Humayun's Tomb

The Humayun's Tomb in Delhi, India, is the tomb of Muhammad Nasiruddin Humayun (1508-1556), the second ruler of the Mughal emperor Babur after the Empire of India. He reigned 1530-1540 and 1555-1556.

Originally the mausoleum was close to the river Yamuna, which, however, changed its course at a later time.

Its construction in 1562 ( according to other sources 1564) at the direction of Haji Begum ( Hamida Banu Begum also ), Humayun's widow and mother of Akbar ( 1542-1605 ) started the construction period extended over eight years. The building owner kept a watchful eye on the work and even suggested place to set up camp. Architects of the building should Sayyed Muhammad ibn Mirak Ghiyathuddin and his father Mirak Ghiyathuddin have been, who came from Herat in Afghanistan.

Later, the area served as a refuge for the last ruler of India, Bahadur Shah II (1775-1862), the British took the prisoner in 1857 at this location.

Architecture

Materials

In contrast to the later mausoleums of the Mughal period, with its core of brick, the Humayun's Tomb from roughly hewn quarry stone, which were rarely found along the muddy - sandy banks of the River Yamuna, and therefore removed from Abrissbauten or from is far away had to be brought. After completion of the main edifice, the walls were covered with sheets of different colored sandstone or - simply plastered and painted in color - for cost reasons at later or less important buildings or components. Marble is found only in the lining of the main dome and the white Flechtbandintarsien who move throughout the main building.

Torbau

By projecting side wings of the very prestigious gatehouse of Humayun's mausoleum is different from all other gatehouses of Mughal tombs of India. The side - stack application - niches, the large central arch ( iwan ) and the small, attached pavilions ( chhatris ), however, are elements that will find themselves well to later gatehouses. The entire building is covered with slabs of red and yellowish - beige sandstone from Rajasthan.

The architectural decoration is limited to two six-pointed stars with plastic protruding rosettes in the spandrels of the arch and narrow - the spandrels enclosing - belts with incrustations of white marble.

Grave monument

Exterior

Grounds of about seven meters high - by a variety of arcade arches with surrounding plaits optically loosened - Deck the central tomb with high arches Ivan is above the axis cross. The seated on a drum, bulbous and small Chhatris Ground surrounded outer dome at the time was in the Persian homeland of the architect rather uncommon, but can be found in prior and contemporaneous buildings of Central Asia. A ball bar ( Jamur ) increases the dome in the center. The central main building is of four smaller - surrounded annex buildings - beveled on the corners and also provided with pavilions. The visible structure is made of red and beige sandstone from Rajasthan; only the lining of the main dome and some wall applications are made of white marble. The domes of the smaller lateral Chhatris are covered with gray slate, a material that is also reflected in the decor of the spandrels of the entrance portals. White, unreliefierte and merged to large jewelry boxes marble slabs play an important role in the overall picture.

Interiors

The over two floors open octagonal central room is bathed by the Jali windows in diffuse light. He is an exclusive standing the decorated on a small, but with intricate geometric Steininkrustationen (stars and octagons ) of white and black marble platform cenotaph of Humayun (the actual tomb of the ruler is located below ground level ). The Raumoktogon with galleries and Jali - windows is transformed via squinches with easy Muqarnasdekor in the dome circle; the low-rise inner dome itself is - completely without decor romantic - as with many Indian tombs.

The in the later Mughal tombs ( Akbar 's Tomb, Itmad -ud- Daula 's mausoleum, Taj Mahal, Bibi -Ka- Maqbara ) conventional stucco with floral murals or even stone inlays are missing the grave monument Humayun - apart from the small cenotaph platform - completely. Only the large wall niches and - galleries with their Jali windows and the different colors of sandstone facings provide architectural and optical dispersals.

In the two-storey side annex rooms there are more than 150 grave times of family members and distant descendents of the ruler. Thus, the Humayun's Tomb - more than the later buildings of the Mughal period - are referred to as grave lay the dynasty.

Garden

The mausoleum stands amidst a marked narrow water channels and thus referring to the Garden of Eden described in the Koran, geometrically landscaped park in the Char Bagh style - the first of its kind in India. As with later Mughal tombs of the covered flagstone paths to the central tomb are increased relative to the ground level of the park, mainly during the monsoon season offers great advantages and also keeps animals; at the same time they are but - in order to safeguard the hierarchy - lower than the lower platform of the grave construction.

Importance

The first - still built without minarets framing - Mughal grave of India due to its size and its elegant architecture in the Persian style of the most magnificent historical buildings in Delhi and all over the subcontinent. Its imposing architecture, the still relatively compact tombs of the Lodi dynasty far behind and points forward to the Akbar 's Mausoleum in Sikandra and the Taj Mahal in Agra.

Since 1993, the building complex is recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. In 2003, restoration work has been completed, financially supported by the Aga Khan Cultural Trust, which enabled that more water can flow in the channels of the garden.

Gallery

Side view of Humayun's mausoleum