Sunder Nursery

File:Sunderwala Mahal, Sunder Nursery, New Delhi.jpg

File:Lakharwal Gumbab in the Sunder Nursery Lawns.jpg

File:Arched Platform, Sunder Nursery.jpg

File:Sunder Nursery Mughal Garden Pavillion.jpg

File:Inside Sunder Burj Sunder Nursery Dome.jpg

Sunder Nursey is part of the larger Nizamuddin Urban Renewal Project master plan of the Aga Khan Trust, which involves restoration work on 30 nearby heritage structures.{{cite news|url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/sunder-nursery-city-s-new-oasis/632296/0|title=Sunder Nursery, city’s new oasis|date=Jun 11, 2010|newspaper=Indian Express|access-date=2014-01-16}} Once complete, the park and resorted monuments will cover 900 acres (3.64 km sq). Since 2007 conservation of over 50 monuments have taken place of which 12 were designated World Heritage Sites by UNESCO in 2016.

Future plans aim to run the area as a public-private partnership (PPP) between the various government authorities in India and the Aga Khan Trust.{{Cite news|url=https://scroll.in/magazine/869920/sunder-nursery-gives-delhi-a-beautifully-restored-green-space-and-a-template-for-heritage|title=Sunder Nursery gives Delhi a beautifully restored green space – and a template for heritage|last=Venkataramakrishnan|first=Rohan|work=Scroll.in|access-date=2018-04-25|language=en-US}}

The garden complex is undergoing an extensive restoration project, undertaken by Aga Khan Trust for Culture India, jointly with Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and Central Public Works Department (CPWD) which currently runs the garden.

The following agencies are involved in this extensive restoration project:

• Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India
• Archaeological Survey of India
• Central Public Works Department
• South Delhi Municipal Corporation
• US Ambassador's Fund for Cultural Preservation
• Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation

Plans for the project were drawn up in 2007, and work on the third phase was initiated in 2010 and completed in 2018, with 90 acres of the park being opened to the public on 21 February 2018. The vice-president of India, M Venkaiah Naidu, was present during the inauguration along with various other dignitaries including the Aga Khan founder and chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network.

Lying abandoned for decades, much of the area was overgrown, and during the initial work some 1,000 trucks of rubble was removed before the ground was levelled. Subsequently, classical Persian gardens were recreated, with fountains and water channels characteristic to this style of garden. Two main architectural features were restored; the Lakkarwala Burj tomb is now set in a new rose garden, whilst the 16th-century Sunderwala Burj tomb was restored as per the orange sandstone and white lime mortar used in its original design. Its red sandstone interior walls saw entire sections of white Quranic verses being recreated.{{cite web | title = Ratish Nanda plans on creating huge new park in Delhi |publisher=CNN-IBN| url = http://ibnlive.in.com/news/ratish-nanda-plans-on-creating-huge-new-park-in-delhi/417281-3-244.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130826073027/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/ratish-nanda-plans-on-creating-huge-new-park-in-delhi/417281-3-244.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = August 26, 2013 |date=August 26, 2013|access-date = 2014-01-16 }} The garden replicates the four micro-habitat zones which were part of Delhi's original landscape namely Kohi (ridge), Bangar (alluvial), Khadar (riverine) and Dabar (marsh).{{cite news| title = 16th-century lotus pond found in Sunder Nursery| url = http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-10-02/delhi/42614941_1_lotus-pond-sunderwala-burj-restoration-project| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140116193359/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-10-02/delhi/42614941_1_lotus-pond-sunderwala-burj-restoration-project| url-status = dead| archive-date = 2014-01-16| newspaper = The Times of India| access-date = 2014-01-16 }}

UNESCO World Heritage status has been given to the following six structures within Sunder Nursery: Sunder Burj, Sundarwala Mahal, Lakkarwala Burj, Mirza Muazzafar Hussain's Tomb, Chotta Bateshewala and the Unknown Mughal's Tomb.

File:Canna Section Sunder Nursery.jpg Section, Sunder Nursery]]

File:Protected Bonsai Houses Sunder Nursery.jpg houses]]

The area contains over 280 native tree species. Using GIS 4200 trees have been mapped. Apart from this there are around 80 types of bird species and 36 types of butterflies. The Bonsai House is home to some bonsai over 80 years old.

Sunder Nursery is Delhi's first arboretum. It is home to some rare trees such as a Pink Cedar (Acrocarpus fraxinifolius), the only one in Delhi. Various other trees in the nursery are also only found here and nowhere else in Delhi such as Chukka (Croton roxburghii) and Carrotwood (Cupaniopsis anacardioides).{{Cite news|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/inventory-of-sundar-nursery-trees/234304|title=Inventory of Sundar Nursery Trees|work=Outlook India|access-date=2018-04-27}}

A partial listing of trees and plants found:

{{Div col|colwidth=30em|content=*Amrood, Psidium guajava

• Peelu, Salvadora persica
• Sonjna, Moringa oleifera
• Marodphali, Fernandoa adenophylla
• Chalta, Dillenia indica
• Badminton Ball Tree, Parkia biglobosa
• Kaim, Mitragyna parvifolia
• Tun, Toona ciliata
• Siala, Markhamia lutea
• Pinj, Firmiana colorata
• Adusa, Adhatoda vasica
• Goolar, Ficus racemosa
• Brazilian ironwood, Caesalpinia ferrea
• Whistling pine, Casuarina equisetifolia
• Colville's glory, Colvillea racemosa
• Shisham, Dalbergia sissoo}}

File:Mughal Lotus Pond Sunder Nursery.jpg Pond, Sunder Nursery]]

The rose gardens host various types of roses. A partial list of rose varieties:

HT Roses{{Div col|colwidth=30em|content=*Michael LIS

• Tata Pink
• Iceberg
• Black Pearl
• Oklahoma
• Bajazoo
• Charleston
• Pristine
• Gold Media
• Broadway
• BP Pal
• Christian Dior
• Folklore}}Miniature Roses
• Don Don
• Merlin

80 different species of birds have been located in the area through bird mapping. In 2014, the rare Ultramarine Flycatcher was spotted in the park area, a bird not seen in New Delhi for many years. 36 types of butterfly have also been spotted in the park.{{Cite web|url=http://annualreport2015.nizamuddinrenewal.org/annualreports-details/2015/79/bird-habitat-area.php|title=AKDN: AKDN|website=annualreport2015.nizamuddinrenewal.org|access-date=2018-04-25}} A partial listing of birds include:{{Citation|title=Birds at Sunder Nursery|date=2018-04-26|url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Birds_at_Sunder_Nursery.jpg|access-date=2018-04-27}}

{{Div col|colwidth=30em|content=*Asian Pied Starling

• Eurasian Golden Oriole
• Coppersmith Barbet
• Eurasian Collared Dove
• Laughing Dove
• Red-wattled Lapwing
• Indian Roller
• Asian Green Bee-eater
• Long-tailed shrike
• Black Drongo
• Indian Stone-curlew
• Eastern Cattle Egret
• Scaly-breasted Munia
• Red Avadavat
• Indian Pond Heron
• Grey-headed Canary-flycatcher
• Indian Silverbill
• Black-rumped Flameback
• Yellow-footed Green Pigeon
• Rufous Treepie
• Shikra
• Spotted Owlet
• Common Tailorbird
• Plum-headed Parakeet
• Ashy Prinia
• Oriental Magpie
• Red-breasted Flycatcher
• Black Redstart}}

A partial listing of butterfly varieties found:{{Citation|title=Butterflies at Sunder Nursery, New Delhi|date=2018-04-26|url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Butterlies_at_Sunder_Nursery.jpg|access-date=2018-04-27}}

{{Div col|colwidth=30em|content=*Yellow Pansy

• White Arab
• Tiny Grass Blue
• Indian Palm Bob
• Plain Tiger
• Pioneer
• Common Emigrant
• Blue Pansy
• Banded Awl
• Peacock Pansy
• Lemon Pansy
• Grass Yellow
• Common mime
• Common Gull
• Common Mormon}}

File:Sunderwala Burj in the Sunder Nursery Gardens.JPG| Sunderwala Burj

File:Unknown Graves Sunder Nursery.jpg| Unknown Mughal graves

File:Artificial Lake Structure Sunder Nursery.jpg| Artificial Lake

File:Ampitheatre Sunder Nursery.jpg| Amphitheatre, with Sunder Burj visible in the background

File:Sunder Burj, Delhi.jpg| Sunder Burj, front view

• Lodi Gardens
• List of parks in Delhi

{{Reflist}}

{{commons category|Sunder Nursery}}

• {{cite web

| title = Nizamuddin Urban Renewal Project (Aga Khan Trust)| url = http://nizamuddinrenewal.org/humayuntomb/start.html#}}

• {{cite web | title = Delhi Gets Its Own Version Of Central Park And It Is Going To Be Bigger Than The One In Manhattan! | url = https://lbb.in/delhi/delhi-gets-its-own-central-2a3282 }}
• {{cite web | title = Sunder Nursery Rehabilitation | url = http://archnet.org/library/sites/one-site.jsp?site_id=15409

|publisher=ArchNet }}

{{Delhi landmarks}}

{{Delhi}}

Category:Gardens in India

Category:Tourist attractions in Delhi

Category:Aga Khan Trust for Culture projects

Category:16th-century establishments in India

Category:Monuments of National Importance in Delhi