Humayun’s Tomb

Completed in 1571, Humayun’s tomb was so much larger and more expensive than anything built in India before that it became not just a tomb but a symbol of Mughal power and might. And indeed, for many decades after the it was built the Mughal dynasty flourished under Humayun’s descendants – Akbar, Jahangir, Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb.

Confluence of Styles

The architecture is a confluence of more than one style, and yet it is so harmonic in its execution it seems like one fluid design. The architects brought in Persian elements and added it to the existing Indo-Islamic style that was a fusion of the Hindu and Afghani elements. It was built of Red Sandstone and White Marble which was a visual treat so different from the uniform grey of tombs before this. The crowning glory is its gleaming white dome that is one of the largest seen anywhere and was visible for miles in the past.

World Heritage Status

Humayun’s tomb had languished for the past few decades, until a fresh lease of life came to it in the form of UNESCO World Heritage Site status which has ensured it is one of the best maintained monuments in the country now. The massive tomb and gardens are a must-see for every visitor to Delhi.