Humayun's mausoleum in Delhi's capital city is a remarkable example of Mughal architecture. It is a tomb for Humayun, the Mughal Emperor. The tomb, which was built in 1570, is culturally significant since it was the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent. Its exceptional beauty is supposed to have inspired numerous key architectural advancements, culminating in the creation of the Taj Mahal. In many respects, this stunning red and white sandstone structure rivals Agra's famous'monument to love.' This ancient monument was built at a cost of around 1.5 million by Humayun's queen Hamida Banu Begam (Haji Begam). She is thought to have designed the tomb.
Humayun's tomb is a complicated structure in Nizamuddin East, New Delhi. During the era of the Slave Dynasty, this region was part of the KiloKheri Fort, which served as Sultan Kequbad Nasiruddin's capital (1268-1287 AD). It includes the main tomb of Emperor Humayun as well as countless lesser tombs.
Humayun's Tomb History
Humayun, Babur's eldest son, succeeded his father and became the Mughal Empire's second emperor. He governed India for about a decade until being deposed by Afghan monarch Sher Shah Suri. Humayun sought sanctuary in the court of the Safavid monarch, Shah of Persia, who assisted in the reconquest of Delhi in 1555 AD. Unfortunately, he was unable to govern for long and died suddenly after falling down the steps of the Sher Mandal library. Humayun's mausoleum was begun in 1562 on the directions of Humayun's widow, Hamida Banu Begum. Sayyed Muhammad ibn Mirak Ghiyathuddin and his father Mirak Ghiyathuddin were supposedly brought in from Herat to design the structure. This Tomb took 8 years to build and included the region's first Charbagh.
Architecture of Humayun's Tomb
Humayun's Tomb established some of the basic standards for later Mughal mausoleums in India. The tomb is comparable to Timur and Bibi Khanam's mausoleums in Samarkand. It is situated in the centre of a geometrically designed landscape. In Islam, heaven, or jannat, is described as a location in the centre of a garden with water running through it. The garden is known as the Charbagh because it is separated into four sections.
Humayun's Mausoleum was India's first garden tomb. A grid of water channels and walks divides the landscape into 36 squares. The square garden is enclosed by a high rubble wall and is divided into four big squares separated by causeways and canals, each square divided again by walkways to form a charbagh. The Persian-style garden layout was created by Babur and maintained until the reign of Shah Jahan.
The construction is mostly made of red sandstone, with white and black marble used to break up the monotony. The marble is mostly utilised in the borders. The dome is constructed of white marble. The Humayun's tomb was the first Indian structure to use the Persian notion of a double dome. The enclosure is accessed by two prominent double-story entrances, one on the west and one on the south. The southern portal is still closed today. The pavilion, or baradari, is located in the middle of the eastern wall, while the hamam, or bath chamber, is located in the centre of the northern wall.
A square garden surrounded by high rubble walls is split into four huge squares separated by causeways and water canals. Pathways separate each square into smaller squares, making a traditional Mughal garden known as Charbagh. The fountains were created using basic yet highly developed technical abilities that were popular in India at the time. During the first War of Independence in 1857, the final Mughal emperor, Bahadur Shah II, sought sanctuary in this mausoleum. Several Mughal dynasties' kings are buried here. Humayun's wife is also buried here.
There are also the tombs of Akbar's mother, Dara Shikoh, Shah Jahan's son, and Bahadur Shah II, the final Mughal Emperor. The Archaeological Survey of India owns the Humayun's Tomb, which is a protected site. It is the earliest important example of Mughal architecture with towering arches and a double dome to be found in India. It is also the first and greatest example of the garden-tomb, which culminated in Agra with the Taj Mahal. The Taj Mahal's design was influenced by Humayun's Tomb. The Tomb of Humayun is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Humayun's Tomb repair project was funded by the Aga Khan Trust. Water has been flowing from the fountains and water canals as it has done since 2003. It has been preserved in its former splendour.
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