Humayun's Tomb, Delhi

 

This tomb, built in 1570, is of particular cultural significance as it was the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent. It inspired several major architectural innovations, culminating in the construction of the Taj Mahal.The Humayun's Tomb is a protected monument under the ownership of Archaeological Survey of India. It is the first significant example of the Mughal architecture with high arches and double dome, which occurs for the first time in India. Humayun, the eldest son of Babur, succeeded his father and became the second emperor of the Mughal Empire. He ruled India for nearly a decade but was ousted by Sher Shah Suri, the Afghan ruler. 
Bega Begum also known as Haji Begum, the Persian wife of Humayun, handled the construction of a tomb for husband. Humayun's Tomb was the first building to be constructed during the reign of Akbar. The tomb was built from 1562-1572 AD in Delhi. It was constructed with the help of a Persian architect, Mirak Mirza Ghiyuath. The Humayun's Tomb clearly exhibits the influence of Persian art. The site chosen for the building was on the bank of the Yamuna River adjoining the shrine of the Sufi saint of Chisti silsilah, Nizamuddin Auliya. 

The Humayun's Tomb was a landmark in establishing some of the essential norms for later Mughal burial chambers in India. It is set in the middle of a geometrically arranged garden. 

Humayun's Tomb was the first garden tomb made in India. The garden is divided into 36 squares by a grid of water channels and paths. The laying down of the gardens in the Persian style was introduced by Babur and continued till the period of Shah Jahan. 

The entry to the Humayun's Tomb is through a long linear track. The tomb is octagonal in shape and placed over a platform with arches, under which there are numerous graves of lesser known people and can be ascribed to various nobles and workers of Humayun's period. 

Three arches dominate each side, the central one being the highest. The central room contains the monument of the emperor Humayun and his queen Bega begum. 

The structure is built mainly with red sandstone along with use of white and black marble. The marble is used largely in the borders. The dome is made of white marble. 

The enclosure is entered through two double-storied gateways, one on the west and the other on the south. The baradari or the pavilion occupies the center of the eastern wall and the hamam or the bath chamber the center of northern wall. 

The mausoleum also known for several of the eminent Mughal personalities buried here. Among others, there are graves of Hamida Begum, Akbar's mother; Dara Shikoh, Shah Jahan's son and Bahadur Shah II, the last Mughal Emperor. 

It is also the first finest example of the garden-tomb, which culminated in the Taj Mahal at Agra. The design of the Taj Mahal is inspired from the Humayun's Tomb. The Humayun's Tomb is in the UNESCO's list of World Heritage