Built in 1570, the glorious monument was the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent and is also believed to be the architectural inspiration behind Shah Jahan’s Taj Mahal.
Humayun’s Tomb, built in the 1560’s, is a specimen of the grandiose of Mughal architecture and its garden setting has no precedence in the Islamic world for a mausoleum. Built on a monumental scale with the patronage of Humayun’s son, the great Emperor Akbar, the Humayun’s Tomb is the first of the grand dynastic mausoleums that later on became synonyms of Mughal architecture with the architectural style reaching its zenith 80 years later at the later Taj Mahal.
The monument includes other contemporary, 16th century Mughal garden-tombs such as Nila Gumbad, Isa Khan, Bu Halima, Afsarwala, Barber’s Tomb and the complex where the craftsmen employed for the Building of Humayun’s Tomb stayed, the Arab Serai.
The Humayun’s tomb stands in an extremely significant archaeological setting, centred at the Shrine of the 14th century Sufi Saint, Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya. (Photo: Ahona Sengupta)Visitors walk towards the first gate of the Humayun’s Tomb. (Photo: Ahona Sengupta)The grand gate that leads one to the main mausoleum-structured Humayun’s Tomb. (Photo: Ahona Sengupta)Visitors walk towards the grand mausoleum through the second gate inside the Humayun’s Tomb. (Photo: Ahona Sengupta)Humayun’s garden-tomb is also called the ‘dormitory of the Mughals’, which means the cells are buried over 150 Mughal family members. (Photo: Ahona Sengupta)The mausoleum has an irregular octagon plan with four long sides and chamfered edges. (Photo: Ahona Sengupta)The Barber’s Tomb or ‘Nai-ka-Gumbad’ belonging to royal barber, within the premise of the Humayun’s Tomb. (Photo: Ahona Sengupta)The mausoleum is built of plaster and rubble. At the time of construction, it was entire covered with blue, green and white tiles. Turquoise blue was the dominant amongst the other colors. (Photo: Ahona Sengupta)The intricate designs on the walls of the Nila Gumbad. (Photo: Ahona Sengupta)A close visual of the Nila Gumbad. (Photo: Ahona senguptaThe intricate designs on the walls of the Nila Gumbad. (Photo: Ahona Sengupta)The magnificent tomb and a sprawling garden. (Photo: Ahona Sengupta)The Arab Serai is said to have been built by Mughal emperor Humayun’s widow Haji Begum. (Photo: Ahona Sengupta)
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