Nila Gumbad which stands adjoining Humayun’s Tomb, is the earliest Mughal period monument in Delhi. It is also of high significance owing to the unique tilework that ornaments the façade of the structure.
Although this earliest Mughal era structure in Delhi stands adjacent to the Humayun’s Tomb Garden, in the 1980s a road was built bifurcating Nila Gumbad from the Humayun’s Tomb site. Luckily, a solution for this challenge was found: land provided by the Railways has allowed the road to be relocated to the east of Nila Gumbad, thereby restoring historic linkages. Conservation and Landscape restoration works, supported by Tata Trusts commenced in 2011.
The conservation and landscape works at Nila Gumbad have ensured long term preservation of this earliest Mughal-era structure. The conservation activities will lead to an improved understanding of early Mughal architecture to the visitors, students and researchers. It has also revived the lost traditional craftsmanship of tile making and also enabled the youth from the Basti to continue tile making for the other monuments in the country. Conservation works at Nila Gumbad has not only created over 25,000 man-days of work for skilled craftsmen, but also demonstrated the urban approach towards conservation of historic sites.
