Among the attractions of the Indian capital, a place of honor is occupied by the tomb of Humayun. Externally, this structure resembles the world famous Taj Mahal. Therefore, you can safely refuse to travel to Agra and enjoy the beautiful architectural lines in Delhi. Although it is better to see both.
A few common words
In the tourist guides in Delhi, the tomb of Humayun is always mentioned. This is a prominent architectural monument, in which lies the remains of the great Mughal emperor from the Timurid dynasty. For the deceased, his wife Hamida Banu Begum ordered the monastery to be built. The object was built for eight years - from 1562 to 1570, and the architect Mirak Giyathuddin and his son Said Muhammad supervised the work.
If you look at the mausoleum, it may seem that it looks like a middle link between the earlier construction of Gur Emir (tomb of Tamerlane) and the later - Taj Mahal. The Humayun Tomb, a photo of which can be found in our article, is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Therefore, she deserves a guest of the Indian capital to give her a little attention.
A bit of history
Today, the tomb of Humayun delights contemporaries with elegant lines, masterful decoration, luxurious decoration. This is the first mausoleum built in India and surrounded by a garden. By the way, many tombs of that time stand in the middle of an amazing park with artificial canals and fountains. This is due to the fact that in Islam it is believed that paradise is located in a large garden, divided by a river. So the rulers tried to create a little paradise on earth for their ashes.
Humayun himself was emperor twice, with a break of fifteen years. He first took the throne after the death of his father, the founder of the Mughal empire of Babur, and then regained the power taken by Sher Shah and his son. He began the second reign with the strengthening of the state, which fell apart. The son of Humayun Akbar the Great, born in exile, became the next monarch and went down in history as a wise reformer. The death of Humayun himself was premature: going down the marble stairs to the library, he got entangled in the floors of his dressing gown and fell, crashed to death. It is possible that detractors pushed him, but this version remains only a hypothesis without confirmation or refutation.
Architectural masterpiece
So what is the tomb of Humayun, about which there is so much talk around? A true masterpiece of the Mughal era, it rises to a height of 44 m. The building was erected from red brick and has the shape of an octagon on a wide pedestal. The top is crowned with a double marble dome of white and black with a crescent moon. Immediately striking stone lattices on the windows, skillfully carved by masters, graceful columns and arches. Wealth is fascinating, but a note of sadness is captured in it: after all, this is a grave, and their loved ones were sad for the people who rested here.
The tomb, in which not only Khumayun and his wives lie, but also many representatives of the Timurid house, is symmetrically surrounded by lush gardens. The sarcophagi of the ruler and his harem are located in the central hall of the second floor, others are resting on the ground floor in the rooms. Also on the territory of the complex there are several smaller tombs, which are inferior to the main mausoleum in beauty and grandeur.
Other useful information
We are sure that many travelers were interested in the tomb of Humayun. Where is she and how to get to her? This historic masterpiece is located in the eastern part of Delhi, which can easily be reached by train, bus or taxi. If the tourist prefers the bus, then it is worth choosing routes heading to New Delhi. These are numbers 19, 40, 109, 160, 166, the necessary stop is called “Darga Hazrat Nayzamaddin”. Further it is worth walking on foot quite a bit, and before the eyes stands the tomb of Humayun. How to get there - the reader already knows. Now we will talk about the visit itself.
You will have to pay about five dollars to enter the complex. Separately, you can order an audio guide for two dollars or take a tour guide (five dollars) to accompany you, which not only shows the most beautiful places, but also accompanies all this with interesting stories and legends.