Believing to be the last remnant of the Qutub Shahi era, the only one of its kind fountain was lying in neglect for 40 years. However measures have been taken to restore the Qutub Shahi Fountain located in the parking area of High Court. The restoration work has been assigned to Architect Anuradha Naik. He told Siasat that restoration work of the fountain is being done with complete care and dexterity. All the nozzles of the fountain have been closed and they need to be made functional. Another one month will be needed for completion of the work.
It must not be out of place to mention here that the octagonal fountain made during the reign of Hyderabad founder Mohammed Quli Qutub Shah was rotting in the premises of the old Victoria Government Maternity Hospital at Nayapul. The sprawling place has been handed over to the High Court for parking. Heritage lovers felt the right place for the fountain is the Salar Jung Museum, where it can be seen by hundreds of visitors. However high court decided to revive its lost sheen at its original place itself.
Made in polished black basalt, the fountain is 423 years old. It is octagonal in shape and divided in two parts. One can see elegantly carved elephants with lions riding on them on all eight sides. The whole thing is capped by a dome with a small finial protruding. Water used to spray from the raised trunk of the elephant creating a pleasant sight.
Originally, this fountain was part of the Amin Bagh attached to the Qutub Shahi palace, Nadi Mahal, on whose ruins the High Court stands now. Much later Amin Bagh was converted into a hospital. A unique thing about this fountain is its antiquity. Such a fountain is not present at the Chowmahalla Palace or Purani Haveli. Now that the fountain is being restored to its original condition, it will add feather to historical High Court’s cap.
Special correspondent