HYDERABAD - Iran and India have had relations for millennia and share many cultural affinities.

This is best exemplified by Hyderabad, the capital of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Old Hyderabad was modeled on the Iranian city of Isfahan, especially the magnificent Charminar, which was the gate to the old city.
To continue these longstanding ties, Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Organization (CHTHO) and the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Ministry have prepared a draft agreement for the restoration of the Qutb Shahi Tombs. These monuments were built between 1518 and 1687 by the Quli Qutb Shahi dynasty, who were originally from Iran and ruled Hyderabad almost five centuries ago.
These tombs and other monuments of the Qutb Shahi kings were constructed in a unique architectural style which is a mixture of Persian, Pathan, and Hindu forms.
The Iranian Consulate in Hyderabad is making serious efforts to promote the restoration work of the tombs. A number of Iranian experts have already visited the site to assess the project. After the restoration, an application will be filed to register the Qutb Shahi Tombs on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Andhra Pradesh Culture and Tourism Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy is expected to visit Iran in late June to conclude the final agreement on restoring the tombs.
Many of the people of Andhra Pradesh are interested in Iranian heritage and would like to visit Iran, Reddy said in an interview with the Tehran Times and Iran Daily on May 17 in his office in Hyderabad.
Following is an excerpt of the interview:
Q: Can you elaborate on the tourism cooperation between Iran and Andhra Pradesh?   A: Many people are interested in Iranian heritage here: Iranian architecture in Hyderabad, India. Our people want to travel to Iran, want to see what the Iranian government is doing for tourism. And we want to have coordination of the two countries in tourism.   And it will improve the relationship between the two countries with the help of this tourism department. So that’s why we are also interested in the Iranian tourism department. And the relations between the two countries would be developed.   Q: The Andhra Pradesh Tourism Ministry and Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Organization have prepared a draft document for the restoration of the Qutb Shahi tombs. How is the process proceeding? When are you going to start?   A: Our former (state) minister for tourism, Geeta Reddy, traveled to Iran thrice to improve relations between the two countries.   And courtesy of his excellency, the Iranian consul general, I have also received an invitation from the Iranian government to visit Iran. We are planning to go in the third week of June. Recently we have received the information from the consulate. This should be processed through the government.
But one thing. In Hyderabad, many of the heritage structures were built by Iranian architects: Charminar, the Qutb Shahi Tombs, and other important structures and monuments. We are trying to protect them. They are all Iranian structures. And the relationship between Andhra Pradesh and Iran is very good. Many of your (Iranian) students are coming here, studying here, they are in the universities. We are providing these educational accommodations and there are educational advantages (for them) here.   Q: Do you have any plans to relocate some residential areas or shops in order to better protect these magnificent monuments?   A: The government of India is planning to remove the encroachments over the historical monuments. It is in the control of the central government. They are working on it. It is under process. We are managing to relocate these shops (near the historical monuments) into different areas.   Q: How much money do you spend per year on tourism, for example, last year? And how much is the tourism budget for this year?   A: 120 crore (1.2 billion) rupees ($28 million).   Q: For last year? And for this year the same amount was spent?   A: Yes, and for this year the same amount was spent.   Q: Could you describe the mechanism? Is it under your ministry’s auspices or…?   A: We have two departments: the Directorate and the Project Management Unit Corporation. They are the two different units for tourism. We fund the corporation also from the government side. These two departments take care of tourism in Andhra Pradesh… For the last two, three years tourism has improved in Andhra Pradesh. Our chief minister is very much interested. He’s provided us the budget for the tourism project and protecting the heritage monuments. And our culture is very much interested to protect all these things.
Q: How much do you earn annually from tourism?
A: Presently it’s not much… but its turnover was 100 crore (1 billion) rupees ($23 million) last year. Earlier it was below 100 crore.   Q: Is that just from local tourism?   A: It is from local and foreign (tourism).   Q: As far as Iran and Andhra Pradesh tourism cooperation is concerned, Iran has held an exhibition here. When do you plan to hold an exhibition in Iran?   A: For mutual understanding only, we can plan an exhibition in Iran to showcase Andhra Pradesh.   Q: Has any specific date been set for the exhibition in Iran?   A: We’ll have discussions and hold the exhibition… With mutual coordination we’ll finalize the date.
Mr. Anam Ramanarayana Reddy was first elected to the Andhra Pradesh State Legislative Assembly in 1983 as a Congress Party representative from the Nellore constituency. On April 26, 2007, he assumed the post of Andhra Pradesh minister for information, public relations, cinematography, tourism, culture, archaeology, museums, and archives.