Photos

Humayun's Tomb, Delhi

humayun. the second mughal emporer was buried in this tomb, which was the first great example of the mughal garden tomb. the taj mahal can be considered a direct disciple.

built in 1565 by persian architect Mirak Mirza Ghiyas, it was commissioned by Humayun's senior widow, Haji Begum.

The tomb and its compounds are a study in both landscaping and symmetry, with the four sided tomb sitting prettily in the middle of a huge charbagh, or a square garden bisected into 4 squares by two principal medians. a network of waterways spread through the garden, while the tomb itself sits on high plinth.

the tomb does not appear as impressive in photographs as it is in real life. it is a colossal strcture, with detailing second to none. while the taj mahal is far more detailed and intricate, it retains a distinctively feminine flavour. humayun's tomb, on the other hand, is every bit as masculine, with decoration in the choice of colour, the proportions, the ornamentation.

in a twist of fate, humayun himself was born when his mother fell down a flight of stairs. he died when he tripped and fell down another. 'he tumbled into life, and tumbled out of it'. but he did leave behind the foundations for the mughal empire, and an able heir, who later on became famous as the mughal empire's most admired leader, Akbar.

today, the tomb is one of the star attractions of the city and was featured as a pitstop in the amazing race (Season 13).