India Day 7 - Humayun's Tomb

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23 Mar 08

Leaving Mc'donalds, I found some auto rickshaw drivers and tried to get them to take me to Humayun's Tomb for 20 Rs (USD 0.50) as it was really nearby (< 2km). To my dismay they said that it was Sunday and the tomb will not be opened -- something I found strange as it was not stated on the tourist map that the tomb was closed on Sunday. Then they asked if I would like to go shopping instead. This was when I realised the scum was lying through his teeth. Pissed, I walked off and immediately managed to flag an auto rickshaw to the tomb for 20 Rs.

In two blinks of both eyes, Here I was standing right in front of another UNESCO World Heritage site in New Delhi -- Humayun's Tomb. Humayun was the second Mughal Emperor that ruled most of modern Pakistan, Afghanistan, and parts of northern India. While the Taj Mahal was built by the Emperor Shah Jahan for his favourite wife, Humayun's tomb was built by his wife out of grief for him. In fact Humayun's Tomb's architectural style is so similar to Taj Mahal, that the latter's style was probably lifted from the former.

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Satellite view of Humayun's Tomb Complex. The surrounding gardens are huge and well maintained. Note Isa Khan's tomb.


Here I am at the main entrance. Entry costs 250 Rs (USD 6.25)


Before heading up towards Humayun's Tomb, a side gate opens into Isa Khan's Tomb compound


Isa Khan Niyazi was an Afgan noble man in the court of Sher Shah Suri, who was of Turkic origin and whose empire fought the Mughals


An archway into the tomb


Part of the inside


Some stairs lead to the second floor


One of the little pavilions on the second floor


The underside of one of these pavilions


It looks like this tomb used to be adorned with many colours


Arches surrounding the tomb chamber


A three door Mosque in the same compound


While walking towards Humayun's Tomb, I was again distracted by a side gate -- The Arab Serai gate


Small wooden door in the large gate


Beyond the Arab Serai Gate is this enclosure that housed the Persian craftsmen that worked on Humayun's Tomb


Main entrance to the massive Humayun's Tomb Compound -- The west gateway that is 16 metres high


It is said the Mughals liked to use this six sided star as an ornament as it is a symbol of the cosmos. I find it much like the Star of David.


Humayun's Tomb, the waterways and fountains have been restored


Humayun's Tomb is a square and each side is exactly the same. So I walked to the best side for a photo with least tourists.


Don't they look very similar? I personally find Humayun's Tomb more impressive from afar due to the red, yellow and white colours.


A 45 degree view from a corner of the tomb


Stairs leading up to the main chamber


Close panorama of the main chamber after ascending the stairs


Arches in arches


Six sided stars everywhere.


Closer look at the top corner


Patterned windows


A mix of red sandstone and white marble


Every arch has a patterned window


Ceiling of chamber


The symbolic tomb. The real body is below ground


According to a sign it is said that, "Folklore refers to this as the Barber's Tomb". I have no idea who it belongs to.


Looking up, I noticed the temple that I think is dedicated to the 10th Sikh Guru was just next door.



In this building, a water pump is housed that brings water to all the elaborate waterways and fountains of the gardens

I spent most of my time here finding the best angles to take photos. The entire complex is huge and it took me about almost 2 hours to fully appreciate it. Resting in the shade in the surrounding gardens, I decided to visit one last place before going back to my hotel to get my luggage and heading to the airport. This was Purana Qila (old fort) where Emperor Humayun ruled from and also, where it is said he fell to his death at a library within.

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