Mumbai, India January 26, 2016

Princess Zahra Aga Khan will give the opening address at the Opening Ceremony of the 36th Asian Racing Conference at the National Sports Club of India in Mumbai on Monday, Jan. 26, 2016.

The address has special significance given that the history of her family's involvement in racing and breeding began in India in the 1800's with Aga Khan I.

The green silks with red epaulets of His Highness the Aga Khan IV are famous in top-class racing in Europe and throughout the world.

Hyderabad, India -- The old Qutb Shahi Tombs in India's southern Hyderabad city are getting a new life as they are being restored under a project sponsored by the United States.

The 400-year-old tombs have got grant of over USD100, 000 for the excavation work.

The United States, in collaboration with Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) - world's leading conservation body, are undertaking restoration and conservation project of the royal necropolis, said deputy chief of mission, U.S. embassy, Michael Pelletier.

September 28, 2013
(Hazar Imam was presented a gift from the Indian Jamat of a late 18th century bronze incense burner of the Moghul period )

President and Leaders of the Jamat,

If the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) doesn't improve the quality of conservation of Taj Mahal, the monument's maintenance could be handed over to the Aga Khan Foundation.

Talking to India Today, a senior ASI official said that the Ministry of Culture is planning to portion out the monument, giving the maintenance of its various areas to different organizations on the grounds of a Corporate Social Responsibility campaign that began in 2013 with the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation signing up for the maintenance of the monument.

The spiritual leader of the Ismaili sect Prince Karim Al Hussaini Aga Khan, founder and Chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network, visited the Aga Khan Academy here on Friday to review progress of the school.

The Aga Khan was accompanied by his son Prince AlyMuhammed, his daughter Princess Zahra and her children Sara and Iliyan. The visit to the academy allowed the Aga Khan to assess first-hand the progress made since his last visit in September 2013 when the school was formally inaugurated.

Spiritual leader of Ismaili sect Prince Karim Al Hussaini Aga Khan visited the Taj Mahal on Wednesday. Following the visit, he commented "Thank you for letting me visit the Taj for the second time." He wrote the same comment in the monument's visitors' book.

New Delhi, India, 8 April, 2015 –His Excellency Pranab Mukherjee, President of India, today awarded His Highness the Aga Khan the Padma Vibhushan, one of the country’s highest civilian decorations, for his contributions to social development in India.

The award, which was bestowed at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi as part of the commemoration of India’s 66th Republic Day, was also awarded to actor Amitabh Bhachchan, philanthropist Dr. D. Veerendra Heggade and renowned nuclear scientist, Malur Ramasamy Srinivasan, amongst others.

New Delhi: Chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network, Prince Karim Aga Khan, called on the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today. He is currently on a visit to India, and will be awarded the Padma Vibhushan by President Pranab Mukherjee tomorrow.

Bismillah-ir-Rahim-ir-Rahim

Honorable Minister of Tourism and Culture Dr. Mahesh Sharma
Secretary Mr. Ravindra Singh
Secretary Dr. Lalit Panwar

You have been most generous with your comments this afternoon and I thank you warmly for the encouragement you have given to the people of the Trust for Culture and myself. And I would like to begin these comments by repeating what I said when the foundation-stone was laid sometime ago of the restoration of the Humayun’s Tomb.

Work will start on the construction of the “country’s first” sunken museum on April 7 at the iconic Humayun’s Tomb site, which after its completion in 2017 will showcase the heritage of the Nizamuddin Area over the last seven centuries.

Expected to be completed in 30 months, the project has been pledged a fund of Rs 49 crore from the tourism ministry. Inspired from the medieval baolis (water tanks) of northern India, the underground site museum, with a built-up area of 9,000 square metre, will marry modern 21st century architecture with Mughal-era craftsmanship in its design.

Visit of His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan to India (April 06-11, 2015)

April 06, 2015

As on 06th April, 2015 at 1600 hrs

Visit of His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan, to India from 06-11 April, 2015

Monday, April 06, 2015

1930 hrs
Arrive Delhi
Venue: Air Force Station Palam
Photo Op: AV Media

Tuesday, April 07, 2015

1100 hrs
Meeting with Vice President
Venue: 6, Maulana Azad Road
Photo Op: Agencies only

1540 hrs
Meeting with Prime Minister
Venue: 7, Race Course Road

1725 hrs
Visit Humayun’s Tomb
Venue: Humayun’s Tomb
Contact Organiser

Delhi, India, April 2015 – As part of its continued efforts to restore and revitalise the areas around Humayun's Tomb, the Aga Khan Trust for Culture and its partners will begin construction on a site museum and visitor's centre in Delhi.