Humayun Tomb Delhi was built in 1565 A.D., posthumously, in the memory of Humayun by his widow Hemida Banu Begum. Also known as Tomb of the Perfect Man or 'Insan-i-Kamil', which now stands as a UNESCO Heritage site, was once used as a refugee camp for the war affected populace and travelers during the British rule.
The main gateway of Humayun's tomb ushers a person in front of a large square enclosure which is the tomb of the Humayun situated at the center standing on a beautiful marble pedestal. One of the most notable creations that one can witness in the premises of Humayun's Tomb is Arab Serai. Arab Serai was designed especially to accommodate more than 200 Arabs who were brought by Hemida Banu Begum herself from Mecca as refugees.
A prominent feature of any Mughal design is the perfect harmony between the bliss of the nature and man-made contours. Humayun's Tomb is no exception when it comes to the tryst between nature and man. Within the walls of this monument, garden squares (chaharbagh) surround the entire structure. Paved with pathways for water channels and exquisite flora sprawling around the lush green area, the garden serves as an ideal place for people looking for serenity in the confinements of the otherwise "always on the toe" city of Delhi.
History
Humayun died in 1556 AD following a fall from stairs. He was laid to rest at his palace at Purana Quilla in Delhi. Following his death, Delhi was attacked by Hemu, the Hindu general and Chief Minister of Adil Shah Suri of Suri Dynasty. To preserve the sanctity of their Emperor’s remains, the retreating Mughal army exhumed Humayun’s remains and took them to be reburied at Kalanaur in Punjab.
Following her husband’s death, the grieving queen Bega Begum set out for Mecca to undertake the Hajj pilgrimage and vowed to build a magnificent mausoleum in his memory. She employed the services of a Persian architect, Mirak Mirza Ghiyas, hailing from Herat region of Afghanistan and having an impressive repertoire. Bega Begum not only commissioned and paid for the construction of the tomb, but supervised its construction as well.
The grandeur of this spectacular edifice gradually diminished due to lack of maintenance as funds dwindled in the royal treasury of the declining Mughal Empire. In 1880, after the establishment of the British rule in Delhi, the surrounding garden was redesigned to accommodate an English style garden. However, it was restored to the original style in a major restoration project between 1903 and 1909.
It was built in the 16th century by Haji Begum, Humayun's first wife, and the Empress consort. Following Humayun’s untimely death his grieving wife Haji Begum set out to Mecca to undertake a Hajj pilgrimage. She vowed to build a magnificent mausoleum in the memory of her husband. The construction work started in 1565, nine years after Humayun's death, and completed in 1572. Haji Begum not only commissioned the tomb but also paid for the construction and supervised the construction.
Architecture of Humayun Tomb:
Humayun Tomb is built primarily of red sandstone, a perfectly symmetrical structure with white marble domes. Humayun Tomb architecture is a perfect amalgamation of Persian and Indo-Islamic architectural style. The tomb is built near the shrine of Sufi Saint Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya as Mughals considered it auspicious to be buried near a saint's grave.
The tomb was designed by the reputed Persian architect Mirak Mirza Ghiyas who died before the completion of the work and it was continued by his son Sayyid Mohammed Ibn Mirak. This was the first structure built in India to incorporate the double dome style of architecture. Three sides of the tomb complex are enclosed by walls and the River Yamuna flows on the fourth side.
Humayun's Tomb stands on a 7 meter high stone platform in the center of a beautiful lush green garden. The central dome towers to a height of 140 feet. The memorial of Emperor Humayun has an octagonal chamber on the upper floor whereas the mortal remains are in the basement. There are other chambers in the tomb which houses other members of the royal family including Haji Begum, Hamida Banu Begum, Isa Khan, Dara Shikoh and Bahadur Shah Zafar.
The garden surrounding the tomb has the tomb of the Emperor's favorite barber. There are nearly 150 tombs of Mughal’s family members in Humayun’s Tomb complex and it is also referred to as the Mughal's dormitory. Marble lattice works, Pieta Dura style floor, arches in laid with red sandstone and white marble, and attics add to the beauty of this tomb.
The garden around the Humayun’s Tomb is based on the Char Bagh style with pools connected by water channels. The complex houses many buildings like Nila Gumbad or blue dome, Arab Sarai, Bu Halima’s tomb, bardaari (pavilion) and Hamam (bath chamber). The Arab Sarai was built to accommodate 200 Arab craftsmen brought from Mecca to build Humayun's tomb.
