HUMAYUN’S TOMB (Syllabus: GS Paper 1 – Art and Culture)

Context: The long-awaited Humayun’s Tomb World Heritage Site Museum, located between Sunder Nursery and Humayun’s Tomb in Nizamuddin, will showcase intriguing details about the second Mughal Emperor’s life.

Humayun’s Tomb

• About: Built in 1570, this tomb holds particular cultural significance as the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent.
• Also known as:  ‘Dormitory of the Mughals’ as it houses the graves of over 150 Mughal family members.
• Architectural Influence: The design of Humayun’s Tomb inspired several major architectural innovations, culminating in the construction of the Taj Mahal.
• Patronage: It was constructed under the patronage of Humayun’s son, Emperor Akbar.
• Charbagh Design: Humayun’s Tomb is an example of the charbagh, a four-quadrant garden representing the four rivers of Quranic paradise, with pools connected by channels.
• World Heritage Site: In 1993, UNESCO recognized Humayun’s Tomb as a World Heritage Site.
• Humayun Museum: Managed by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), is part of a larger conservation effort encompassing the 300-acre Humayun’s Tomb-Sunder Nursery-Nizamuddin Basti area of Delhi.

Mughal Architecture

• Period and Patronage: Mughal architecture flourished in northern and central India under the Mughal emperors from the mid-16th to the late 17th century.
• Revival of Islamic Architecture: The Mughal period marked a significant revival of Islamic architecture in northern India, blending Persian, Indian, and provincial styles to produce works of high quality and refinement.
• Influence on Colonial Architecture: Mughal architectural elements became widespread in north India and influenced the Indo-Saracenic style of colonial architecture.