Seven Centuries of Living Heritage
A fifteen-year journey to bring two surviving havelis back to their former glory — and open a living piece of history to guests.
In the mid-1990s, Mr. Shariq Bin Raza, a career UN diplomat, and his wife, Mrs. Alka Raza, a journalist, writer and author, undertook the extraordinary task of restoring, reconstructing and preserving the remnants of two surviving havelis. What began as a deeply personal effort to save a part of their heritage became a painstaking journey, spanning 15 years to restore the havelis to their former glory.
With the invaluable support of Tariq Bin Raza, his brother and a civil engineer by profession, the restoration was guided from the ground up. His vast and varied experience, technical knowledge, creativity and organisational abilities, combined with his deep appreciation for art, culture and heritage, enabled him to direct, guide, supervise and manage the restoration.
Local artisans and craftsmen brought their own wisdom, memories, unique skills and craftsmanship to the restoration, helping preserve the character of the havelis while adapting them for modern living. Stone pillars, shahteers, jalis, jharokas, chhatris, mehrabs, wooden doors and other architectural elements were carefully recreated, restored and procured from old homes across the region — many of which were being demolished to make way for modern houses or for other purposes.
The two havelis were brought back to life brick by brick, through years of dedication and substantial personal investment, with an unwavering resolve to preserve their individual character and the heritage and history they share.
Today, the two havelis are known collectively as Shikwa Havelis: Shikwa Haveli and Shikwa — Begum's Court — two historic homes, restored with a shared love for history, art, heritage and culture.
In 2016, Shikwa Haveli opened its doors to guests, inviting them to step into a living piece of history — a noble home whose story stretches back nearly 700 years — to experience, appreciate and share the charm of an era gone by, surrounded by art, countless collection from around the world, heritage, culture and the warmth of a cherished family home.
Shariq's mother, Noor Jehan Begum, affectionately called him mera Shikwa — a name that became the inspiration for the restored noble homes.
