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

India is set to inaugurate its first sunken museum at Delhi's Humayun's Tomb site, fusing modern architecture with Mughal-era craftsmanship. The museum will open on July 29, coinciding with the World Heritage Committee meeting. The site will showcase the heritage of the Nizamuddin area, featuring galleries, a library, and a crafts center.

India is on the brink of unveiling its first sunken museum, situated at the historic Humayun's Tomb in Delhi. Scheduled for inauguration on July 29, the museum blends modern 21st-century architecture with Mughal-era craftsmanship.

The layout, inspired by medieval 'baolis' or water tanks, will be inaugurated by Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, coinciding with the World Heritage Committee meeting in New Delhi. The Aga Khan Trust for Culture is constructing the museum as part of an urban renewal initiative and it will serve as a bridge between the heritage sites of Nizamuddin, Sunder Nursery, and the 16th-century tomb.

Features include galleries, a library, seminar halls, a crafts center, and a cafeteria. Artefacts, including the finial of Humayun's Tomb, will be showcased. Large wooden doors and ancient artefacts evoke Mughal-era grandeur, while architectural models of local landmarks add to the allure.