DELHI

Humayun’s Tomb
Humayun’s Tomb
For Husband, With Love!
The fifth Mughal emperor Shahjahan may be a hero
to every romantic for building the Taj Mahal in the
memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, but did you know
the inspiration came from his great grandmother Hamida
Banu Begum?
Wife of second Mughal emperor Humayun, she built the
Humayun’s Tomb in the loving memory of her late husband.
Some sources also credit the building to Humayun’s senior
widow, Bega Begum, also known as Haji Begum (because
she performed the Haj). Persian architect Mirak Mirza
Ghiyas ensured the final resting place befitted the status of
the deceased. And when Shahjahan started work on the Taj
Mahal, he came knocking on the doors of Humayun’s Tomb
for design ideas. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage
Site in 1993.
It was built in 1565, nine years after Humayun tumbled
down his library steps and died. The site was selected for its
proximity to the Nizamuddin Dargah, the mausoleum of the
Sufi saint Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya. The whole area was thus
believed to be blessed and, if one is buried here too, it was
seen as a shortcut to heaven. It also explains why you see so
many tombs in this area including the ones at Lodi Gardens.
The Mughals were much richer than the earlier rulers
of Delhi, and this is reflected in the use of higher quality
sandstone and marble. A lot of effort and money went in the
carved texts and inlay work on marble walls, as also the jaali
or trellis work in red sandstone. The dome is a full dome; it
is a full semicircle while all previous ones in Delhi were half
semicircles. The building also stands on a large platform,
giving it an even more imposing look.
Besides Humayun, his wife and some subsequent Mughal
royalty are buried here. All are unmarked, but one of these is
of Dara Shikoh, eldest son of Shahjahan, who was murdered
by his brother Aurangzeb to usurp the throne. Although he
now rests in peace (we hope!), Humayun’s reign was marked
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