Humayun's Tomb in south Delhi is one of Delhi's three UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The tomb, constructed with white marble and red sandstone, was built by Humayun's widow, Hamida Banu Begum in 1570. It is of particular cultural significance as it was the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent and inspired several major architectural innovations, culminating in the construction of the Taj Mahal.
The tomb and its surroundings
The tomb is in large, immaculately maintained and recently renovated 30-acre gardens designed in the Persian Char Bagh (four corners) style. Apart from housing the graves of Humayun and his wife, Humayun's tomb also entombs a number of other Mughal personalities. The entire tomb and the garden are enclosed by high rubble walls on three sides. The fourth side was meant to be the river Yamuna, which has since shifted course away from the structure. Towards the south-east corner, within the char bagh garden, lies a mysterious tomb known as Nai-ka-Gumbad, or Barber's Tomb (c.1590). Its presence and prominence within the royal enclosure is unusual if the remains are indeed of a person who was a royal barber!

