Only a facade of Khairunnisa house remains

It is almost concealed from the outside world and even the students of the college rarely venture to the Begum’s Garden. Just a few yards away, behind thick foliage, lies the façade of what is supposed to be Khairunnisa house.

Just like the original area of 64 acres shrunk over the years, the rooms of the house too vanished. The façade though looks ever so magnificent even today in spite of the cracks. The ruins of the Rang Mahal- zenana quarters are where Khairunnisa gave birth to Sahiba Begum.

Architect Sarat Chandra says, “The house is in a straight line of the two fountains with the Doll House right in the middle.”It is not hard to imagine that rows of flowery plants and ferns were part of the garden. On one side is an old British cemetery, a stable and an elevated pigeon house.

Apoorva, conservation architect who is working on the restoration of the Residency says, “There are clear indications of waterways in the garden and the plan becomes clear with a little digging.

The restoration of the façade and gardens though may take time as in the first phase the Darbar Hall is being restored.”However, college authorities are optimistic that the façade would also be restored.