Humayun's Tomb in Delhi, built in 1561, was the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent and set an important precedent for Mughal architecture. It was commissioned by Humayun's wife Bega Begum to honor her late husband. The tomb stands on a raised platform and features a double dome structure made of red sandstone and white marble. It inspired several architectural innovations, including the Taj Mahal. The tomb and its surrounding gardens were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993 due to their historical and architectural significance.

1. HUMAYUN’STOMB
ART APPRECIATION
BY – ANKITA JAIN 1130100388

2. LOCATION MAP
MAP OF DELHI
HUMAYUN’S TOMB
The site was chosen on
the banks of Yamuna river,
due to its proximity
to Nizamuddin Dargah.
Not to scale

3. 1) The ‘original’ time of the building when it was built.
2) Colonial preservation efforts of the ASI under the
aegis of the British imperial powers
3) Its modern designation as a World Heritage Site.
1561
1857
1993
Humayun’s Tomb was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1993, and
extensive conservation work has been carried out since. This began with
restoration of the garden, restoration of pathways, repairing of water
channels, and even planting shrubs and other plants that were popular in the
time of the Mughals.
The location of the tomb in that particular site opens the discussion of
constructing political power through monuments. The tomb was located in
that particular site primarily due to two factors- 1) its proximity to the first
Mughal city built by Humayun in Delhi, and more importantly 2) its proximity
to the famous Auliya tomb so that it could draw upon the religious
significance of the buried person and establish an association with Humayun
and indirectly to Akbar, its patron.
TIMELINE

4. • Humayun's tomb is the tomb of
the Mughal Emperor Humayun in Delhi,
India built by Akbar.
• Designed by Mirak Mirza Ghiyas, a
Persian architect.
• The Tomb stands on a 120-square-metre
platform and reaches a height of 47
metres. Built of rubble masonry, the
structure is the earliest example of the use
of red sandstone and white marble in such
great quantities.
• The central walkways, terminate at two
gates. It has two double-storey entrances,
the West gate which used now, while the
South gate, which was used during Mughal
era. Aligned at the centre on the eastern
wall lies a baradari, literally a pavilion with
twelve doors, finally on the northern wall
lies a hammam, a bath chamber.
• On the south-east of Humayun's Tomb
there is a fine square tomb of 1590-91,
known as the Barber's Tomb.
INTRODUCTION

5. N
• In plan it is an irregular octagon with four long and four short sides.
• It is surmounted by a 42.5 m high double dome clad with marble flanked by
decorative pillared kiosks (chhatris).
• The middle of each side is deeply recessed by large arched vaults with a series of
smaller ones set into the face.
• The interior is a large octagonal chamber with vaulted roof compartments
interconnected by galleries or corridors. This octagonal plan is repeated on the
second storey.
Floor plan Section

6. Line The use of horizontal and vertical lines in the
elevation.
Shape The shape of the dome is bulbous.
The arches are pointed.
Colour Because of the use of red
sandstone and white marble the colour of
the entire structure is red and white.
Texture The combination of rough texture
of the sandstone and the soft texture of the
white marble.
ELEMENTS OF DESIGN

7. PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN
Pattern Geometrical patterns at the interior of the central
dome. The various jaali patterns because of which the
interiors are well lit. they act as latice screens from which
the sunshine enters the interiors.
Contrast Humayun's Tomb was built from
red sandstone and white marble and thus
exudes a stark contrast against the blue
sky.

8. Emphasis The dome of the Humayun's tomb
acts as a marker in the structure.
The emphasis is because of the white colour and
also because of the bulbous shape of the dome.
Balance The structure in all perspectives is a
balanced structure having a balanced plan,
elevations and a balanced view.
Rhythm / Movement The use of continuous
arches which direct the movement of the eye in
a straight line.

9. ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES
• The most striking visual feature of the tomb is its size and its garden
setting. In terms of both these features, the tomb established an
unprecedented example in Indian Islamic architecture.
Four central axial water courses define Char
Bagh Garden's quadrilateral layout
at Humayun's Tomb
INSPIRATION
Charbagh or Chahar Bagh (Persian:
chahār bāgh, "Four Bāghs") is
a Persian-style garden layout. The
quadrilateral garden is divided by
walkways or flowing water into four
smaller parts. In Persian, "Chār" means
'four' and "bāgh" means 'garden'.
• One of the eye-catching features of the
tomb is its raised plinth that is the
cause of its visibility on the city skyline
today. But historically its importance lay
in the 56 cells housed within that raised
plinth and that were used as the burial
place of almost 100 royal descendants
and relatives. Red box showing the plinth

10. • The built form of the building (especially the dome), though apparently derived
from existing Sultanate and Timurid examples, is distinct from either. It
attempts to fuse together the formal aspects of both these types. By doing so
he established a link as the successor to the glorious Timurid’s of Iran as well
as the Islamic empire in India.
Sultanate example Timurid examples
Dome of Humayun’s tomb

11. • The use of red sandstone with white marble is a reference to the previous
architecture of the Delhi Sultanate and places the building as a logical
continuation in the same tradition.
Delhi sultanate examples
White marble and red sandstone

12. • A very well chosen rich red gravel used for the
paths.
• A delightful fountain, water flowing in the stone-edged
channels and planting rising from below the walkway
to above the walkway, as it should.
• A chadar (water sheet) cascading into a
pool.
• Humayun's Tomb Garden has a symmetrical plan.
Because the word chahar bagh means 'four garden',
etymologically, it is tempting to think of this as a classical
example. But it now seems unlikely that the old Persian,
Timurid and Afgan gardens which inspired this pattern
were themselves symmetrical.
AESTHETICS
- These elements contribute to the visual treat at
Humayun's tomb.

13. SYMBOLISM
• The building can be considered a
memorial to the expansion and the
establishment of the vast Mughal
Empire in India, a symbol of a vision of
kingship and an affirmation of the
Mughal power and permanence in
India.
• It can also be considered as
embodiment of the secular principles
promoted by Akbar. In building such a
remarkable monument, Akbar (to
whom the patronage of the building is
attributed), provided the city of Delhi
with a visual and religious signifier.
THUS INSPIRED…
• It inspired several major architectural
innovations, culminating in the
construction of the Taj Mahal.

14. EXPRESSIONISM
Humayun was the second emperor of the Mughal empire.
Humayun’s tomb serve as a focus for memory of the king. Humayun was the
son and successor of Bābur, who had founded the Mughal dynasty, He ruled
from 1530 to 1540 and again from 1555 to 1556.
Humayun was fatally injured by falling down the staircase of his library.
When Humayun had died in 1556, Bega Begum was so grieved over her
husband's death that she dedicated her life thenceforth to a sole purpose: the
construction of the most magnificent mausoleum in the Empire, at a site near
the Yamuna River in Delhi for the memorial of the late Emperor.
Thus, the humayun’s tomb is an expression of love
of a wife towards her dead husband.
It is an expression of the dedication of a wife for
her husband.
Mughal emperor
Humayun

15. ORNAMENTATION
Beautiful ceiling with windows and
ornaments
Ornamental arches of humayun's tomb
Arab script around the small side door to
Humayun's Tomb
Jaali patterns

16. References –
• www.onlypilgrim.com
• http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-reports/1542660-fascinating-india-sq-f-773-
fairmont-jaipur-mh-j-a333-lcc-india-2.html
• http://www.delhitourism.gov.in/delhitourism/tourist_place/humayun_tomb.jsp
• http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_whs_humayuntomb_complex.asp
• http://www.worldheritagesite.org/sites/humayunstomb.html
• http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/276034/Humayun

17. Thank you