Sunder Nursery

Sunder Nursery is one of the most beautiful public spaces created in Delhi in recent years, a 90-acre park of gardens, lawns and restored Mughal monuments directly beside Humayun's Tomb. The site began life in the 16th century as Azim Bagh, a Mughal garden on the Grand Trunk Road. Under British rule it became a nursery for experimental and exotic plants, and it kept that role for decades before falling into neglect.

Restoration led by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, working with the Archaeological Survey of India and the Central Public Works Department, began in 2007, and the park opened as a heritage park on 21 February 2018. The work recreated classical Persian-style garden layouts with fountains and water channels, and conserved the monuments scattered through the grounds.

There are fifteen heritage structures in the park, several of which are included in the Humayun's Tomb World Heritage Site. Look for Sunderwala Burj, restored in orange sandstone and white lime mortar, the nearby Sunderwala Mahal, Lakkarwala Burj set in a new rose garden, and the tomb of Mirza Muzaffar Hussain. The scale is gentle and walking between them is part of the pleasure.

The park is also a serious botanical collection. It is Delhi's first arboretum, with more than 280 native tree species, and its landscapes recreate four of the city's original habitats: ridge, alluvial plain, riverine land and marsh. Around 80 bird species and 36 types of butterfly have been recorded here, so bring binoculars if you are interested. The Bonsai House holds trees more than 80 years old.

The park is open every day from sunrise to sunset, and early morning is the best time for birds and cool walking, while late afternoon light suits photographs of the monuments. Allow one and a half to two hours, or longer for a picnic. Wide, level paths make it comfortable for families with pushchairs and older visitors, and children have plenty of room to run.

Combine a visit with Humayun's Tomb next door for a half day that brings together the city's Mughal heritage and its newest public garden. The Nizamuddin area, home to the dargah of the Sufi saint Nizamuddin Auliya, is close by, and Lodhi Garden and Khan Market are a short taxi ride away.