Humayuns Tomb. Delhi.


Humayuns tomb is on the eastern side of Delhi and is India's first Mogul garden mausoleum. It was built by Humayuns senior widow the Hamida Begum 9 years after his death to honour his memory and where he was finally laid to rest in 1562. Initially he had been buried in his palace in Delhi then and later moved to the Punjab.

The begum arranged and transported 300 Persian artisans to build it after building a small colony for them to live in within the grounds. She also had a mosque built so that they could continue to pray five times per day and a dancing platform in the middle of the square for them to be entertained.

Although it is called Humayuns tomb it is in fact a complex of tombs of other Mogul rulers plus that of his wife the Begum. Humayuns tomb was the prototype in fact for the wife of Shahjahans the more famous and beautiful Mausoleum of the Taj Mahal in Agra.

The tomb is set in a 30 acre garden known as a charbargh which consists of four gardens all divided by walkways and bisected by water channels that used to have fountain displays. It is based on the Islamic idea of heaven and paradise.

Walking through and past the entrance you pass the village the begum had built for the artisans on the right hand side. The pathway leads up to a massive building known as the west gate which is infact a square shaped red sandstone building which acts as the main entrance to the charbargh. Passing through this you get a magnificent view of the mausoleum in front of you and its massive dome with the pathways and waterways lined up in perfect symmetry dividing the gardens into four equal parts around the tomb. It is a pleasant walk to reach the mausoleum which is built of red sandstone inlaid with marble.

There is a massive white dome in the centre of the mausoleum measuring 38 metres high and four copulas one at each corner made out of red sandstone. Entering the mausoleum you climb about 20 stairs to reach the central platform and the main entrance to the tomb. There are four sets of stairs in total on each side of the platform. You have to remove your shoes and enter it bare footed. Once inside the tomb there are several anti chambers around the central hall where smaller cenotaphs are containing the bodies of some of his family. The cenotaph of Humayun lies in the middle of the tomb facing Mecca. Through the doorway of the tomb the sunlight shines directly onto his tomb.

The surrounding walls of the tomb are made up of intricately carved air vents and marble which help to keep the tomb nice and cool. The floor is lined with marble which also helps to keep the inside of the tomb cool. Apparently years ago the tomb was lined with carpets and a canopy over the tomb which also contained Humayuns personal sword and his shoes.

Coming out of the tomb you can walk around the platform where you can view the other tombs throughout the grounds. There are also half a dozen or so marble cenotaphs on the platform supposedly junior members of Humayuns family but it is not known whose they are and remain unknown.

At the south west corner of Humayuns tomb there is another tomb which was built for Humayuns faithful and trusted barber the only person who was permitted to put a blade to Humayuns throat while he was alive. Humayun trusted him so much that when he died the tomb was built for him within the complex.


The grounds are beautifully kept and only some of the fountains work but it is so beautiful and peaceful and well worth a visit.

Humayuns tomb is also on the UNESCO world heritage site list.

It is well worth a visit to this complex and I would suggest a must see in Delhi.

Admission prices:- 250 Rupees (£3.57)for foreigners. 10 Rupees (7P)for Indians and is open from sunrise to sunset.