page_title: Khirki Mosque
section_title: Restoration
hierarchical_section_title: Khirki Mosque / Restoration
caption_attribution_description: Looks like some conservation is happening!
context_page_description: Khirki Fort, approached from the Khirki Village in South Delhi and close to the Satpula or the seven arched bridge on the edge of southern wall of Jahapanah, was a qila built by Khan-i-Jahan Junan Shah, the Prime Minister of Feroz Shah Tughlaq of the Tughlaq Dynasty. The word 'Khirki' prefixed to fort is an Urdu word that means "window" and hence is also called "The Fort of Windows".
  The Fort, which is in a quadrangular shape, with an unusual fusion of Islamic and traditional Hindu architecture. It is said to be the only monument style fort in North India, which is mostly covered; the totally covered fort of the Sultanate period is, however, in South India at Gulbarga in North Karnataka.
context_section_description: Over the years, a few domes on the north–east side of the mosque have collapsed and a few walls are in a dilapidated condition. The roof is on the verge of collapse at many places. Delhi chapter of Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) has categorized the monument as "Grade A" in terms of archeological value. It is one of the 43 monuments identified by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) for restoration before the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Some conservation works have been initiated by ASI inside the mosque.
  Heritage experts of Delhi were concerned by the status of the restoration works of the Khirki Mosque done by the ASI, which converted it into a pink monument (pictured) as distinct from the lime mortar work done in the ancient times. They pressed the ASI to re–examine the restoration procedures adopted by them for conservation works of Mughal monuments. ASI suspended the restoration works of the Mosque and held a workshop on "Use of lime mortar in ancient times" to educate their staff on proper restoration of Mughal monuments.
  A conservationist commented that
  Lime mortar survives for years but needs to be carefully prepared by using all the required ingredients in correct amount. However, to bypass the lengthy but necessary method, workers then changed the traditional mixing process – followed the world over and for centuries – to 50% lime mixed with 50% brick dust and not sand. This altered the chemical and physical properties and also made it more expensive exercise (brick dust costs more than sand).
  The well established correct method of preparing a lime–surkhi mortar for conservation in the monuments, in the past, involved initially burning of lime in a kiln, then slaking it under water for a month and thereafter grinding it in a mortar mill in the proportion of 33% lime, 66% sand and other additives.
  An ASI official conceded that Lime–surkhi was not used in proper proportion resulting in pink–coloured marks on some structures. ASI has now decided that in new restoration works, such as the Khirki Mosque, lime will be used in proper quantity.
caption: Interior walls and arches restored by conservation action by ASI - Pink colour is distinct
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