Iranian President visits Qutub Shahi tombs

Hyderabad: The President of Islamic Republic of Iran, Dr Hassan Rouhani along with a team of officials from Telangana and delegation from Iran, visited historic Qutub Shahi tombs in Golconda on Friday, as part of his two-day visit to City. 

The Iranian President visited the Sultan Quli Qutub Shah tomb, one of the biggest in seven tombs and appreciated the distinctive style of construction. He said Persian, Pashtun and Hindu style of architecture is used in the construction of these tombs. 

The officials explained him about the carved stone work and golden spires which were fitted over the tombs, with rare design of domes.  Yogitha Rana, Hyderabad District Collector, V V Srinivasa Rao, Hyderabad Commissioner of Police, Sunitha M Bhagavat, Commissioner, Tourism, Visalakshi, Director, ASI, Arvind Singh, Director, Protocol and others were present. 

The office bearers of AKTC (Aga Khan Trust for Culture) also briefed the Iranian president about the tombs and ongoing project. It may be mentioned here that a Rs 100 crore project for restoration of the over 400-year-old complex started in 2013 after the Trust signed a memorandum of understanding with Department of Archaeology and Museums of Telangana. 

Spread over 108 acres, the Qutub Shahi tombs are one of the most significant medieval necropolises with 72 structures within its complex and is in the race for attaining UNESCO’s world heritage tag.