Humayun's Tomb

Humayun was the second Mughal emperor. He was also possibly the unluckiest one. He lost his kingdom to Sher Shah - or at least I think it was Sher Shah. It could have been Ibrahim Lodhi. But he lost it, at any rate. And when he regained it, he lived just long enough to fall down the stairs of his library in the Old Fort - aka the Purana Quila - while rushing to prayers, and die. Fortunately Akbar managed to rule extremely well, thus ensuring that Humayun's wife had the time to build a magnificent monument to this ill-starred ruler. And make no mistake, this is a magnificent monument.

It's a listed UNESCO heritage site, and it's well worth a trip if you're in Delhi.

This is what is know as a 'tomb complex', so it's not just Humayun's tomb, but a few others that are here as well. This board details Isa Khan's tomb. He was one of Sher Shah's generals. Oh, the irony!

The tombs do undergo restoration ever so often, as the scaffolding in this picture suggests. However, this didn't diminish anything in so far as exploring the complex goes.

As always with tombs, there are mosques as well. Although these are now unused. The doorways and cupolas are well preserved and restored. You can almost envision the grandeur that the structure would have had in days long past.

The gardens of the tombs have walls with beautiful arched spaces. Yes, posing in an arch is highly recommended.

If you're patient, there will be moments with next to nobody, or nobody in the background, and you can get some pretty impressive pictures. A large portion of this complex is constructed from the famed red sandstone.

Including these odd corner arched spaces. I'm not sure what purpose they serve, but do take a moment to admire the delicate tracery of the pillars. It's lasted through centuries!

Undoubtedly, of course, the crowning glory of all of this is Humayun's tomb. If the beautiful structure seems very familiar, do note that Humayun's grandson, Shah Jahan, took inspiration from this monument when he built his famous mausoleum to his wife, the Taj Mahal.

People are allowed onto the structure itself, and the view in all directions is one of greenery and blue skies. You really wouldn't believe that you're in the middle of a bustling city. Try to get there a little early, as Delhi does get hot in the afternoons. Even though this was late Feb, early March, we did find it quite hot to wander around the tomb in the afternoon. There aren't any tall trees in the immediate vicinity, so aside from the many archways, shade is a limited commodity.

There's a very real reason why so many of the pictures are taken in archways!

To get there, you need to go to the Nizamuddin East station. It's a few minutes away. Given that this is a Muslim mausoleum, I'd advise you not to wear shorts and a tank top. More so if you want to go into the disused mosques. 

I can't remember there being any specified opening and closing hours for this place. If I recall correctly, we were told 'sunrise to sunset' which is very vague. I would assume it means between eight or nine in the morning and five in the evening in the summer. And around ten am to four pm in the winter. I also have no clue as to how you get to the Nizammudin East station. Whether it's the metro or the actual railway, I don't know. We had taken a cab. 

In case you do want to visit, this is the official site. Happy history hunting!

Till next time,

MumbaiGirl.

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