Mughal Garden Pavilion

Standing on the eastern side of Sunder Nursery, amidst dense vegetation, this exquisite structure was barely visible until the conservation works commenced in 2008. The pavilion is unique in Delhi on account of its architectural style, scale and ornamental plasterwork.

In 2009, selected Hibiscus and Chandni trees were planted which have now grown to make the conserved Garden Pavilion look even more beautiful. Had the Tunnel Road been built during the Commonwealth Games, the Garden Pavilion would have been lost as would half of Sunder Nursery!

Conservation

This garden pavilion possibly dating back to late 17th and 18th century was in a ruinous condition. Remarkably, the building has survived despite heavy vegetation having taken root on the building and neglect to an extent that several snakeskins were found in the structure during clearance works. Conservation works have been aimed at enhancing the cultural significance and ensuring structural stability and integrity of this unique building in Delhi.

A detailed documentation of the structure including architectural drawings, condition assessment and photo documentation was carried out as a first step. All vegetation on and within the structure was carefully removed. Forest Officer’s permission was received to cut one tree growing on the structure. The cracks in the structure were carefully stitched. Underpinning, in Lakhori brick masonry was carried out on all internal wall surfaces where over 80% of wall depth had been lost. The surviving ornamental plasterwork was consolidated and the entire wall surface carefully re-pointed. The sandstone brackets were re-installed on a design worked out in consultation with stone craftsmen on the basis of the lone surviving bracket, of which only 70% had remained intact.

The chajjas were re-installed on the basis of fragments found embedded in the parapet wall which indicated the thickness of the stone removed and the angle it was laid out at. The length of the chajja was worked out on the basis of study of similar buildings and experimentation on site.

The plinth, in a state of rubble, was conserved. Red sandstone restored on the roof edge and on the flooring of the pavilion and the plinth. The base layer of the ornamental plasterwork was restored on the external and internal wall surfaces. A new layer of lime concrete was provided on the roof.

Sandstone lattice screen fragments were discovered during clearance works; these provided the basis of re-installing the lattice screens in the three arched openings, one on each of the northern, eastern and western sides.
Landscape

The Mughal pavilion was discovered in a ruinous condition on the proposed route of the ‘tunnel road’ proposed by Delhi Government for the Commonwealth games. Together with the urgently needed conservation of the structure a garden setting for the monument was designed. The overgrown setting of the pavilion was replaced by a char-bagh similar in the centre of which stands the pavilion. The southern retaining wall uncovered during clearance works was also carefully conserved.

Plants such as Hibiscus and Chandni that balance the modest proportions of the Garden Pavilion were planted close to the monument. To the south of the pavilion, access from the parking area and peripheral road are grit-finish pathways through preserved Guava orchards to the Pavilion.Additional trees were planted in this area as it is edged by a dense tree growth towards the eastern and western edges. The area to the north of the pavilion has been levelled to have the same level connecting the grave platforms at the northern end of the nursery.