Humayun's Tomb

During the 1560s, Humayun's tomb was constructed under the patronage of his son, Akbar. A garden tomb that was far grander than any before in the Islamic world, the tomb was built by Persian and Indian craftsmen. There are pools connected by channels in Humayun's garden-tomb, which is a four-quadrant charbagh (a garden representing the four rivers of the Quranic paradise). On the eastern and northern walls, pavilions are located in the center of lofty gates on the south and west.

On all four sides of the mausoleum, there are deep vaulted cells with two bays each. Four of its long sides are irregular octagons with chamfered edges. Among the domes of the central chhatris are glazed ceramic tiles embelished with domes adorned with glazed ceramic tiles. A double dome stands 42.5 m high and is flanked by pillared kiosks (chhatris). Large arched vaults are set into the facade on each side, with a series of smaller ones set in the middle.

In order to immortalize her husband, Emperor Humayun’s first wife Begum Bega aka Haji Begum built this fine mausoleum near the River Yamuna. Despite the Emperor’s passing in 1556, the construction of the monument did not begin until 1565. It took seven years for the tomb and Charbagh Garden to be completed in 1572. It's not surprising that Begum Bega bore the entire construction cost of the memorial, which came to 1.5 million rupees.

The tomb of Humayun has suffered much neglect and degradation over the centuries. When the colonial rulers took over Delhi in 1860, the Charbagh Garden was overlaid with an English-style garden. The beautiful gardens surrounding the monument were replaced by vegetable gardens. As a result of Lord Curzon's order, the tomb complex was restored with its original gardens in the early 20th century. Humayun's Tomb was also an influential part of India's modern history when it was divided in 1947. Along with the Purana Qila, it was a refugee camp for those migrating to Pakistan during that time. The camps were held here for almost five years, causing significant damage to the buildings and gardens. Once again, it was restored to its original glory by the Archaeological Survey of India.

As a result, the Begum selected a Persian architect, Mirak Mirza Ghiyas, to design the grand tomb complex. Incorporating elements of Indian and Persian styles into Mughal architecture, the tomb is 154 feet high and 299 feet wide. The huge tomb is largely made up of red sandstone, whereas the double-layered dome is made of white marble. With 124 small vaulted chambers within its walls, the mausoleum was designed as a dynastic mausoleum.

A quadrilateral Persian-style garden surrounds the tomb complex and has paved pathways, water channels, bath chambers, and pavilions. There are two entrance gates, one south and one west of the walled tomb complex.

This mausoleum is situated in a large charbagh-style garden.

The Humayun's Garden Tomb is classified as a charbagh garden because it is divided by two intersecting streams of water. Catherine Asher explains the meaning of charbagh gardens.

Each garden plot is further subdivided by narrow waterways upon entering any gate, which leads to the centrally located tomb and its charbagh setting. The formal and geometrically planned garden settings became standard for all of the imperial Mughal mausoleums as well as those of many nobles. These settings were based on the charbagh types cultivated in Iran and further developed in Babur's conception of the ideal garden. A long time ago, charbagh gardens were associated with a paradisiacal image, but Humayun's tomb exemplifies the association more clearly, as water channels appear to disappear beneath the mausoleum and then to reappear on the other side along the same straight course. This recalls a Qur'anic passage that describes rivers flowing beneath paradise gardens.

• Tomb and mosque of Isla Khan : As soon as you enter from the west, several monuments line the path leading up to the main tomb. There is a remarkable octagonal tomb flanked by an octagonal garden. This predates the main Humayun's Tomb by about 20 years. It is the tomb of an Afghan noble, Isa Khan Niyazi from Sher Shah Suri's court. It has a mosque built in red sandstone adjacent to the tomb of all members of Isa Khan’s family. This mosque was built during the reign of Sher Shah Suri's son, Islam Shah Suri. A number of the architectural details of this tomb were used by the Mughal Emperors on a much larger scale by the Mughal Emperors.
• Nila Gumbad : This blue-glazed tile building stands just outside the complex boundary. It was constructed by Miyan Fahim, the favorite servant of Mughal Emperor Akbar. There is an octagonal exterior to this tomb, and an interesting square interior whose walls are plastered with paintings.
• Chillah Nizamuddin Auliya : Delhi's patron saint, Nizamuddin Auliya, lived in this structure at the northeast end of the main mausoleum during the Tughlaq period.
• Barber’s Tomb : This tomb was built in 1590-91 CE by a royal barber in Humayun's court and is enclosed by the Charbagh. Nai ka Gumbad, which was built in 1590-91 CE, lies at the southeast end of the complex. Nai ka Gumbad is the only tomb remaining in the main tomb complex. Therefore, it is possible to conclude that the barber in question found favor with the Mughal Emperor.

Timings :

• Humayun Tomb is open every day from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Humayun Tomb opens around 8:00 in the morning.
• Around 6.00 p.m., the Humayun Tomb closes.
• The tomb remains open for tourists throughout the week.

Entry Fees :

• For Indians and For visitors from BIMSTEC and SAARC nations,, it is 35 per person
• Foreign tourists are charged 550 per person
• Up to 15-year-olds can enter for free.

Best time to visit Humayun's Tomb is between october to march.

• Lodhi Gardens (3.2 km) : After India won its independence from the British, Lodhi Garden was renamed from "Lady Willingdon Park." It is a favourite among both visitors and residents due to the juxtaposition between the sombre mausoleums and the lush greenery of the gardens. Along with being a place of architecture, it has developed into a centre for local residents' morning and evening workout routines.
• Purana Qila (3.5 km) : The Old Fort, also known as Purana Qila, is one of the oldest forts in Delhi and stands stoically in the serene area of Indraprastha. It is a marvel of the former splendour and fine architecture of the bygone Mughal Empire. The massive fortress is ringed by a moat that is presently used for boating and has three entrances. If you want to find some peace and quiet in the summer, the lush green lawns kindly gifted with various shade trees are a sanctuary.
• National Handicrafts and Handlooms Museum : The National Handicrafts Museum, sometimes referred to as the Crafts Museum, is a place to display various examples of local handicrafts, textiles, and décor as well as to conserve, maintain, and restore the history of local handicrafts. The renowned Lota Cafe, which serves the greatest regional Indian food, draws a lot of visitors. You may purchase little trinkets to bring home from The Crafts Museum Shop.
• India Gate (3.8 km) : The All India War Memorial, sometimes referred to as the India Gate, is situated along the Rajpath in New Delhi. India Gate's massive building is awe-inspiring and frequently contrasted with the French Arch de Triomphe, the Mumbai Gateway of India, and the Roman Arch of Constantine. The Republic Day Parade is annually held at India Gate, another attraction.
• National Zoological Park (4 km) : The National Zoological Park, commonly known as Chidiya Ghar, is a popular weekend destination for both adults and kids in Delhi and is located close to The Old Fort. The National Zoological Park is well-kept and regularly frequented by tourists. It includes tourist canteens inside and reasonably priced battery-operated cars that you could use if you became too tired. The best part of discovering a new area is doing it on foot.
• Safdarjung Tomb (6.1 km) : One of the final examples of Mughal architecture, the tomb constructed by Safdarjung's son Shuja-ud-Daula, represents the end of the dynasty. But Safdarjung's Tomb effectively portrays the cultural and historical significance of the Mughal wonders. A madrasa and a library are located at the entrance of the garden mausoleum, which was constructed in a similar style as Humayun ka Maqbara 
• Rashtrapati Bhavan (6.2 km) : An authorised visitor may enter the Rashtrapati Bhavan grounds at particular times throughout the day. The grounds are separated into three loops. The main building and central lawn are the first, where you can see the architecture in person. The second circuit includes the complex of the Rashtrapati Bhawan Museum, which comprises a number of structures inside its own boundaries. The magnificent Mughal Gardens, a wonderland of beautiful gardens and rich vegetation, are part of the third circuit. For a wonderful introduction to all that is beautiful and inspirational, visit the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
• Jantar Mantar (6.6 km) : The massive observatory known as Jantar Mantar, which is situated in New Delhi's Parliament Street neighbourhood in the south Connaught Circle, was created to aid and advance the field of time and space sciences. It is one of five observatories of its kind that are spread across Jaipur, Ujjain, Varanasi, and Mathura. Maharaja Jai Singh constructed it in the year 1724.
• Dilli Haat (7.6 km) : Dilli Haat, which was created to evoke the atmosphere of a typical village fair, is a shoppers' and foodies' dream come true. Pitampura, Janakpuri, and INA are the three Dilli Haats in the city, with INA being the most well-known. In South Delhi's business district, directly across from the INA Market, is where you'll find Dilli Haat INA. The market is operated by Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC) and has a wide variety of traditional handicrafts and crafts, such as rosewood and sandalwood carvings, decorated camel leather footwear, elegant fabric and drapery, jewels, beads, brassware, metal crafts, silk and wool textiles, copperware, chandeliers, cane and jute items, etc.
• Birla Temple (7.7 km) : Laxminarayan is the subject of the Birla Mandir, sometimes called the Birla Temple or the Laxminarayan Temple. It is called the Birla temple because it is situated in Connaught Place in New Delhi and was constructed by the Birla dynasty. The temple, which is one of Delhi's most well-known religious destinations and is celebrated for Diwali and Janmashtami, draws visitors from all over the world.
• Lotus Temple (8.5 km) : The nation's capital, New Delhi, is home to the Lotus Temple, a building devoted to the Baha'i faith. This magnificent structure, which is one of the most well-known tourist destinations in the world, develops into the shape of an amazing white lotus flower. There are seven Baha'i Houses of Worship scattered all around the globe, and one of them is the Lotus Temple.
• Red Fort (9.3 km) : The Red Fort, formerly known as Quila-e-Mubarak or the Blessed Fort, is located alongside the banks of the Yamuna River, whose waters supplied the moats that surrounded the fort. It was a section of Shahjahanabad, a city from the middle ages that is now commonly referred to as "Old Delhi". The complete fort complex is seen to embody the Mughal era's architectural genius and innovation.
• Chandni Chowk (9.4 km) : Old Delhi's main road, Chandni Chowk, is home to one of the city's oldest markets. It is a bustling wholesale market with hawkers and porters on either side, giving visitors a true sense of a medieval bazaar. It is a significant historical location recognised for the accessibility of all kinds of commodities and cuisine. Everything a customer may imagine buying for their home as well as themselves is available at the market. Given that this market sells goods in bulk, most products are available at steep discounts. These shopping areas are a retailer's paradise.

• By Metro : Nearest metro station to Humayun’s Tomb: The nearest metro station to Humayun's Tomb is JLN Stadium on the Purple Line, located only 2 kilometres away. If it is a fair day, you can hail a taxi or walk, and the nearest metro station is Jorbagh on the Yellow Line, about 5 kilometres from Humayun’s Tomb. You can get there in 15 minutes by hailing a radio taxi or autorickshaw.
• By Road : Nearest Bus Stand to Humayun’s Tomb: It is possible to take bus number 447 (Bhalswa JJ Colony - Nehru Place Terminal) or bus number 966B (Nizamuddin Railway Station - Sultanpuri Terminal) to Humayun's Tomb, which stops at strategic points throughout the city. The Humayun's Tomb is located approximately five minutes' walk from Delhi Public School, which is served by both buses. There are several other options, including bus number 19 (E Block Jahangirpuri - Nizamuddin Railway Station), bus number 77 (New Delhi Metro Station - Chittaranjan Park), bus number 166 (BH Block Shalimar Bagh - Nizamuddin Railway Station), bus number 181 (Nizamuddin Railway Station - Jahangirpuri E Block). It is about 900 metres from Humayun's Tomb that all these buses stop at the Nizamuddin Police Station.
• By Rail : The nearest railroad station to the Humayun's Tomb is Nizamuddin Railway Station, which is located around 2.2 kilometres away. For transportation to the monument, there are several auto-rickshaws accessible at the station. Important trains from all around India arrive at Hazrat Nizamuddin station, such as the Secunderabad Hazrat Nizamuddin Duronto Express (12285), which leaves Secunderabad at 1:10 pm and arrives in Nizamuddin at 10:35 am. In 7:35 p.m., Punjab Mail (12137) leaves from the Chatrapati Sahu Maharaj Terminal in Kolhapur and arrives at Hazrat Nizamuddin at 8:51 p.m. the next day. At 7:00 am, the DLI AGC Passenger train (51902) departs from Old Delhi and arrives at Hazrat Nizamuddin at 7:36 am. There are various trains with different destinations depending on the place you're travelling from.
• By Air : The Indira Gandhi International Airport is the closest airport to Humayun's Tomb and offers both domestic and international service to Delhi. The distance to Humayun's Tomb is roughly 25 kilometres. You can reach the monument in around 50 minutes via taxi from the airport. British Airways, Air India, Jet Airways, and Virgin Atlantic all offer direct flights from the UK to New Delhi. Emirates, Air Canada etc. are a few additional well-known airlines that fly into the capital city of India. Budget travellers frequently name IndiGo, SpiceJet, etc are among domestic carriers.