The Jewel of Mughal Architecture - Humayun's Tomb

The Jewel of Mughal Architecture - Humayun's Tomb, By Mohsin Javed
Humayun's Tomb is the first of the grand dynastic mausoleums that were to become synonyms of Mughal architecture with the architectural style reaching its zenith 80 years later at the later Taj Mahal. Humayun’s Tomb stands within a complex of 27.04 hectares.

Details of geometrical sandstone & marble pietra dura inlay patterns over the entrance iwan and the chhatris, small minarets that surround the white, By Mohsin Javed
The tomb was built by Humayun's first wife and chief consort, Empress Bega Begum in 1569-70, and designed by Mirak Mirza Ghiyas and his son, Sayyid Muhammad, Persian architects chosen by her.

The first garden tomb - Humayun's Tomb, By Mohsin Javed
It was the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent also the first structure to use red sandstone at such a scale.

A perspective and symmetric view of Humayun's Tomb, By Mohsin Javed
The mausoleum itself stands on a high, wide terraced platform with two bay deep vaulted cells on all four sides. It has an irregular octagon plan with four long sides and chamfered edges. It is surmounted by a 42.5 m high double dome clad with marble flanked by pillared kiosks (chhatris) and the domes of the central chhatris are adorned with glazed ceramic tiles. The middle of each side is deeply recessed by large arched vaults with a series of smaller ones set into the facade.

Architecture details of Humayun's Tomb, By Mohsin Javed

Roof ceiling of Humayun's Tomb, By Mohsin Javed
The interior is a large octagonal chamber with vaulted roof compartments interconnected by galleries or corridors. This octagonal plan is repeated on the second story. The structure is of dressed stone clad in red sandstone with white and black inlaid marble borders.

Jali Work at Humayun's Tomb, By Mohsin Javed

Inside view of dome at entrance chamber, By Mohsin Javed
The tomb was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993.

The black beauty - Humayun's Tomb, By Mohsin Javed
The restoration of the Mughal Emperor Humayun’s 16th century garden tomb, the jewel of Mughal architecture that predates the Taj Mahal, was completed by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) in September of 2013.

Humayun Tomb finial (The finial is 24 foot long, with a little of it going inside the dome), By Mohsin Javed

Grave of a great Mughal Emperor- Humayun, By Mohsin Javed
Humayun’s garden-tomb is also called the ‘dormitory of the Mughals’ as in the cells are buried over 150 Mughal family members.

A perspective and symmetric view of Humayun's Tomb, By Mohsin Javed

Fountain at the centre of the Charbagh, surrounding Humayun's Tomb, By Mohsin Javed
The tomb stands in an extremely significant archaeological setting, centered at the Shrine of the 14th century Sufi Saint, Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya. Since it is considered auspicious to be buried near a saint’s grave, seven centuries of tomb building has led to the area becoming the densest ensemble of medieval Islamic buildings in India.