Sunder Nursery

The ground was a nursery laid out by the British in the early twentieth century to test trees for New Delhi, and it contained a scatter of neglected Mughal tombs. From 2007 the Aga Khan Trust for Culture restored the monuments and rebuilt the whole ninety-acre site as a park with Mughal-derived water channels, terraces and a central axis, planted with hundreds of tree species and managed for biodiversity, with a marsh area and a bonsai house. Six of the monuments, including the Sunder Burj and Lakkarwala Burj, are part of the Humayun's Tomb world heritage listing. It opened to the public in 2018.

The main sights

• The restored tombs - sixteenth-century monuments with tile and plaster work.
• The water axis - Mughal-style channels and terraces down the centre.
• The tree collection - hundreds of species across ninety acres.
• The marsh and bonsai areas - wetland and a dedicated bonsai house.

When to go

October to March; the winter and spring flowering seasons are the best, and a large garden festival runs in February. Mornings are quietest. Delhi summers are hard even in shade.

Practical notes

Entry is charged, unlike Lodhi Gardens. The park is large and involves a lot of walking. Weekends are busy with families and event bookings can close sections.

Nearby

Humayun's Tomb adjoins; Nizamuddin Basti is beside it.

Key facts