India, Dec. 21 -- Standing only a few hundred yards south of the mausoleum of emperor Humayun is the monumental tomb built by Abdur Rahim Khan-I-Khanan for his wife - Mah Banu. Built in 1598 AD, this would be the first monumental tomb built for a lady in Mughal times and, on his death, Rahim was also buried in the mausoleum. Son of Bairam Khan-I-Khanan, a close associate of Emperor Humayun and the regent of the young Akbar, Rahim was also the greatest of Akbar's nobles; a statesman, courtier, linguist, humanitarian, patron and above all, poet.

Despite the historical, architectural and archaeological significance of the structure, by the 21st century, Rahim's Tomb was in a ruinous condition with a risk of complete collapse. Though an esti...