Humayun’s Tomb, A World Heritage Monument

Located in the eastern part of Delhi, Humayun’s Tomb is one of the best preserved Mughal monuments. This spellbinding mausoleum is the first example of Mughal architecture in India. This tomb was the inspiration of the more famous Taj Mahal in Agra. That was also the first that came to my mind when you see the mausoleum and the surrounding garden.

Architecture

From the point of view of the history of architecture this building is the unique connecting link between the Gur Emir, where Humayun’s ancestor Tamerlane is buried, and the mausoleum of his grandson Shah Jahan, i.e. Taj Mahal.

Visiting Humayun’s Tomb

I came here on my Delhi Day Tour early in the afternoon and I found myself stepping back into history. Coming out of the busy streets of Old Delhi and stepping into this wonderful parc surrounding the ancient old Tomb is simply amazing! The honking and sirens of the busy traffic just faded and it felt like I walked in a remote area full of nature and great ancient old buildings!

When you first enter the parc on your right is a great smaller tomb. It’s a round building which is also surrounded with a round wall. I walked on the round wall to get a nice view on the surroudings.  After I entered the tomb. It’s great to be able to walk everywhere you want. It wasn’t to busy and most people I saw where Indian.

Garden

Walking back to the mainroad and going on to the tomb you see a small gateway and after entering that you get to the big impressive gateway that provides you the entrance to the garden surrounding the mausoleum. From the 17th to the 19th centuries the garden was gradually filled with the tombs of Humayun’s descendants and his entourage. The garden, divided in four main parts by walkways or flowing water is created to resemble the paradise garden described in the Quran.

Mausoleum Facts

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.

Standing in front of that 7 metres high platform

Walking in the garden, standing on the ancient old platform of the mausoleum just gave me a special feeling. It is already here for so many decades, thousands of people were here before me, looked at the same mausoleum and loved it too. It maded me realise that I only have such a short time here and made me so happy to be able to see these magnificent places the world has to offer!

Standing on that first platform

Second and highest plaform, same level as mausoleum.

Everything, every wall, everywhere you look it is perfectly decorated and still shines with beauty.

Looking back over the garden to the entrance gateway

The wall that included the garden

Information

Price:      For non Indians(Foreigners) the price is R250, for an indian citizin it costs R10. Next to that you need to pay a fee to film; R25. Pictures should be free but if I recall correctly they let me pay the 25 for making pictures.

Visiting time: It is open daily from sunrise to sunset. I walked there for at least 2 or 3 hours. You see many people, mostly Indians, taking food and sitting in the parc, on the grass, enjoying the view and some food.

In the garden are several other tombs situated, so when you want to walk there it takes some extra time.

Left side of the mausoleum, you see a white tomb behind the trees.

On the right side also a tomb, a bit closer.

I loved walking the gardens. Just to get out of the busy city and enjoy some fresh air and this great view!! Wouldn’t you love that too?

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I hope you love this world as much as I do!!