TOMB OF HUMAYUN

by Architecture & Travelling on 12:51 AM in Architecture

INTRODUCTION

Humayun's Tomb is now one of the best-preserved Mughal monuments in Delhi. The tomb design is attributed to Sayyid Muhammad and his father, Mirak Sayyid Ghiyath - Persian architects . The tomb is situated south of the Old Foart , on the eastern edge of Delhi. It is set in the center of a garden in the classical Mughal char bagh pattern.

One of the earliest constructions of the Mughal era is Humayun's Tomb, a large complex, with a garden divided into quadrants (char bagh) and the mausoleum in the middle. Humayun designed it as a garden for the public and after his death, his senior Queen, Haji Begum, built his tomb there. It took 9 years to complete. The tomb is in the centre of a 10-hectare plot.

The garden is divided into four parts by two bisecting water channels with paved walkways. which terminate at two gates - a main one in the southern wall, and a smaller one in the western wall.

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 .

Built with red sandstone and marble, it has a dome and became the prototype for Mughal mausoleums. In true Persian style, there is an iwan in the centre of each side. The shape of the mausoleum is square, a sign of the influence of Jain architecture on the Mughals. Also called a cenotaph, the actual tomb is in a basement under a chamber. This concept was brought down from central Asia by Mughals, who are Mongol descendants.

Humayun's Tomb. Similar to the Taj Mahal in purpose, however as mentioned earlier this tomb was built by the wife for her husband, the king. It inspired several major architectural innovations, culminating in the construction of the Taj Mahal. Notice the people standing in the center of the picture at the base of the tomb.