The
second Mughal Emperor Humayun died in 1556, just a year after he
regained Delhi after being expelled for a decade. His Persian wife,
Hamida Begum, supervised the construction of his tomb from 1562-1572,
which was designed by the Persian architect, Mirak Mirza Ghiyuath.
Situated on the bank of River Yamuna adjoining the shrine of the famous
Sufi saint Nizam al-Din Awliya, this tomb is said to have been a
precedent of later Mughal mausolea. The geometrically arranged garden
criss-crossed by numerous water channels representing a paradise setting
were later introduced in the Red Fort in Delhi and at the Taj Mahal in
Agra. Persian architectural traits are evident in the building and its
main chamber is said to be inspired from the tomb of the Persian Mongol
ruler, Oljeytu, at Sultaniyya. The tomb of Timur (Tamerlane) in Samarkand is also said to be the source of inspiration for the Mughal architecture in India. Humayun's tomb is found in the list of UNESCO Heritage buildings and was the first Indian building to use the Persian double dome. Its harmonious proportions are undoubtedly the work of skilled craftsmen. Set upon a platform, it exhibits certain Indian architectural features too such as the small kiosks or 'chhatris' on the roof. The attractive inlaid tile work is carved intricately using Indian and Persian patterns and elements and its carved stone screens are praiseworthy for their delicate look.
