Humayun’s Tomb

Humayun’s TombMathura Road, Nizamuddin, Delhi

"This architectural masterpiece was a precursor to the wonderful Taj Mahal"

Humayun's tomb is the tomb of the Mughal EmperorHumayun in Delhi, India. The tomb was commissioned byHumayun's son Akbar in 1569-70, and designed by MirakMirza Ghiyas, a Persian architect chosen by Bega Begum.

It was the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent and islocated in Nizamuddin East, Delhi, India, close to the Dina-

panah citadel also known as Purana Qila (Old Fort) thatHumayun founded in 1533. It was also the first structure to

use red sandstone at such a scale.

The complex encompasses the main tomb of the EmperorHumayun, which houses the graves of Bega Begum herself,

Hamida Begum, and also Dara Shikoh, great-great-grandson ofHumayun and son of the later Emperor Shah Jahan, as well as

numerous other subsequent Mughals, including Emperor JahandarShah, Farrukhsiyar, Rafi Ul-Darjat, Rafi Ud-Daulat, Muhammad

Kam Bakhsh and Alamgir II.

An end to end view of the tomb

It represented a leap in Mughal architecture, and together with itsaccomplished Charbagh garden, typical of Persian gardens, but

never seen before in India, it set a precedent for subsequentMughal architecture. It is seen as a clear departure from the fairlymodest mausoleum of his father, the first Mughal Emperor, Babur,called Bagh-e Babur (Gardens of Babur) in Kabul (Afghanistan).

The site was chosen on the banks of Yamuna river, due to itsproximity to Nizamuddin Dargah, the mausoleum of the

celebrated Sufi saint of Delhi, Nizamuddin Auliya, who was muchrevered by the rulers of Delhi, and whose residence, Chilla

Nizamuddin Auliya lies just north-east of the tomb.

The symbolically cut out mihrab facing west or Mecca, over themarble lattice jali screen

There are several graves of Mughal rulers located inside thewalled enclosure. Known among them are black-and-yellowmarble tomb of Humayun's wife and the tomb of Humayun's

barber. Referred to as Nai Ka Gumbad. The barber's tomb is animpressive square tomb with a double-dome. Humayun's tomb

was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1993.

Open: All Days (Sunrise to Sunset)

Entry Fee: Rs. 10/- (Indians), Rs. 250/- (Foreigners)

Photography Charges: Free

Videography: Rs 25

Phone: 011 2435 5275