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5. Humayun’s Tomb

The Humayun’s Tomb in Delhi is the first garden-tomb of the Indian Subcontinent. It was Mirak Mirza Ghiyas, a Persian architect from Afghanistan who designed this tomb. The tomb is located close to the Purana Qila or Old Fort in the Nizamuddin East area of Delhi. It was also the first large sandstone structure of the country. In 1993, UNESCO declared this tomb as a World Heritage Site.

When I visited this tomb, I was told that the construction of this tomb heralded a big leap in Mughal architecture. Its Char Bagh gardens are said to have been typically designed like the Persian Gardens.

It was Babur, the father of Humayun, who started the custom of burying the deceased in paradise gardens.

The Islamic architecture used in the Humayun’s Tomb is an amalgam of Central Asian, Persian and Rajasthani architectural styles.

I was spell-bound by the beauty of the corbel brackets, the pendentive decorations, kiosks or chhatris, elegant balconies, etc. of this tomb that depict the rich legacy of Mughal architecture. Especially, the combination of the red-colored sandstone and the white marble adds to the splendor of the architectural style used in the tomb.

Simply put, those who visit this tomb will certainly cherish the memories of their visit.

Image Credits: Deepak Gupta