Humayun's Tomb
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| Detailed Site Plan by ASI (Click here for more documents) |
Sketch map of the area around Humayun's Tomb
- Site Location and hierarchy- Nizamuddin East one of the parts of Ghyaspur has undergone several societal shifts from a main hub of Delhi in the times of Nizamuddin Auliya (13th-14th cent.) to a necropolis (14th-15th cent.) to a refugee camp (19th cent.) and now as a heritage site encapsulating the Humayun's Tomb- there are more than 100 graves, most of the Mughal family is buried here.
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| Sketch map of the area around Humayun's Tomb |
- Client- Hamida Banu Begam (Humayun's widow) commissioned the project in 1569, 13 years after his death.
- Architect- Sayyed Muhammad ibn Mirak Ghiyathuddin and his father Mirak Ghiyathuddin. It took 8 years to build.
- Site Analysis- The site area is 70 acres, measuring about 800 meters W-E and about 350 meters N-S. The platform area is 0.03 acres for the Humayun's tomb which is having a height of 47 meters.
- Ideology- The focus was on replenishing life on the daily basis by involving the heaven aspects. The ambiance was to fulfill needs of all the 5 senses.
- Concept- The planning of the tomb was a char bagh ("paradise garden") concept idealizing the life of a king, as said in Islam "कयामत के दिन क्या मुंह दिखाओगे अल्लाह को" meaning "How will you face the god on the day of judgment".
- Structural System- A double domed octagonal tomb was Framed structure (Trabeated).
- Facade- Built of rubble masonry, the structure is the earliest example of the use of red sandstone and white marble. They use Lime and stone as a mortar, which was replaced by lime and surkhi in the crevices during the renovation. Kashi work and Hindu features like lotus finial at the top of the dome and chattris was used a lot.
Sandstone Craftsmanship
Chemical Reactions
About Lime Mortar
Araish plaster (white colour) was used extensively in the complex which gives a very fine and smooth marble finish. It is made out of gram lentils, jaggery, and natural gum.
A Beautiful journey to Humayun's Tomb
Sabz Burj
Gol Gumbad, the 15th century Lodhi Dynasty tomb is located at the intersection of Lodhi Road and Lala Lajpat Rai Road. Sabz Burj ("green tiles"), the octagonal tomb is located at the junction of mathura raod and lodhi road to the west of Humayun's tomb.
Gol Gumabd
Mihrab in the west facing
Isa Khan's Mosque
Isa Khan Tomb, entrance facing North
(Dwarf Wall separating garden with the tomb premise)
Isa khan Tomb, was created by Isa Khan an Afgan grandie ("rich") of Sher Shah Suri darbar. Built in 1547, made a trabeated octagonal structure. The entire octagonal garden was divided into 4 parts which was more than 1 m deep. There was a tapering column in each corner supporting the eave and the roof. The roof is marked by a line of kangooras (battlement like ornamentation). The Dome stands on a 32 sided drum.
A face of Isa Khan tomb having 3 arches.
Isa Khan tomb
Isa Khan's Mosque
Jaali work
There was use of red, blue and white incised plaster work (colour by using natural dies). The layout of the bodies in the tomb was like head towards North and feet towards South. Plinth height for the verandah is 1m (5 risers). The stone lattice work is the main source of light in the tomb. Externally the mosque is built out of grey quartzite stone ornamented with red sandstone. The interior were simplistic.
Bu-Halima Gateway
Bu-Halima Tomb
Rear face of the gateway
Interior of Bu-Halima's tomb with many
alcoves and Aaliyah's (recesses)
Aligned in axis with western gate of Humayun's Tomb and Sabz Burj, the 16th century rectangular gateway stands on the Eastern side of the enclosure. The history behind the name "Bu-Halima" is not present and creates many theories but the grave is visible after reaching the top of this small scale rubble structure. The gateway was less ornamented facing the garden and equipped with medallion with tile work, tile work incised in plaster, and handmade red sandstone lattice screen as railing to the jharokha in the above arched entrance on the rear face.
Marble Tomb
Arab Ki Sarai gateway interiors
Pigeon holes on the walls for a
dynamic environmental
experience
This 14 meter high gateway led to the enclosure which was built for 300 Arab servants (worksmen skilled in Pietra Dura) who were behind the wonderous architecture of Humayun's Tomb. Afsarwala tomb as the name explains is a 1566, marble tomb inside a double dome tomb on the left of a mosque.
The tomb of Humayun
View of Humayun's tomb
Similar view as in Taj Mahal
WHAT!!
Jaali work process
About Nizamuddin
There is an exhibition Area in the left of this passage having site plan and information regarding its history, architecture, art and also the details behind the renovation performed by Aga Khan Foundation.
Water fountain
Close up view
graves lined up
Double dome
- Client- Hamida Banu Begam (Humayun's widow) commissioned the project in 1569, 13 years after his death.
- Architect- Sayyed Muhammad ibn Mirak Ghiyathuddin and his father Mirak Ghiyathuddin. It took 8 years to build.
- Site Analysis- The site area is 70 acres, measuring about 800 meters W-E and about 350 meters N-S. The platform area is 0.03 acres for the Humayun's tomb which is having a height of 47 meters.
- Ideology- The focus was on replenishing life on the daily basis by involving the heaven aspects. The ambiance was to fulfill needs of all the 5 senses.
- Concept- The planning of the tomb was a char bagh ("paradise garden") concept idealizing the life of a king, as said in Islam "कयामत के दिन क्या मुंह दिखाओगे अल्लाह को" meaning "How will you face the god on the day of judgment".
- Structural System- A double domed octagonal tomb was Framed structure (Trabeated).
- Facade- Built of rubble masonry, the structure is the earliest example of the use of red sandstone and white marble. They use Lime and stone as a mortar, which was replaced by lime and surkhi in the crevices during the renovation. Kashi work and Hindu features like lotus finial at the top of the dome and chattris was used a lot.
 |
| Sandstone Craftsmanship |
 |
| Chemical Reactions |
 |
| About Lime Mortar |
Araish plaster (white colour) was used extensively in the complex which gives a very fine and smooth marble finish. It is made out of gram lentils, jaggery, and natural gum.
A Beautiful journey to Humayun's Tomb
Gol Gumbad, the 15th century Lodhi Dynasty tomb is located at the intersection of Lodhi Road and Lala Lajpat Rai Road. Sabz Burj ("green tiles"), the octagonal tomb is located at the junction of mathura raod and lodhi road to the west of Humayun's tomb.
Isa khan Tomb, was created by Isa Khan an Afgan grandie ("rich") of Sher Shah Suri darbar. Built in 1547, made a trabeated octagonal structure. The entire octagonal garden was divided into 4 parts which was more than 1 m deep. There was a tapering column in each corner supporting the eave and the roof. The roof is marked by a line of kangooras (battlement like ornamentation). The Dome stands on a 32 sided drum.
There was use of red, blue and white incised plaster work (colour by using natural dies). The layout of the bodies in the tomb was like head towards North and feet towards South. Plinth height for the verandah is 1m (5 risers). The stone lattice work is the main source of light in the tomb. Externally the mosque is built out of grey quartzite stone ornamented with red sandstone. The interior were simplistic.
Aligned in axis with western gate of Humayun's Tomb and Sabz Burj, the 16th century rectangular gateway stands on the Eastern side of the enclosure. The history behind the name "Bu-Halima" is not present and creates many theories but the grave is visible after reaching the top of this small scale rubble structure. The gateway was less ornamented facing the garden and equipped with medallion with tile work, tile work incised in plaster, and handmade red sandstone lattice screen as railing to the jharokha in the above arched entrance on the rear face.
This 14 meter high gateway led to the enclosure which was built for 300 Arab servants (worksmen skilled in Pietra Dura) who were behind the wonderous architecture of Humayun's Tomb. Afsarwala tomb as the name explains is a 1566, marble tomb inside a double dome tomb on the left of a mosque.
A Beautiful journey to Humayun's Tomb
 |
| Sabz Burj |
 |
| Gol Gumabd |
 |
| Mihrab in the west facing Isa Khan's Mosque |
 |
| Isa Khan Tomb, entrance facing North (Dwarf Wall separating garden with the tomb premise) |
 |
| A face of Isa Khan tomb having 3 arches. |
 |
| Isa Khan tomb |
 |
| Isa Khan's Mosque |
 |
| Jaali work |
There was use of red, blue and white incised plaster work (colour by using natural dies). The layout of the bodies in the tomb was like head towards North and feet towards South. Plinth height for the verandah is 1m (5 risers). The stone lattice work is the main source of light in the tomb. Externally the mosque is built out of grey quartzite stone ornamented with red sandstone. The interior were simplistic.
 |
| Bu-Halima Gateway |
 |
| Bu-Halima Tomb |
 |
| Rear face of the gateway |
 |
| Interior of Bu-Halima's tomb with many alcoves and Aaliyah's (recesses) |
Aligned in axis with western gate of Humayun's Tomb and Sabz Burj, the 16th century rectangular gateway stands on the Eastern side of the enclosure. The history behind the name "Bu-Halima" is not present and creates many theories but the grave is visible after reaching the top of this small scale rubble structure. The gateway was less ornamented facing the garden and equipped with medallion with tile work, tile work incised in plaster, and handmade red sandstone lattice screen as railing to the jharokha in the above arched entrance on the rear face.
 |
| Marble Tomb |
 |
| Arab Ki Sarai gateway interiors |
 |
| Pigeon holes on the walls for a dynamic environmental experience |
This 14 meter high gateway led to the enclosure which was built for 300 Arab servants (worksmen skilled in Pietra Dura) who were behind the wonderous architecture of Humayun's Tomb. Afsarwala tomb as the name explains is a 1566, marble tomb inside a double dome tomb on the left of a mosque.
The tomb of Humayun
 |
| View of Humayun's tomb |
 |
| Similar view as in Taj Mahal WHAT!! |
 |
| Jaali work process |
 |
| About Nizamuddin |
There is an exhibition Area in the left of this passage having site plan and information regarding its history, architecture, art and also the details behind the renovation performed by Aga Khan Foundation.
 |
 |
| Water fountain |
 |
| Close up view |
 |
| graves lined up |
 |
 |
| Double dome |
Walks in these heritage sites are always very peaceful and knowledgeable somehow due to changes been made and deterioration in architecture tracing the originality is becoming harder.
ReplyDeleteHey. You have some great images here! Do you have more? I am working on a project, and I would love to see what you have, especially like the image you have of one of the sides(North?) of the West Gate. http://www.mughalarch.com ninagarman@outlook.com Thank you for posting this.
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