Humayuns Tomb Delhi History and Interesting Facts

Humayuns Tomb Quick Facts

Humayuns Tomb Overview

The tomb of Mughal Emperor Humayun is a major tourist attraction located in the area of ​​East Nizamuddin between Lodhi Road and Mathura Road near the old fort of New Delhi, the capital of the country. It was declared a World Heritage by UNESCO in 1993. This tomb is a very beautiful example of Mughal Architecture in India.

Humayuns Tomb History

Humayun's tomb was built in his memory by his wife Hamida Banu Begum. Its construction work lasted for eight years (from 1565 to 1572). Hamida Banu Begum was the mother of the third Mughal emperor, Akbar. During the time of the Ghulam dynasty, this land was located in the Kilokari fort, which was the capital of Sultan Kequbad, the son of Nasiruddin Mahmud (ruled 1246-1266 AD). The style of this tomb is the same, which gave birth to the Taj Mahal. This place was chosen for the mausoleum because there was also Hazrat Nizamuddin (Dargah) on the banks of the river Yamuna. Sant Nizamuddin has been a famous Sufi saint of Delhi and was highly regarded by the rulers of Delhi.

• Charbagh Garden:This is the first Parsi-style garden in the whole of South Asia. Its shape is quadrilateral. The full splendor of the mausoleum is accentuated by the Charbagh-style Mughal gardens covered over 30 acres that surround it.
• Barber's Tomb: Inside the boundary wall there is a tomb called Nai-ka-Gumbad which is the tomb of a royal barber.
• Afsarwala Tomb:The Afsarwala Tomb is also built in this complex, which was built for a Nawab of Akbar. Along with this, its mosque has also been built.
• Other buildings within the complex of Humayun's tomb include the tomb and garden of Bu Halima, the tomb and mosque of Isa Khan, the Nila Gumbad, the Chilah Nizamuddin Auliya and the Arab Sarai.

Humayun’s Tomb Architecture:

The grand mausoleum complex was built by Mirak Mirza Ghiyas, a Persian architect chosen by the Begum herself. It is a vivid example of the style of Mughal architecture with elements of Indian and Persian styles. With a height of 154 feet and a width of 299 feet, the mammoth tomb is mainly built in red sandstone while white marble has been used for the dome. The structure, designed as a dynastic mausoleum, has 124 small vaulted chambers within its walls. A Persian-style garden is built around the structure of the tomb which is known as Charbagh.

Humayuns Tomb Interesting Facts

1. Humayun's Tomb was built nine years after his death.
2. It was built between 1565 and 1572 AD on the design of the Persian architect Mirak Mirza Ghiyath.
3. According to a contemporary historian, Abd-al-Qadir Badayuni, this tomb was built between 1565 and 1572 AD by the architectural Persian architect Mirak Mirza Ghiyath (Mirza Ghiyathuddin), who was specifically from Herat, Bukhara (in present-day Uzbekistan). was called for.
4. It was originally done by adding stones to the mortar to make the tomb and it is covered with red sandstone. Red sandstone was used on such a large scale for the first time in its construction.
5. White marble stones have been used for the mosaic, floor surface, lattices of vents, door-frames, and balconies.
6. When this tomb was built, then its cost was 15 lakh rupees.
7. To enter this building, two 16-meter-high double-floors entrances are made in the west and south.
8. A six-sided star-shaped like a star on the eave of the main building makes the main entrance even more attractive.
9. The height of this tomb is 47 meters and the width is 300 feet.
10. A Persian bulbous dome is also built on this tomb. This dome is built on a 42.5 m high neck-shaped cylinder. On top of which 6 meters high brass Kirit Kalash is installed and on top of it is the moon, which is found in the tombs of the Timur dynasty.
11. The building consists of nine square rooms including the main central hall. In these, the remaining 8 two-floors chambers, enclosing the main chamber built in the middle, open in the middle.
12. This garden mausoleum is surrounded by walls on all sides in which beautiful gardens, small water channels, fountains, footpaths, and other types of attractive things can be seen.
13. This tomb was completely different from the tomb of Humayun's father Babur in Kabul, the Bagh-e-Babur, built by the Mughals.
14. With the burial of Babur in the tomb, the tradition of burying the emperors in the tombs built in the garden started.
15. Later it was here that other members of the Mughal royal family were buried.
16. The place also houses the tombs of Hamida Begum (Akbar's mother), Dara Shikoh (Shah Jahan's son), and Bahadur Shah Zafar II (the last Mughal ruler).
17. This tomb is maintained by the Archaeological Department of India.
18. The depiction of Indian tradition and the Parsi style of architecture is clearly visible in this tomb.