Ratna G. Chotrani/Hyderabad

The Hyderabad City authorities have decided to restore several monuments and heritage structures in Hyderabad to strengthen the city's claim for the UNESCO world heritage tag.

While the work on the restoration of the 140-year  Saidani Ma Tomb is going on, the authorities recently announced that Sardar Mahal, Mir Alam Mandi, and Mahaboob Chowk Market (Murghi Chowk) would also be restored.

The Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA), a state Government body, and the Aga Khan Trust have come together to restore this architectural heritage wonder Saidani Ma Tomb. 

Saidani-Ma Tomb, the 19th-century state-protected heritage structure, embodies the rich architectural traditions of Hyderabad. It is the pride of Secunderabad and an iconic image for those who travel from Tank Bund to Secunderabad.

However, this heritage has laid in a dilapidated condition due to long years of neglect and now is in for a makeover. The HMDA and  Aga Khan Trust have decided to restore this 140-year tomb. The Saidani-Ma Tomb continuously re-imagines and refines its architectural splendour. The HMDA-AKT alliance is now working to turn it into a world-class heritage precinct.  

History has it that in 1883 Nawab Diler Ul Mulk built a beautiful memorial for his Mother Saidani-Ma. The Nawab was a Noble during the rule of Nawab Mir Mahboob Ali Khan, Nizam VI OF Hyderabad.

Saidani Ma's tomb is located in Hyderabad near Hussain Sagar.

The tomb was built in Mughal and Qutab Shahi styles with elaborate stucco decorations and fretwork screens or jails by Nawab Syed Abdul Haq Diler Jung for his Mother Hazrath Saidani Ma Saheba in 1883 during the reign of Asaf Jah VI 

Syed Abul Haq was conferred the title  Diler-Ul Mulk by Nizam VI for his administrative capabilities. He was the son of a hereditary chieftain in the Deccan, joined the Bombay Government Service before he was 20 years of age but later joined the Hyderabad Service.

Sir Salar Jung sent him to England to obtain an alteration in the guarantee that Nizam VI had given on his State Railway and for affecting this, he was given a mining monopoly in Nizam’s state.

 After suffering a political downfall later and trying to regain his position Nawab Syed Abul Haq Diler died in May 1896.

However, Nawab Abdul Haq Diler Jung built this tomb in 1883 in memory of his mother. The main structure has a peeled-off onion-shaped dome with five intricately carved arches at the lower side on four sides with fine jaali work,

The octognal tomb lies underground at the base of the Dome and is not open to the public. The structure also has the tomb of Nawab Diler Jung, the son of Saidanima, and a Muslim graveyard at the rear. The façade has five arches, and the parapet wall has a two-tier style. There are floral designs on the structure and small niches on the parapet wall. Conch-shaped Kalash motifs are seen on the tomb.

The ground floor and first floor display a beautiful combination of Qutubshahi Asafjahi and European elements. The tomb monument is very fine with the intricacy of patterns with daintily decorated elements.

Located on the North side of Tank Bund Road, the tomb has been a victim of neglect for decades as well as land encroachment sharks. Heritage activists have been demanding the restoration of the tomb. 

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Saidani Ma Tomb is the latest heritage monument to be restored by the Telangana government.