Travel Guide to Humayun’s Tomb, New Delhi

The glorious Humayun’s tomb, in New delhi, is known to be the first significant display of Mughal architecture in India.

Built after Humayun’s death, by Humayun’s wife Bega Begam, the Humayun’s tomb gained popularity for being the first garden tomb in the country.

Built completely out of red sandstone, UNESCO included The Tomb in the list of World Heritage Site in the year 1993.

Location: Opp. Dargah, Nizamuddin, Mathura Road, New Delhi

Built by: Bega Begam

Built in: 1565 A.D

How to Reach: Local transports including taxis or buses are easily available to reach Humayun’s Tomb within the capital city. The nearest metro station to Humayun’s Tomb is Pragati Maidan station which is at a distance of 5 km. The distance between Delhi Airport and Humayun’s tomb is 19 km and it is only 1 km away from Nizamuddin railway station.

Best time to visit: Due to the scorching heat of New Delhi in summers, winters are the best season to visit the Red Fort.

Entry Fee: Rupees 10 for Indians and Rupees 250 for foreigners

Timings: Everyday Sunrise to sunset

Introduction

The Humayun's Tomb is a glorious example of the architectural superiority of Mughal Empire and holds the testimony for their skilled craftsmanship. Included in the list of every itinerary to Delhi, the Tomb is a must visit monument. The mausoleum, built by Humayun’s Widow Bega Begam, has a complex structure, but retains her grandeur and charm amongst the thousands of tourists, that visit the Humayun's Tomb, from all over the world.

The classical touch of Islamic architecture is visible amongst the geometric patterns, high arches, round domes and lattice stone windows in the tomb. The structure of Humayun’s Tomb is quite similar to that of the famous Taj Mahal.

Being one of the most stunning monuments in Delhi, the tomb was recognized as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Surrounded by vibrant Mughal gardens and pathways separating them in to four parts and numerous fountains, till today, The Tomb remains as one of the leading attractions of Delhi, luring tourists from all over the world.

History

After Humayun’s death in 1556, Bega Begum or Haji Begum, Humayun's first wife, was extremely upset and she decided to dedicate her whole life for the construction of a grand mausoleum in the Empire, to commemorate and remember her late husband. After coming back from Mecca where she went for Hajj Pilgrimage, Begum ordered the construction of Humayun’s Tomb.

For the purpose, a Persian architect namely Mirak Mirza Ghiyas was invited from Heart. But, as tragedy would have it, the architect died before completing the project. Then, the construction was looked after by Ghiyas’ son, Sayyed Muhammad ibn Mirak Ghiyathuddin who finished the construction in 1972.

After a while, The Mughal Empire started to decline which led to the destruction of Mughal architectural site as well. The popular Charbagh (Four-square) gardens were completely destroyed by British after the last Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar was captured during The Revolt of 1857. The Mughal Gardens in the tomb were changed to English style gardens by 1860. The true Mughal style of gardens was restored in 20th century, by Viceroy Lord Curzon during the restoration project in 1903–1909.

In August 1947, when India and Pakistan divided, large population of Muslims found refuge in Humayun's Tomb. A lot of damage was done to the tomb during this time. Later, the gardens and the buildings in the tomb were reconstructed by The Archeological Survey of India (ASI), who decided to preserve India’s Heritage Sites. In 1993, when the monument was include in UNESCO’s World Heritage Site list, ASI with aids from Aga Khan Trust began a rigorous restoration project of the tomb which was finished by 2003.

Major Attractions

There are numerous attractions inside the magnificent Humayun's Tomb and therefore only it is a truly grand structure. There are beautiful bath chambers (hammam) and pavilions (baradari) inside the tomb, which is completely made of red sandstone except the dome, which is built with shining white marble. Tourists can also witness the octagonal chambers that comprises of the tomb of Humayun. Besides Humayun’s tomb, the tourist can also view the graves of various Mughal princes including Dara Shikoh (Shah Jahan's son), Bahadur Shah Zafar (Last Mughal Emperor) and Hamida Begum (Akbar's mother).

Some Fascinating Facts on Humayun’s Tomb

•  The inspiration of the monument was the tomb of Oljeytu, Persian Mongol ruler, located at Sultaniyya.

•  After fourteen years of Humayun’s death, the construction for the tomb was started. 

•   The architecture of the tomb was a Persian Architect namely Mirak Mirza Ghiyuath.

•   Located nearby the Humayun’s Tomb is the Old fort or Purana Qila. 

•   The location for the construction of the tomb was chosen to be the banks of Yamuna River, as it was closer to Nizamuddin Dargah, the mausoleum of Nizamuddin Auliya, the renowned Sufi saint.

•  Crowning the Humayun's Tomb is a sparkling white dome made out of shiny white marble, with a 42.5 m long spire on top of it. The monument is rising from a couple of huge platforms, on top of each other that are joined together by a flight of stairs.

•  The tomb is constructed in a peculiar fashion. With each step you take inside the tomb, the path start to ascend gradually and the height of the tomb keeps on increasing.

•   The majestic grave of Mughal Emperor Humayun is surrounded by adjoining rooms in which the tombs of a couple of Emperor Humayun’s wives or begums and tombs of other Mughal Emperors are kept.

•  For the construction of Humayun’s Tomb, approximately a wealth of Rupees 1.5 million was spent by the Mughal Empire. The whole project took a time period of approximately 8 years to be completed.

•  The idea for using the four –quartered gardens was given to Mughal architects by Humayun's Tomb.

•  The Persian double dome structure was first used in construction of Humayun’s Tomb.

•  The architecture of magnificent Taj Mahal, which is included in the list of Seven Wonders of the World, was inspired from the architecture of Humayun’s Tomb. The Tomb was inspiration for many other Mughal architectural innovations as well.

[Explore Delhi Tour Packages at IndianHoliday.com]

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Last updated on 17th September 2014 by Nikhil Chandra

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Taj Mahal, Agra: A World Heritage Site

A Travel Guide to Taj Mahal

It is said that with Taj Mahal, Mughal Architecture reached its zenith. A UNESCO inscribed World Heritage Site, Taj Mahal in Agra is a symmetrically flawless charbagh mausoleum constructed entirely using white marble. Taj Mahal was recently voted as one of the Seven Modern Wonders of the World.

The Taj Mahal is probably the most famous building in the world. Its picture has covered many magazines and travel brochures

The Taj Mahal is an elegant historical monument, located in the city of Agra, in the state of Uttar Pradesh, in India, which holds a capturing distinction from architecture of pre-Islamic India and Indo-Islamic style of architecture.

The dense marble walls, heavy lintels and corbelled arches sum up the Islamic culture’s formal themes. With elements from Persian, Indian and Islamic culture, The Taj Mahal is one of the finest works of Mughal architectures.

Location: Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India

Built by: Shah Jahan

Built in: 1632–1653

Highlights: Interior decorations, Exterior Decorations, Night viewing of Taj Mahal under moonlight, Beautiful Gardens, Grand outlying buildings, Tour of Fatehpur Sikri and Agra Fort.

How to Reach: Agra is well connected by roads to all the major cities in the country. It is connected to Jaipur by NH-11, to Delhi and Varanasi by NH-2 and to Gwalior by NH-3. Besides, the local airport at Agra, Kheria Airport is connected to Delhi International Airport. The distance from Kheria airport to Taj Mahal is 9 km. The city is well connected to almost whole of India through railway. The distance from Agra Cantt Railway Station to Taj Mahal is 7 km.

Best time to visit: Visiting Agra during summer takes a huge toll on tourists due to almost unbearable heat. Hence, the best time to visit Taj Mahal is between the months of October to March when the weather is comparatively cooler.

Entry Fee: 750 INR for Foreign tourist, 510 INR for Citizens of SAARC and BIMSTEC Countries and 20 INR for Domestic/Indian tourists.

Timings: Sunrise to Sunset (Friday Closed)

Introduction to Taj Mahal

Located in the city of Agra, in Uttar Pradesh, The Taj Mahal is one of the most beautiful mausoleums, constructed by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, in the memory of his late wife Mumtaz Mahal. Taj Mahal has been made purely out of white marble and the view of the structure, in the black night, under the shimmering moonlight is an unforgettable spectacle.

The construction of the gigantic structure started around 1632, under the supervision of imperial rulers such as Ustad Ahmad Lahauri, Makramat Khan and Abd ul-Karim Ma'mur Khan. By 1653, the Taj Mahal was built completely with the help of thousands of craftsmen and artisans. The Taj Mahal is a complex structure, though the most popular aspect of the monument is white domed marble mausoleum.

In 1983, Taj Mahal was recognized as a world Heritage Site by UNESCO and regarded as "the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage." It is regarded as one of the finest examples of the magnificence of Mughal architecture, and hence, every year, tourists from all over the world visit The Taj Mahal to witness the historical monument.

History of Taj Mahal

Under the leadership of Shah Jahan, The Mughal Empire was in her greatest period of prosperity. But in 1631, the Emperor, Shah Jahan suffered a major setback when his third wife Mumtaz Mahal died during a child birth. Shah Jahan announced the Construction of the Taj Mahal in memory of her beloved wife and the construction for the same began in 1632.

The traditional love story that inspired the construction of Taj Mahal has been illustrated in the court chronicles of Shah Jahan. The construction of the principal mausoleum took 16 years and was completed by 1648. Five years later, by 1653, the surroundings gardens and buildings were built and the construction was finished.

Aurangzeb overthrew Shah Jahan, immediately after the construction of Taj Mahal, and put him under house arrest. After the death of Shah Jahan, he was buried in the mausoleum next to Mumtaz Mahal, by Aurangzeb.

The 19th century saw the defacing of the magnificent structure, The Taj Mahal, by the British government officials and soldiers who carved out lapis lazuli and valuable stones from the walls.

By the end of the 19th century, a restoration project was initiated by British viceroy Lord Curzon. The project was completed in 1908 with the construction of huge lamp in the interior chambers and the remodeling of gardens into British style lawns.

Today, The Taj Mahal is recognized as one of the seven wonders in the world, and is one of the most popular tourist destinations all over the world.

Some Interesting Facts about Taj Mahal

• Approximately, 22,000 people took participation in building the structure including embroidery artists, laborers, stonecutters, painters and many others.

• Rumors suggest that Shah Jahan planned to construct another Taj Mahal in black marble on the other side. His plans were thwarted by the ongoing battles with Aurangzeb.

• It took approximately 17 years for the complete construction of Taj Mahal.

• Taj Mahal’s complete height is 561 feet (171 meter).

• During the construction of Taj Mahal, approximately 1,000 elephants were used for the purpose of transportation of the construction materials that were being used to build the structure.

• The British government officials and soldiers dug out many precious stones and lapis lazuli from the interior walls of Taj Mahal.

• The Taj Mahal is one amongst the World’s Wonders.

• Taj Mahal is one amongst the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

• The Taj Mahal holds a legend of eternal love of an Emperor for his beloved Queen.

• Taj Mahal looks identical from all four sides and hence creates an astounding mirrored image on each side. The symmetry of architectural elements and principle of self-replicating geometry have been used during construction.

• There are numerous gardens and buildings surrounding The Taj Mahal which constitutes 17 hectares of land within the complex walls.

• One of the most popular aspects of The Taj Mahal is her varying in coloring during a day. In the early morning, the Taj Mahal appears pinkish hue and turns to milky white during the evening and in the moonlight, it appears golden in color. According to people, the different colors depict the varying moods of female kind, particularly the Emperor’s Queen, Mumtaz Mahal.

For travel related queries and more images of Taj Mahal you may visit the website TajMahalAgra.Com 

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Qutub Minar: Attractions in Delhi

Qutub Minar: A UNESCO World Heritage Site in Delhi

This was taken from inside Mehrauli Archaeological Park on a beautiful sunny morning

One of the gems of Delhi, Qutub Minar is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site owing to its immense cultural value. I often travel to Qutub Minar and combine this trip with Mehrauli Archaeological Park which is close by. As a history buff, photographer and my personal interest in heritage and architecture, I am often drawn to this historical site.

Qutub Minar was built by using the material of 27 Jain Temples and thus was named as Quwwat Ul Islam (Might of Islam) after Ghauri defeated last Hindu ruler Prithviraj Chauhan in 2nd Battle of Panipat.

Even as you stand inside the mosque you may see the pillars with Hindu motifs used extensively. There's an Iron Pillar with Bramhi inscription too in the middle of the prayer courtyard which dates back to the Gupta Period and reign of Vikramaditya before the beginning of this millenia.

Qutub Minar Complex is built upon what was Lal Kot, first city of Delhi ruled first by Tomar Rajputs and later Prithviraj Chauhan. Qutub Din was left incharge of governance of Delhi as Ghouri went back to Afghanistan where he died eventually and Qutub din Aibak declared himself the first Sultan of Delhi ushering in the Mamluk or Slave Dynasty in India. Qutub Minar was also extended by Iltutumish after the death of Aibak and later extensively by Alaudin Khilji. 

The structures of note inside the Qutub Minar Complex include Qutub Minar, Quwwat ul Islam Mosque, Tomb of Imam Zamin, Madarsa and Tomb of Alaudin Aibar and exquisitely carved tomb of Iltutmish.

One of the structures which ever draw me here is the unfinished Alai Minar. Its foundation was laid by Alaudin Khilji and Alai Minar was supposed to be twice in size of Qutub Minar.

There are wash rooms for ladies and gentlemen inside the complex. You could also rent audio guide if you want to know the story of each of the structure inside the complex.

Unfinished Alai Minar is my Favorite Structure inside Qutub Minar Complex

One of the best days to visit this complex is on Mondays as only a few visitor come to this place. Ticket price is Rs. 50 for Indians and Rs 250 for foreigners for entrance in Complex and cloak room/locker facility for luggage and parking is available.

I'd also recommend you club it with trip to Mehrauli Archaeological Park which houses close to 70 monuments which include Rajon ki Baoli, Gandhak Ki Baoli, Jamali Kamali Mosque & Tomb and Balban's Tomb along with several of Metcalfe's Follies and Dilkusha (Quli Khan Ka Maqbara).

Tomb of Quli Khan inside Mehrauli Archaeological Park was converted later by Thomas Metcalfe as Dilkusa (Heart's Delight)

Author Bio: A post graduate in marketing from University of Mumbai, India, Nikhil Chandra seeks out travel inspiration with friends and often through solo wandering, exploring heritage and culture, meeting new people, tasting local cuisine and choosing homestays over hotels . His travel stories and articles have appeared in several travel magazines, online travel guides and travel blogs among others.

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South India: Incredible India Tours

South India is renowned all across the globe for its magnificent charm and various tourist attractions. The region is bounded by the Indian Ocean on the South, the Arabian Sea on the South-West and the Bay of Bengal on the South-East, which makes it unique from all other destinations in the world.

Kathakali Dancer: Kerala's most iconic symol and a cultural dance

Alappuzza, also known as Alleppey is a small town in Kerala. It was also described as the’ Venice of the East’ by Lord Curzon. It is renowned across the world for its picturesque backwaters and beaches.  Alappuzza beach offers magnificent views of the Arabian Sea and on the other hand, backwaters are the major source of tourist attraction in Alappuzza.

Backwaters and Kettuvallams in Alappuzza

Kochi, also known as ‘Gateway of Kerala’ is located on the West coast of India by the Arabian Sea. The 2^nd largest city of Kerala, Kochi features a tropical monsoon climate all the year round. This beautiful city has the spectacular Western Ghats on the East and the magnificent Arabian Sea on the West. One of the major attractions of Kochi is the Chinese Fishing Nets.

Chinese Fishing Nets in Kochi

Kovalam, also known as ‘Paradise of the South’ is renowned across the world for its beaches. The major sources of attractions are surfing, wooden boat ride and motor boat ride. This sleepy beach burst into international scene when hippies flocked to its pristine beaches in late 70s. There’s much to do in Kovalam apart from exploring and basking in glory of this sun and sand tropical paradise. Souvenir shopping is one of the major pastimes in Kovalam from the shops located at the beaches. The eponymous lighthouse located at the southern beach is the oldest lighthouse of Kerala.

A stunning view of the Kovalam Beach

Mahabalipuram is a small and beautiful town located in Kanchipuram district in Tamil Nadu. The town still has many magnificent and spectacular monuments, which were built between 7^th and 9^th centuries. The group of monuments at Mahabalipuram also happens to designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. The temples in Mahabalipuram were built in the era of Narasimhavarman, which showcase movement from rock cut style to structural building. The town also has two low hills, which is about 400 m above from the sea level on both sides. The larger one has 11 excavated temples, popularly known as Mandapas.

Nilgiri Mountain Railway, built by the British in 1908 operates its services in the state of Tamil Nadu. In 2005 the Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR) was declared as the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Southern Railway operates the NMR, which earns an annual income of Rs. 4 crores by NMR only.

Great Living Chola Temples include the temples, which are the Brihadeeswara Temple, the temple of Gangaikondacholisvaram and the Airavatesvara temple located in the South India. These temples were built at the time of Chola rule and the Brihadeeswara temple was declared as the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. On the other hand, the other two temples were declared as the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004.

Hampi is a small and beautiful village, which is situated on the banks of the Tungabhadra River, in the state of Karnataka. The Group of Monuments at Hampi is recognized as the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Vijayanagra festival, organized by the government annually in November is the major source of attraction.

Stone Chariot of Hampi after which the Golden Chariot, one of the luxury trains in India is named

Pattadakal is also a small village located in Karnataka, which lies on the banks of the Malaprabha River. It attracts tourists with the fascinating charm of its historic temples. It was also declared as the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. The various group of temples located at the village include Virupaksha temple, Sangameshvara, Mallikarjuna temple, Kashivisvanatha temple, etc.

There's much more to South India than this. If you need more information or details about destinations in South India, plese feel free to contact me.

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Taj Mahal: Things to do in India

“The sight of this mansion creates sorrowing sighs;
And the sun and the moon shed tears from their eyes.
In this world this edifice has been made;
To display thereby the creator's glory”

Shah Jahan, the Mughal Emperor on Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site is also voted one of the Modern Wonders of the World

Built to commemorate Mumtaj Mahal by his husband Shah Jehan, the emperor of India, Taj Mahal is one of the 7 Modern Wonders of the World. It took 21 years and 20,000 artisans from around the world to create this magnum opus of Mughal architecture and one of the greatest symbols of love. Taj Mahal is built entirely from white marble. This magnificent piece of art stands tall amidst verdant Mughal Gardens (Char Bagh) and cascading waterholes.

Taj Mahal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is acknowledged for its immaculate symmetry. Taj Mahal was built on a marble platform that stands upon a sandstone platform in turn. Taj Mahal is known for its carvings, fine inlay work incorporating semi-precious stone, calligraphy and lapidary work which appear almost alive especially the work done inside the structure.

Many a dignitaries including late Princess Diana have paid visit to this monument immortalizing love and Taj Mahal has moved writers and poets alike. A visit to Agra is unarguably incomplete without paying a visit to this “teardrop on the cheek of time”.

• Taj Mahal is inscribed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO

• Taj Mahal was built as a mausoleum of Mumtaj Mahal, wife of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. Mausoleum is a building that contains burial chambers (tombs) for the deceased

• Both Mumtaj Mahal and Shah Jahan are buries inside Taj Mahal

• Taj Mahal translates to Crown of the Palaces

• It took 20 years to build Taj Mahal

• Construction of Taj Mahal started in 1632 and it was finished around 1653

• The construction of Taj Mahal involved 22,000 laboureres and architects

• More than a thousand elebhants carried the construction material required for building Taj Mahal

• 50 wells were dug and filled with material as base to construct Taj Mahal to keep it from harm ways from water of river Yamuna

• Taj Mahal is custructed entirely of white marble

• The full height of the Taj Mahal is 171 metres (561 feet)

• Taj Mahal takes on different coloring at different times of the day, from a pinkish hue in the morning, milky white in the evening and golden at night when lit by the moon

• The complex is set around a large 300-metre (980 ft) square charbagh or Mughal garden

• Charbagh symbolizes the four flowing rivers of Jannat (an Urdu word meaning Paradise) and reflects the Paradise garden

• The Architect of Taj Mahal was Ustad Ahmad Lahauri

• Nearly 4 million tourist visit Taj Mahal every year

• Verses from Quran have been inscribed as decorative elements throughout the complex

• The calligraphy on Taj Mahal was created by a calligrapher named Abd ul-Haq

• Inlay work in the interiors of Taj Mahal is lapidary of precious and semiprecious gemstones

• Many precious stones and Lapis Lazuli (a semi-precious stone) were chiseled out from its walls by the British during the Indian rebellion of 1857

Open From: 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays except for Friday when the complex is open for prayers at the mosque between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. The complex is open for night viewing on the day of the full moon and two days before and after excluding Fridays and the month of Ramadan.

Entry Fee:
Citizens of India and visitors of SAARC (Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Maldives and Afghanistan) and BIMSTEC Countries (Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Myanmar) - Rs. 20 per head.

Fee for Foreign Travelers:
Rs. 250/- per head (ASI);
Rs. 500/- per head as Toll Tax (Agra Development Authority)
Rs. 500/- ticket of ADA is valid for the monuments of Agra Fort, Itimadi-ud-daula, Akbar’s Tomb, Sikandara and Fatehpur Sikri (Children up to 15 years free)

For more information about Taj Mahal Tours.

Updated by Nikhil Chandra

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