Humayun’s tomb is one of the most visited indian world heritage sites in New Delhi. In this tomb rests the great Mughal Emperor Humayun (son of Babur the founder of Mughal empire in India). The tomb, located in Nizamuddin East Delhi, was made by his wife Hamida Banu Begum in the year 1562 AD. The work for the tomb began in the year 1565, approx nine years after his demise, and was completed in the year 1572 AD. The tomb cost the exchequer 15 lakh rupees (1.5 million) at the time. Humayun’s Tomb in Delhi also hold the last remains of Humayun’s wife Hamida Begum, Dara Shikoh, son of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, and several other subsequent Mughals, including Emperor Jahandar Shah, Farrukhsiyar, Rafi Ul-Darjat, Rafi Ud-Daulat and Alamgir II.The tomb has fifty-six cells, and it hosts over 100 gravestones.
This world heritage site was designed by a well known Persian architect Mirak Mirza Ghiyath and therefore the tomb reflects a concoct of mughal and persian architecture. The tomb also reflects elements of Indian architectural, like the inclusion of small canopies surrounding the central dome. Unfortunately Mirak Mirza Ghiyath died before the structure could be completed, and therefore his son Sayyed Muhammad ibn Mirak Ghiyathuddin completed the tombs design.The Humayun’s tomb when build was the first garden-tomb on the Indian soil, the gardens of the tomb also called as the Charbagh (Four-square) gardens, spread over 13 hectares! Another first on this tomb, was the large scale usage of red sandstone on the tomb structure. The monument was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the year 1993. The Humayun’s tomb in Delhi also known as the humayun ka maqbara consists of main tomb enclosure as well as numerous other smaller monuments. Some of which predate, by almost 20 years, the main tomb itself. The world heritage site of India is surrounded by high walls on three sides, the fourth side was meant for the river Yamuna, which has quietly shifted its course away from the structure. The Humayun tomb is open to visitors from sunrise to sunset or you can also say that Humayun tomb timings is from 6 am to 6 pm. The tomb is open on all days.
Humayun tomb information:
Location: Opp. Dargah Nizamuddin, Mathura Road, New Delhi
Nearest Metro Station: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (JLN Stadium) on violet line. Jor Bagh on yellow line
Days to Visit: Daily
Timings: Sunrise to Sunset
Entry Fee: Rs. 30 for Indians and Rs. 500 for all foreigners
Photography Charges: Nil, but Rs. 25 is charged for videography