Humayun Tomb

This tomb, built in 1570, is of particular cultural significance as it was the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent. It inspired several major architectural innovations, culminating in the construction of the Taj Mahal. The first Mughal Emperor, Babur, was succeeded by his son, Humayun, who ruled in India for a decade but was overthrown. Eventually he took refuge with the Safavid shah of Persia, who helped him regain Delhi in 1555, the year before his death. Humayun's Persian wife, Hamida Begum, supervised the construction from 1562-1572 of her husband's tomb in Delhi.

The Tomb
The tomb sits at the center of a plinth, about 21feet (7m) high. The top of its central dome reaches 140 feet from the ground. The dome is double-layered; the outer layer supports the white marble exterior facing, while the inner one defines the cavernous interior volume. The rest of the tomb is clad in red sandstone, with white marble ornamentation. In Humayun's tomb, each of the main chambers has in turn eight more, smaller chambers radiating from it.

Persian Architecture
Humayun's tomb was built by an architect named Mirak Mirza Ghiyuath, who was a Persian. The tomb established some of the important norms for later Mughal mausolea. It is set in a geometrically arranged garden cris-crossed by numerous water channels and probably representing symbolically a paradise setting. Humayun's tomb is the first Indian building to use the Persian double dome; it is noteworthy for its harmonious proportions. The building is also noteworthy for its inlaid tile work, carving embodying both Indian and Persian decorative elements, and its carved stone screens.