The location of Sundar Nursery, adjacent to the tomb complex of Humayun and Nizam Dinh Basti, is mainly along the Mughal main road that connects the important monuments. Landscape Design aims to improve the nursery’s historical characteristics, attract visitors, and provide a perfect pedestrian connection with Humayun To.
This project creates a truly urban-scale important landscape space derived from the traditional Indian concept of harmony of nature, gardens, and utilities, and the conservation of the environment. Sundar Nursery is designed by landscape architect Late M Shaheer. It has an ornamental central view of 550 m starting from the entrance to Humayun Tomb.
Sunder Nagar Nursery History
It was established in the early 20th century when the Imperial Delhi complex was being planned and the construction was done. Sunder nursery was used as a place to the reproduction of trees and other plants that are used in the new capital city, and also for testing species brought from other parts of the World, and picked those species which successfully survived in Delhi’s harsh climate.
To the south of Sunder Nursery Delhi is the World Heritage Site of Humayun’s Tomb (above) and to the north is the historic Pranakira (below), alongside the historic Grand Trunk Road in the west. Originally it is founded in the early 20th century when the Imperial Delhi Complex was planned and built.
It is used as a place to disseminate trees and other plants used in the new capital. As well as a place to test species brought in from other parts of India and abroad and select those that succeed in the harsh climate of Delhi. Many of these trees are still in bloom, although some of them can only be seen in the city. Other parts, perhaps inappropriate and not used at all, are found as rare specimens only inside the nursery.
In fact, a Sunder Nursery Delhi is an archaeological place. In addition to pavilions, tombs, tomb bases, wells, and mosque bases, there are scattered Mughal structures, including three nationally protected monuments.
Sundar Nursery Architectural and Restoration
Sunder Nagar Nursery Delhi is competing with the ornamentation on the internal wall surfaces was cleaned to expose the original details, and missing incised plasterwork was reconstructed following the original pattern. Missing lime punning was replaced with new lime punning.
Lakkarwala Burj, like Sundar Burj, has Quranic inscriptions, which too were restored in matching the style of calligraphy. The parapet over the lower arcade required to be partially dismantled and rebuilt. Sandstone lattice screens in the eight arched openings in the neck of the dome and the four openings over the doorway were restored.
Following works carried out on the ceiling and the internal wall surfaces in 2010, conservation works on the façade commenced in late 2011. The decorative edging of the arched openings was restored, and the upper plinth was paved in red sandstone. Paving has been laid in a generous slope for effective drainage ensuring minimum damage to the structure. The entire stone floor surface has been hand dressed by craftsmen.
Following that, detailed architectural documentation, condition mapping and the landscaping proposal for the 17-acre complex were prepared. Conservation Plan was approved by the Director-General, ASI in early 2011, which was further discussed at Core Committee meetings. Conservation works commenced in November 2011 with a scientific clearance of earth to reveal the foundation of missing portions of the enclosure wall.
During the later part of the 20th century, it had substantially deteriorated. The tomb has been partially restored now on the basis of the pictures of the structure as it existed during the 1960s, old drawings and from an examination of the features of the existing parts.
Things to See in Sunder Nursery Delhi
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Birds:
In Sunder Nursery Delhi, we will get 80 different species of birds that have been located in the area through bird mapping. In 2014, Ultramarine Flycatcher which is seen rarely was spotted in the park, it is a bird that was never seen before in New Delhi for many years.
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Trees of Sundar nursery:
Sunder Nursery is Delhi’s first arboretum. It is home to some rare trees such as a Pink Cedar, the only one in Delhi. Various other trees in the nursery are also only found here and nowhere else in Delhi such as Chukka (Croton Roxburghii) and Carrotwood (Cupaniopsis Anacardioides).
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Butterflies:
Along with birds, we are able to many species of butterflies in the sunder nursery, some of them are rarely seen by anyone before. In Sunder, you can find a variety of butterflies. If you visit the Sundar nursery then you can see a variety of butterflies in every corner of the nursery.
Things To Do in Sunder Nursery Delhi
1. Sunder Burj
It is located in the axis with the entrance of Sunder Nursery Delhi stands the tomb which is now referred to as Sunder Burj. Its plasterwork of the ceilings is unique. This building was built during the 16th century by the Mughal.
Now it is among the World Heritage Site Buffer Zone. If one reaches here he can watch unique work on the walls. At the time of the British, there is a plantation in the nursery. The Sunder Burj needs some repairing work to restore the unique look, square with chamfered edges, and also to stop any further decompose resulting from the loss of structural fabric
2. Lakkarwala Burj
The Lakkarwala Burj is set amidst a rose garden and overlooks the park lake replacing the overgrown and unsightly space it had become. The monuments itself required three years of painstaking conservation to restore missing elements such as the geometric incised plaster patterns and the parapet kangaroos.
This Lakkarwala Burj is set in the rose garden of the Sundar nursery. Wall of the Lakkarwala Burj has red sandstone work which gives it a unique look. It is built during the 16th century and from time to time repair work is done on this Burj.
3. Sundarwala Mahal
This is built as a tomb, due to inappropriate preservation methods in the 20th century, a number of key architectural features have been not seeing. Because of improper maintains till the 1920s the enclosing walls of the SUNDARWALA MAHAL had completely disappeared but the gateway of the building is still there.
Till 1920 enclosing walls of the Sundarwala mahal get disappear. Four of the northern curve now remain while severe and rapid worsening on the other sides has resulted in the biased or complete loss of a number of the arches – consolidation with cement mortar has not detained the decay as the arches were structural elements.
4. Mirza Muzaffar Hussain’s Tomb
It is standing to the north of the Humayun’s Tomb World Heritage Site. This Tomb shows the architectural design of Mughal time. The tomb of Mirza Muzaffar Hussain is the principal tomb in the complex and it is still in better condition compare to another tomb.
Located north of the World Heritage site of the Humayun Tombs, the “Batashewala Complex” includes two tombstone enclosures from the Mughal era, containing three nationally important sanctuaries protected by the Archaeological Service of India.
They are an important part of the Mughal necropolis of the 16th century, adjacent to the Dargah of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya, the 14th-century Sufi saint venerated for seven centuries.
5. Mughal’s Tomb
This tomb is a tall structure inside the nursery and is situated in the eastern part of the Battashewala Complex. It is constructing with stonework over a raised fort type platform. It is spread over a large area. It is 100 meters tall and 60 meters in width. It is a vaulted structure with rich decoration.
This tomb is a tall structure and is located in the eastern part of the Battashewala complex. It is built with stone masonry on a raised platform of strong type. It is 100 meters long and 60 meters wide. It is a domed structure with rich decorations. Part of the structure has collapsed, the restoration work was done in a planned way.
6. Chota Batashewala
Chota Batashewala exit inside the nursery and just east of Mirza’s tomb. It is said that it was richly decorated. It is a Mughal-era structure that is designed by the Mughal emperor. It has an octagonal central chamber and it is standing on a platform that is approximate 3 feet high.
The central apartment of Chota Batashewala was equipped with four doors. During construction near the Chota Batahsewala, it was clear that the platform of Chota Batahsewala stood directly over the earth. After finding out this issue an earth mound is planned ll around the Chota Batahsewala to give it stability.
How to Reach Sunder Nursery Delhi
It is very convenient to reach here as the transportation facility is available from every corner of Delhi, either you are coming from your own convenience or from public transport. We can easily get transport services from Delhi to visit Sunder Nagar Nursery. We can either go by Car, Metro or local bus.
Sunder Nursery Delhi Nearest Metro Station
You can use the mentioned metro line for visiting Sunder Nagar Nursery, pink line, and violet line. The nearest metro station to sunder Nursery is JLN Stadium metro station and Indraprastha Metro station.
If staying in or traveling to Delhi, do drop by. There is a nominal entry ticket and the place opens at sunrise and closes at sunset. The nearest metro stations should be Jangpura and Nizamuddin railway station. Paid parking is also available at a convenient distance away.
Sunder Nursery Timings:
Sunder Nursery, Delhi timings are from 9 am to 4 pm. In summers one can easily have a visit in the morning, otherwise, in winter, you can enjoy the sun rays afternoon in the park. You will definitely love going there in the greenery area, you won’t even realize what time it is.
Sunder Nursery entry Fees:
The entry fees of the Sunder Nagar Nursery Delhi varies like, For Indian or SAARC citizen, it is Rs 35. For children between the age of 5 to 12 years, the entry ticket is Rs 15. For senior citizens, people who are above 60 years the ticket will cost Rs 15.
One can even create an annual pass to visit Sunder Nursery which will cost you Rs 3000 annually.
If any foreign tourist is visiting, they have to pay Rs 100 per head as Sunder Nursery Ticket. Entry is free for children below 5 years and for disabled persons.
The wheelchair is also available in case anyone needs it, which is free of cost.
Conclusion
Sunder Nursery is among one of the most amazing revolution stories of the capital of the nation. It has been converted from a forgotten and uncared space to a treat in lush greenery interspersed with water bodies and medieval architecture painfully restored.
So if you want to enjoy a good time in Delhi, then you must visit Sunder Nursery. It is the best place where you can enjoy a peaceful moment. Also if you visit you can find out Mughal time architectural buildings. So plan your Sunder Nursery visit during your next holiday.
Places to Visit near Sunder Nursery
- Humayun Tomb
- Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia Dargah
- Millennium Park Delhi
- National Zoological Park
- Purana Qila
- National Science Centre
- National Handicrafts and Handlooms Museum
- National Gallery of Modern Art
- India Gate
References:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunder_Nursery
- http://www.sundernursery.org/
- http://nizamuddinrenewal.org/environment/nursery-landscape/
- https://www.akdn.org/gallery/lost-garden-emerges-sunder-nursery-delhi-india
- https://archnet.org/sites/6397
- https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.archnet.org/system/publications/contents/12737/original/DTP105121.pdf?1517827319
