Badshahi Ashoorkhana Restoration Works Resume After Three-Year Stalling

Restoration works at the historic Badshahi Ashoorkhana in Hyderabad have resumed and are moving ahead at a brisk pace after remaining stalled for more than three years. The ongoing project includes the reconstruction of the collapsed Naqqar Khana, the conservation of historic Persian tiles, and repairs across the heritage complex.

The Naqqar Khana had suffered severe damage, with its wooden roof completely collapsed prior to the current phase of work. According to Yoshowant Purohit, project director for Hyderabad at the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, the roof was replaced with steel members and stone slabs for long-term preservation under the approval of the Department of Heritage. The front façade will retain its existing wooden components following necessary structural repairs.

The Naqqar Khana restoration, which involves the application of traditional lime plaster, is slated for completion within nine months. In addition, conservation efforts have commenced on the main Ashurkhana, where workers have installed a temporary roof to facilitate repairs to the historic timber roofing system.

Experts are also documenting the site's fragile 17th-century Persian tiles in detail to prepare a formal conservation proposal. While the original tile work remains in good condition overall, the lower 6.5 feet of the structure sustained damage during historic Musi river floods.

Mir Abbas Ali Moosavi, the hereditary Mujawer of the Ashoorkhana, stated that the Naqqar Khana historically served as an important space where nakarchis played drums during Muharram and on special occasions. He also noted a rise in footfall in recent years, driven by heritage walks and tourist guides.

Constructed in 1592 by Mohammed Quli Qutb Shah, the founder of Hyderabad, the Badshahi Ashoorkhana has served as a place of mourning since its establishment, hosting religious congregations during Muharram.