|
|
|
|
|
Delhi
| ||||||||
|
Humayuns Tomb inaugurates a sequence of grand Mughal chambers. The Taj Mahal is known to have been inspired by Humanyun's Tomb, and in many ways this magnificent red and white building is as spectacular as the famous 'monument to love' in Agra. Humanyun's Tomb was commissioned in 1560 by his senior widow, known as Haji Begum, who is said to have spent one and a half million rupees on the building. The splendour of this monument becomes evident on entering the huge double-storeyed gateway. High rubble walls enclose a square garden divided into four large squares separated by causeways and water channnels. Each square is divided again into smaller squares by pathways, forming a typical Mughal garden called charbagh. The fountains were worked with simple yet highly-developed engineering skills quite common in India during this period. During the Uprising of 1857, Humanyun's Tomb was the scene of the demise of the Mughal dynasty. The last emperor, Bahadur Shah II, sought sanctuary in the tomb of his ancestor when the Uprising collapsed, before he was arrested by the British. The lofty mausoleum is located at the centre of the enclosure and rises from a platform faced with a series of cells with arched openings. Inside, the tomb consists of an octagonal hall that rises through two storeys, and is surrounded by smaller octagonal chambers. The main sarcophagus stands in the central hall, oriented - in accordance with Muslim practice - on the north-south axis. Traditionally, the body is placed with the head to he north, the face turned sideways towards Mecca. Each side is dominated by three lofty arches, the central one being the highest. This plan is repeated on the second storey, and the roof is surmounted by a 42.5 metre-high double dome of marble with pillared kiosks or chhatris placed around it. The dome is what is called a full dome, a complete semi-circle. All Mughal domes were full domes, all previous domes half-domes, or only half semi-circles. On the top of the dome there is a crescent, but no lotus as the architect was a Persian. The structure is built with red sandstone, but white and black marble has been used in the borders to relieve the monotony. The general effect of the central hall is now a little spartan, but originally it was softened by furnishins. The English merchant Willam Finch visited the building in AD 1611 and described it as 'spread with rich carpets, the tomb itself covered with a pure white sheet, a rich semiane (coloured tent) over head, an in front certain bookes on small tressels by which stand his sword, tucke (turban) and shooes'. Within the compound of Humayun's Tomb are many small monuments : To the southeast stands an impressive square tomb with a double-dome. Usually referred to set as Nai Ka Gumbad or the Barber's Tomb, it is said to have been built for the Emperor's favourite barber. It is interestin to note that barbers seem to play a prominent part in the lives of Delhi rulers. Mohammed bin Tughlaq's barber was given his own fort, Nai ka Kot or Barber's Fort, near Adilabad. South of the main pathway leading to Humayun's Tomb is a picturesque gateway which leads to a walled enclosure called Arab ki Sarai. This was built by Humayun's widow for the 300 Arab merchants she is said to have brought with her from a pilgrimage to Mecca. Within the eastern enclosure of the Arab ki Sarai is Afsarwala Tomb and Masjid. Further west on the main pathway is the gateway to the now, rather barren Bu Halima's garden. Nothing much is knwn of this lady; the gateway and two very ornamental chhattris are all that remain of the garde. On the south-west end of Bu Halima's garden is the octagonal Tomb of Isa Khan, a nobleman in the court of Sher Shah. |
||||||||
