News: The immersive exhibition ‘Songlines: Tracking the Seven Sisters’ is on view at the Humayun’s Tomb Museum till March 1.
About Humayun’s Tomb
- It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for being the first distinct example of proper Mughal style, which was inspired by Persian architecture.
- Location: It is located in Delhi.
- Commissioned by: It was commissioned by Humayun’s widow Hamida Banu Begam (Haji Begam), after she commenced construction in 1569.
- Designed by: Mirak Mirza Ghiyath, a Persian architect employed by Haji Begam, designed the tomb.
- Architectural styles: It is a synthesis of Persian architecture and Indian traditions.
- Humayun’s garden-tomb is also called the ‘dormitory of the Mughals’ as in the cells are buried over 150 Mughal family members.
- Key Features
- Charbagh layout: The tomb stands in the centre of a square charbagh garden with causeways and water-channels.
- Material and finish: It uses red sandstone with marble borders and panels.
- Overall form: It rises on a high terrace and is surmounted by a 42.5 m high double dome, with chhatris around it.
- Interior plan: It has an octagonal central chamber containing the cenotaph, with other royal graves in surrounding chambers.
- Historical Significance: Although Sikandar Lodi’s tomb was the first garden-tomb in India, Humayun’s Tomb set a new vogue, later culminating in the Taj at Agra.
- UNESCO Status: It was declared a World Heritage Site in 1993.
