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One of the most spectacular Mughal buildings, Humayun's tomb was added to Unesco's World Heritage List in 1993. Built by Haji Begum, the widow of Humanyun, the second Mughal Emperor, the mausoleum is known to the precursor of world famous Taj Mahal. Built with a cost of one and a half million rupees, the monument heralded the construction of garden-tombs on the Indian subcontinent.

As soon as one enters the massive double-storeyed gateway, the majesty of the building becomes self-evident. High walls surrounds a square garden which is divided into four large squares separated by causeways and water channels.

Each square, in turn, is divided into smaller squares by pathways. This forms a typical Mughal garden known as charbagh. Highly developed engineering skills were employed in the working out of the fountains. Though made of red sandstone, black and yellow stone was used to give variation. Humanyun's Tomb came into the scene during the First War of Indian Independence in 1857. When the uprising failed, Bahadur Shah II, the last Mughal emperor, took refuge in the tomb, before he was sent to the Rangoon jail in Myanmar.

The tomb stands majestically at the center of the enclosure and rises from a platform faced with a series of cells with arched openings. The complex of Humayun's Tomb contains many small monuments. Chief among them are black-and-yellow marble tomb of Humayun's wife and the tomb of Humayun's barber. Referred to as Nai Ka Gumbad, the barber's tomb is an impressive square tomb with a double-dome

The mughals brought with them a love for gardens, fountains and water. The first mature example of Mughal architecture in India, Humayun's Tomb was built by the emperor's grieving widow, Haji Begum, in 1565 AD. Constructed with red sandstone and ornamented marks the beginning of a new tradition of ornate style which culminated in the Taj Mahal of Agra. Designed by the Persian architect, Mirza Ghyas, Humayun's Tomb shows a marked shift from the Persian tradition of using coloured tiles for ornamentation.

Located in the midst of a large square garden, screened by high walls, with gateways to the south and west, the tomb is a square tower surmounted by a magnificent marble dome. The dome stands 140 feet from the base of the terrace and is topped with a copper pinnacle. In addition to the remains of Humayun, the complex also houses the grave of many other distinguished members of the Mughal dynasty

Nikon D200
Nikkor AF-S 12-24mm f/4 G DX

Focal Length: 19mm
1/90 sec - F/11
Exposure Mode: Aperture Priority
White Balance: Auto Tone
Optimize Image: Custom
Color Mode: Mode III (Adobe RGB)
Long Exposure NR: Off
High ISO NR: Off
Comp.: Normal RAW (12-bit)
Metering Mode: Multi-Pattern
AF Mode: AF-Single
Hue Adjustment: +6°
Image Size: Large (3872 x 2592)
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Saturation: Enhanced
Color Exposure Comp.: 0 EV
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Sensitivity: ISO 200

2006/07/21 14:24:01.1
Image Comment: Panos Kazanelis ©2006 - India Adventure 2006