My World: Humayun's Tomb, Delhi

1 July 2014

Humayun's Tomb, Delhi

After Red Fort, we had to catch our HOHO bus. The Green route of HOHO service would start with India Gate, followed by NGMA. India Gate been visited the previous day and skipping NGMA, we reached Humayun's tomb, then after to start our day tour with HOHO.

I had heard a lot of the two main railway stations of Delhi, New Delhi and Nizamuddin and always thought Nizamuddin station was somewhere at a distance from Delhi city. Only to my surprise, when my rickshaw wala told me, Humayun's tomb was in Nizamuddin, quite near Nizamuddin station, which was just few minutes drive from Chandni Chowk.

With the main entrance to the west gate closed, we were asked to take the other entrance on the Bharat Scouts and Guides Marg. A few minutes walk left us to ticket counter.

Humayun's tomb

Humayun's tomb, is the tomb of Mughal Emperor Humayun, built by his first wife Bega Begum in 1569-70.

You enter the complex through Bu Halima's Garden. To the right is the Tomb and mosque of Isa Khan, thinking of visiting while returning back from the main tomb, we headed further. To the left is Bu Halima's tomb, though there is no much records on Bu Halima.

Bu Halima's Tomb

Next is the Bu Halima Gateway, which was under renovation, and said to be built in 16th century.

Bu Halima Gateway

Ahead is West Gate, which is presently the main entrance to the tomb. The gateway is 16mtr high with rooms on either side of the passage on the ground floor and courtyards on upper floor. The rooms on the ground floor have Archaeological counter with miniatures and photographs of the complex.

West Gate

A photograph of ariel view of the tomb at Archaeological counter

From the West Gate you enter the main complex and get to see the main tomb of Humayun. On either side of the path way is the lush green garden, called Char Bagh(four gardens) built in Persian style.
The tomb is said to be the first garden tomb in Indian subcontinent and first structure to use red stone at such a scale. Its said that it was Babur, Humayun's father who started the tradition of being buried in Paradise Gardens, which created a precedent for mughal architecture of royal mausolea, which reached its Zenith with Taj Mahal in Agra.

Humayun's tomb

The building was first to use its unique combination of red sandstone, white marble and several elements of Indian Architecture, like small canopies, or chhatris surrounding the central dome, popular in Rajasthani architecture.

Humayun's tomb

This main tomb also has the graves of Bega Begum, the lady who built the tomb, Hamida Begum and Dara Shikoh(son of Shahjahan), and other Mughal emperors.

West Gate with Char Bagh garden on either side, as seen from the tomb

There are many other tombs in the complex, Nai-ka-Gumbad(Barber's tomb) which is said to belong to one of the royal barbers, Afsharwala Tomb - of a nobleman in Akbar's court, Nila Gumbad - of Miyan Fahim, a servant. Arab ki Sarai is another small complex, said to be the restroom for the craftsmen who came from Arab for the construction of the complex. Sarai, which means restroom and so called Arab ki Sarai, restroom for Arab craftsmen.

Arab Ki Sarai Gateway

Of the other tomb's in the complex, Isa Khan's Tomb is one, which is said have been built even before the construction of the main Humayun's Tomb. Isa Khan was a Afghan nobel in Sher Shah Suri's court. It is a beautiful octagonal structure built in an octagonal garden with a mosque on one side, entire family of Isa Khan was buried in this complex.