Walking into this tomb’s well-preserved core is like travelling back in time. At the heart of the structure is a vaulted underground chamber surrounded by additional eight chambers which represent the eight spaces of Quranic paradise. This is a recurrent feature in the tombs built during the Mughal era. The central chamber of this tomb used to have a cenotaph which has now disintegrated.

The tomb together with the Sunder Burj originally stood within an enclosure measuring some 740’ by 610’ and entered through a lofty gateway.

The tomb together with the Sunder Burj originally stood within an enclosure measuring some 740’ by 610’ and entered through a lofty gateway.

In the centre of the enclosure is a ruined platform where apparently there was once a grave.

The tomb, rubble built, is rectangular in plan, with corners cut off, and in its centre is a vaulted underground chamber.

Around this chamber is a verandah with five arches on each of its four sides.

On the south where there is an entrance to the vaulted chamber, are two staircases leading up to the roof.

The centre of the latter is occupied by a dais some 31’ square which seems to have supported the false tomb.

As a first step, detailed documentation of the structure including architectural drawings, condition assessment, archival research and photo documentation was undertaken, which was included in the Conservation Proposal prepared for all Sunder Nursery monuments in March 2008 and on the basis of which approval was given by the Archaeological Survey of India.

As a first step, detailed documentation of the structure including architectural drawings, condition assessment, archival research and photo documentation was undertaken, which was included in the Conservation Proposal prepared for all Sunder Nursery monuments in March 2008 and on the basis of which approval was given by the Archaeological Survey of India.

First phase of conservation works on Sunderwala Mahal were taken up in 2009, when the collapsed portions of the monument were reconstructed.

Also in the first phase, portions of building inappropriately reconstructed by the ASI in 2002-06, were demolished and reconstructed as per original Mughal era details.

In 2014, the AKTC team carried out the final conservation programme that included installation of red sandstone flooring, re-plastering the structure including restoration of the muqarnas.

The roof required major repairs including removal of existing cement concrete and restoring a traditional lime-based flooring.