Humayun’s tomb is often referred to as the red stone version of the Taj Mahal. It preceedes the Taj Mahal and was the source of its inspiration. The tomb was built in 1562 by Hamida Banu Begum the wife of the Mughal Emporer Humayun. It was designed by a Persian architect–Mirak Mirza Giyath. It has been declared a world heritage site by the UNESCO in 1993 and is one of the major Garden tombs of the sub continent. The graves of Humayun, his wife Hamida and that of many of his descendants are found in this tomb complex.
The tomb is 47 mts tall and is 300 feet wide and is the first Indian building to use the Persian double dome on a high neck drum that measures 42.5 m. The dome is mounted with a 6 mt high brass final crowned by a cresent. This dome is made of pure white marble while the rest of the building is made of red sandstone in contrast. The design is symmetrical and simple on the exterior while the interior is complex. There are eight two storyed vaulted chambers that radiate from a central chamber. The intricate Jaali work or stone lattice work is specatacular. The actual tomb of the Emperor and his wife lie in an underground chamber directly below the cenotaph and is accessible from a seperate passage. Surrounding the building is the beautiful Char Bagh Garden or four part garden with a quadrilateral layout. The four squares are further subdivided into smaller squares forming 36 squares in all. The water channels appear to flow beneath the tomb only to appear on the other side of the building in a straight line.
In the south east corner of the complex lies the Tomb of the first Mughal Emperor of India–Barbar. This is the only building within the inner walls of the complex and hence it is interpreted to be a building of importance. This tomb is known as the Nai-ka-Gumbad and dates back to 1590-91. The tomb stands on a raised platform and is square in design. There are no inscriptions that indicate that it is the tomb of Barbar. However, local legends daub it so and since it stands within the inner walls of the Humayun tomb complex, it could well be so.
There are a number of buildings that dot the pathway leading up to Humayun’s tomb. Most of these buildings are located outside the inner wall. The Tomb and Mosque of Isa Khan predates Humanyun’s tomb and is the most prominent building in the complex. It is said to have been constructed in 1547 and is the tomb of an Afghan noble who graced Sher Shah Suri’s court. This is an octogonal tomb in an octogonal garden. It is said to be typical of the monuments of the Sur dynasty.
Other significant buildings in the complex are Bu Halima’s tomb and garden; Afsarwala tomb and mosque; Arab Sarai (rest house for Arabs); Nila Gumbad with a striking blue dome built by Abdul Rahim Khan-i-Khana a courteir of the Mughal Emperor Akbar and the Chillah Nizamuddin Aulia the residence of the saint Nizamuddin Aulia of the 14th Century(typical architecture of the Tugluq dynasty).
If you plan to visit the tombs and do justice to your visit, it will be a good idea to study the history of the periods represented and learn to distinguish between the different architectural styles that you find in and around the Humayun Tomb complex. If you are not too hung up on “history” and “architecture” you could visit these tombs to appreciate the sheer beauty of the buildings and the gardens in which they are situated.
