Humayun's Tomb, New Delhi

As the name suggests, Humayun's tomb is the final resting place of the Mughal Emperor Humayun. Located in the Nizamuddin East area of Delhi, it is the first garden tomb in the Indian subcontinent. This splendid piece of architecture was commissioned for construction by Humayun's chief consort empress Bega Begum in the year 1569-70 and is one of the very few structures that used red sandstone on such a massive scale at that time. The design of Humayun's tomb pertains to typical Mughal architecture with Persian influences and was conceptualized by Persian architect Mirak Mirza Ghiyath. Owing to its magnificent design and illustrious history, Humayun's Tomb was featured in UNESCO's World Heritage List in the year 1993.

The architectural genius of Humayun's tomb is hard to miss. This magnificent tomb sits in the middle of a huge, ornate Mughal Garden and its beauty is only enhanced during the winter months. Situated on the banks of the River Yamuna, this mausoleum is also home to the remains of many other Mughals, including his wives, son and descendants of the later Emperor Shah Jahan, as well as numerous other subsequent Mughals. Its incredibly ornate design and careful construction set the tone for all Mughal architectures to come.

History of Humayun's Tomb

Post his death on 20 January 1556, Humayun's body was initially buried in Delhi's Purana Qila. The emperor's death caused great agony to his chief consort Bega Begam, who vowed to create the most resplendent mausoleum in all of the empire. The construction began in 1565, nine years after his death, and completed in 1572 AD at a cost of 1.5 million rupees at the time which was borne by the Empress alone. During India's partition, Humayun's tomb along with the Purana Qila served as an asylum for Muslims migrating to Pakistan. However, during this time, the monument was subjected to vandalism which defiled the structure greatly. Archaeological Survey of India took it upon itself to restore its former glory, and this process was accelerated when Humayun's Tomb got featured on UNESCO's World Heritage List in 1993.

Architecture of Humayun's Tomb

The structure of Humayun's tomb is a mix of Islamic and Persian architecture with smatterings of Indian elegance too. Six-sided stars that embellish the main opening on the west, are also seen on the main tomb structure, though it has been used as a patterned galactic symbol. The mosque also has the tomb of Emperor's beloved barber. The tomb built of debris of granite and red sandstone uses white marble as a covering material. It has main features of Indian - Islamic architecture like jaalis, door frames and chhajja. It stands on a leaped terrace eight-metre high and spread over 12,000-meter square. This tomb houses over 100 gravestones and the entire base structure is elevated on a stage, a few steps high.

Char Bagh Garden

The Char-Bagh is a Persian style garden with a geometric layout, and divided into 4 square walkways, giving it the name, Char Bagh. The four squares are further subdivided into smaller pathways, creating 36 squares. The central water system flows beneath the ground, feeding the mini fountains without appearing at the surface. The garden is enclosed within rubble walls on three sides while the fourth opening serves as an inlet to the river Yamuna, which unfortunately no longer flows here. The gardens are exquisitely maintained and will certainly transport you the times of the royalty with their charms.

Other Monuments in the Complex

Humayun's tomb has a number of other monuments leading up to it. Some of these are:-

1. Tomb and mosque of Isa Khan: This is the mausoleum complex of Isa Khan Niyazi, who was an Afghan noble in Sher Shah Suri's court. He was actually an adversary of the Mughals and had fought against them. The octagonal tomb was built during the reign of Islam Shah Suri, son of Sher Shah. It is surrounded by an octagonal garden and later went on to serve as the burial place for Isa Khan's family as well.

2. Bu Halima's tomb and garden: This attraction is located towards the western entry of Humayun's tomb. Information about Bu Halima is scanty, and the tomb is believed to be a later addition to this place.

3. Afsarwala tomb and mosque: Afsarwala was a noble in Akbar's court, and his tomb is located towards the southwest end of Humayun's Tomb. Adjacent to the tomb is a mosque which is also believed to be dedicated to Afsarwala. These constructions belong to the period of 1566-67 CE.

4. Arab Sarai: This was a safe house meant for craftsmen doing construction work.

5. Nila Gumbad:  Right outside the boundary of the complex is the Nila Gumbad or "Blue Dome", which is embellished with blue tiles. It has a unique structure which is octagonal from the outside and is a square from within. It was built by Abdul Rahim Khan-I-Khana who was a courtier in Akbar's court for his servant Miyan Fahim.

6. Chillah Nizamuddin Aulia: This was meant to serve as the residence of Delhi's patron saint Nizamuddin Auliya, and is located right outside the complex. 

7.Humayun's barber's tomb: This structure is located towards the south east corner within the Char Bagh. It is not known to whom does this tomb belong, however, locals believe that it is the final resting place of Humayun's favourite barber.

How to reach

Humayun's tomb is situated very near to the Nizamuddin railway station, which is 2.8 kilometres away. Taxis, bus and auto rickshaws are available outside the station. This tomb is quite near to Sarai Kale Khan Bus Depot which is about 8 kilometres away. Autorickshaws are available outside the bus stand. The nearest metro station to this destination is the Jawaharlal Nehru metro station on the violet line.