The First Garden Tomb of India

View: Windows behind which the graves lie

The tomb was completed in 1572 by Mughal emperor Humayun’s first wife, Empress Haji Begum. It houses the graves of both the emperor and his wife, and stands as a testament to their love.

Construction for Humayun’s Tomb began in 1565 and was finished in 1572. Designed by Persian architect Mirak Mirza Ghiyas, the mausoleum stands on a 7 metre-high platform, while the tomb is 47 metres in height and 91 metres in breadth.

The imposing building is one of three World Heritage monuments of Delhi.

As you enter the lush palm-lined lawns, you are welcomed by a beautiful fountain - a great backdrop for a cherished photograph.

The garden is divided into four main parts by walkways or flowing water, synonymous with the paradise garden mentioned in The Holy Quran. These are, in turn, separated by channels into 36 parts.

View: Entrance that has the viewing gallery

Visitors need to walk through massive gates to reach the monument. Right before the last and final entrance gate, a viewing gallery has been set up by the Archaeological Survey of India, displaying old pictures that reflect the monument’s grandeur.

The main structure is made of red sandstone, while the tomb is in white and black marble.

An attractive gate leads you to the central hall, which houses the tomb of Humayun. The hall is adorned with intricately carved windows and a beautifully designed ceiling.

View: Bu Halima's Tomb

The large platform is dotted with the tombs of Empress Haji Begum, Hamida Begum, Dara Shikoh and others. No other monument in India houses as many tombs as the Humayun Tomb Complex.

View: The barber's tomb

A couple of the more interesting nuggets about Humayun’s Tomb are that it houses the tomb of the emperor’s favourite barber, and that Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last Mughal emperor, used it as a refuge in 1857, before the British captured and exiled him.

The tomb of Isa Khan, a powerful nobleman in the Lodhi Era, is another highlight of the complex, and was built a couple of decades before Humayun’s Tomb. This octagonal structure is what visitors experience as they enter the World Heritage Site complex.

View: Isa Khan's mosque

Adjacent to the Humayun Tomb lies Isa Khan's tomb. This grand structure, constructed in the 16th century, has been built in Lodhi-era architecture and comprises of a huge central dome.

The tomb of Isa Khan is surrounded by a wide verandah. Each of the eight sides of the tomb consists of triple arched entrances. The walls are adorned with fresco work and the circular frescos on the ceiling are typically attractive.

View: Outside entrance that leads towards Humayun’s Tomb

This historic monument lies close to another popular attraction of Delhi, the Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah, a shrine built over the grave of the 14th century Sufi saint Nizamuddin Auliya.

Lying to the southwest of Humayun's Tomb, Afsarwala Mosque and Tomb was dedicated to the noblemen working in the court of Mughal emperor Akbar. There are various graves inside that bear the dates of the passing of the noblemen.

The structure that houses Humayun's Tomb is made of red sandstone while the tomb itself is made of white and black marble.

An attractive gate leads you to the central hall, which houses the tomb. The hall is adorned with intricately carved windows and a beautifully designed ceiling.

The large platform is dotted with the tombs of empress Haji Begum, Hamida Begum, Darah Shikoh and many more.

The well-maintained courtyard surrounding the structure that houses the main tomb of Humayun, is also the resting ground for the graves of important people from the Mughal empire, including close aides of emperor Humayun.