Khairatabad mosque renovation work going on at brisk pace

Khairatabad: The renovation works of Qutub Shahi Mosque in Khairatabad that began about two weeks ago is going on at a brisk pace. The lime mortar is being fermented, and workers are assigned to grind the mortar, old whitewash is being scrubbed and temporary concrete is being removed to replace it with lime plaster.  The building has three arched openings where the upper half portion of the mosque displays intricate patterns of stucco and jali work. The lower half is simple in its contours and symmetrically aligned. The structure is relatively better, when compared to other ill-maintained Qutub Shahi Mosques in the city. 

The 392-year-old Khairatabad Qutub Shahi Mosque is in better condition compared to other contemporary mosques   

The mosque was built about 392 years ago, according to an imam in the mosque, who says, “The foundation of the mosque is older than Charminar. The mosque was build in the name of Khairunnisa Begum who was the daughter of Sultan Mohammed Qutub Shah and the name “Khairatabad” has its origin in the name Khairunnisa Begum. When she was ill she was advised by the hakims to spent time on the elevated mountain called Naubat Pahad, now the mountain of Birla Temple. 

Adjacent to the mosque lies a tomb which is in an unattended state, with the growth of vegetation and damp. The history of the tomb seems confusing, some say It was built by Khairunnisa for Khairunnisa, others say that It was built by Khairunnisa for her preacher, the history of the tomb is blurry as the present state of building, blurry and unattended.  Another imam in the mosque Mohammed Jameeel said, “The works of the mosque started about two weeks ago, workers are grinding the paste and keeping it aside to ferment.”  

A madrasa student said, “There was outgrowth of shrubs on the top of the building, but it was all cleaned recently, when officials visited to begin the conservation and restoration works of the mosque in the month of March, and the work started very recently about two weeks ago”. 

The mosque is better in contrast with the other mosques of Qutub Shahi Reign like the unconcerned and ignored mosque of Shaikpet is a familiar structure lying in an apathetic condition, so is the situation of a tomb alongside it. Apart from this there are many other so called protected monuments lying in the state of decay.