Delhi - Part 6 - Humayan's Tomb

My next stop was Humayan's Tomb -- another spectacular World Heritage archeological site.

Upon entering the site, the first monument you come across is Isa Khan's Tomb and Mosque. This is an octagonal monument set in an octagonal garden. Really cool.

Isa Khan's tomb

I was thinking this was very interesting, but hardly worth the 250 Rs admission price. (Admittedly, this is only about $4, which would be a real bargain in the U.S. or Europe, but most of these sites have a 100 Rs admission. Indian nationals get a real bargain at 10 to 20 Rs.) But then I started walking through the other gardens.

It takes one wall, and two gates (gates in 20-ft tall walls, that is) to get to Humayan's tomb -- the Mughals really knew how to create views and build suspense (in an architectural sense).

Humayan's Tomb was built in the mid 1500's. It houses about 100 tombs in a maze of rooms and niches.

Some say Humayan's Tomb provided the inspiration for the architecture and gardens of the Taj Mahal.

The grounds have a highly geometric pattern -- the "Char Baghs" or "Four Gardens" laid out around the Tomb. A satellite view (courtesy of Google Maps) shows the layout:

The whole complex is being restored with funds from the Aga Khan Foundation, and the results are amazing.

The restored ceiling in the center dome of Humayan's Tomb.