Humayun's Tomb

The last refuge of Mughal Emperor Humayun reminds rather of a luxurious palace, than a tomb. Located in the eastern part of Dehli, India, Humayun’s tomb is one of the best preserved Mughal monuments.  This spellbinding mausoleum is the first example of Mughal architecture in India.After a century from its construction Humayun’s tomb inspired the construction of the more famous Taj Mahal.

Humayun’s tomb was built thanks to the initiative of his widow Hamida Banu Begum, who commenced the construction of a mausoleum for her deceased husband in 1565, nine years after his death. The construction was finished in 1572. Several Mughal emperors are even buried inside Humayun’s mausoleum.

The architecture of the tomb is strongly influenced by Persian architecture with the tomb constructed  in the center of a Persian-style garden in quadrilateral form. 

The mausoleum stands on a massive platform which has a height of up to 7 meters. The building is constructed from red sandstone, while the tomb itself is made of yellow and black marble. The two-storied mausoleum is crowned with white Persian style marble dome that seems weightless and imponderable. The height of Humayun's Tomb is 47 meters, and its breadth is 91 meters. The lower tier of this rectangular construction is decorated with graceful arches, which are located around the whole perimeter of the building.

The cenotaph of the ruler is located in the center of the upper tier in a large room decorated with several rows of arched windows.The central chamber is octagonal with corner-chambers which house the graves of other members of the royal family. The real grave of the emperor is on the basement floor.