Humayun's Tomb, New Delhi, India
The decline of Humayun's tomb started immediately after its construction. The capital was moved to Agra, and the Mughal dynasty began to decline, and the monument lost its importance to the ruling elites. Since 1993, several restoration projects have been accomplished. Significant restorations of the memorial and surrounding gardens were organized from 1999 to 2003. Thanks to the Aga Khan Trust for Culture and the Archaeological Survey of India for preserving this historic monument. The decline of the Mughal dynasty accelerated the decay of the monument and its features, as the expensive upkeep of the garden proved impossible. By the early 18th century, the once lush gardens were replaced by vegetable gardens for people who had settled within the walled area. However, the capture of the last Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar, during the Indian rebellion of 1857, together with the premises and his subsequent sentencing to exile, along with the execution of his 3 sons, meant that the monument's worst days lay ahead, as the British took over Delhi completely. Further, during the partition of India in Aug 1947, the Purana Quilla, together with Humayun's tomb, became major refugee camps for Muslims migrating to the newly formed Pakistan. The camps stayed open to refugees for about 5 years and caused considerable damage to the gardens, water channels, and principal structures.
