Humayun's Tomb: A Mughal Masterpiece

Humayun's Tomb, located in Delhi, is a breathtaking testament to Mughal architecture and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Constructed in the 1560s, the tomb was commissioned by Humayun's son, Emperor Akbar, and designed by Persian architect Mirak Mirza Ghiyas. It stands as the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent, setting a precedent for future Mughal architectural endeavors, including the Taj Mahal. The tomb is built in the center of a square garden, divided into four main parterres by causeways (charbagh), with water channels running through the center. The high, rubble-built enclosure is entered through two lofty, double-storeyed gateways on the west and south. A baradari (pavilion) occupies the center of the eastern wall, and a hammam (bath chamber) is in the center of the northern wall. The mausoleum is made of red sandstone with white and black inlaid marble borders. The central octagonal chamber contains the cenotaph, encompassed by octagonal chambers at the diagonals and arched lobbies on the sides. Humayun's Tomb is also known as the 'dormitory of the Mughals' because it houses the graves of over 150 Mughal family members. The complex includes other contemporary 16th-century Mughal garden-tombs, such as Nila Gumbad, Isa Khan, Bu Halima, Afsarwala, and Barber's Tomb. The tomb is located near the shrine of the 14th-century Sufi Saint, Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya, making the area a dense ensemble of medieval Islamic buildings in India.