Our second stop in Delhi was Humayun's Tomb. I have to double-check the spelling every time, because I kept getting Humayun (16th century Mughal emperor) and Hanuman (Hindu "monkey god" who figures prominently in the Ramayana) confused. Johnny thought this was hilarious and messed with my mind every chance he got. Result: I have to look it up EVERY TIME.
Humayun's Tomb is famous because it's the first structure to truly blend Persian and local Indian influences -- and it's big and old and pretty. The culmination of this style of building and formal gardens is the Taj Mahal in Agra.
Symmetry is a big part of this kind of architecture. Here's a photo from the side of the tomb. You can see it looks about the same as the front.
There are also matching gardens and gates on all four sides. This photo is taken from the tomb, looking across the gardens to one of the gates.
I really liked the contrast between the red sandstone and white marble. I don't understand something, though, so maybe someone can enlighten me. I always thought sandstone eroded quickly. So how are these ancient buildings still in such good shape? Thousands of people climb all over them, too.
One thing that Humayun's Tomb has that's better than at the Taj Mahal (in my opinion) is this kind of carved window.
Caroline and Johnny discovered at the little on-site museum that the windows are symbolic of spider webs. There's a story that the prophet Muhammed had to hide from enemies in a cave. When he was safe inside, a spider came and spun a web in the entrance of the cave so that the enemies would think no one had passed that way.
It was fun to peek through the sandstone windows at the tombs inside.
The carved windows also let some light into the central area of the tomb. Humayun is buried in the center, and the other tombs are of other rulers, of the wife who commissioned the building of the tomb, and even of his favorite barber!
Humayun's Tomb belongs on your list of Things Worth Seeing in Delhi. My only complaint (aside from the kids going bonkers) is that Delhi is apparently really hazy in the winter. The temperature was perfect, though, and the haze does allow for sights like this:
Humayun's Tomb is famous because it's the first structure to truly blend Persian and local Indian influences -- and it's big and old and pretty. The culmination of this style of building and formal gardens is the Taj Mahal in Agra.
Symmetry is a big part of this kind of architecture. Here's a photo from the side of the tomb. You can see it looks about the same as the front.
There are also matching gardens and gates on all four sides. This photo is taken from the tomb, looking across the gardens to one of the gates.
I really liked the contrast between the red sandstone and white marble. I don't understand something, though, so maybe someone can enlighten me. I always thought sandstone eroded quickly. So how are these ancient buildings still in such good shape? Thousands of people climb all over them, too.
One thing that Humayun's Tomb has that's better than at the Taj Mahal (in my opinion) is this kind of carved window.
Caroline and Johnny discovered at the little on-site museum that the windows are symbolic of spider webs. There's a story that the prophet Muhammed had to hide from enemies in a cave. When he was safe inside, a spider came and spun a web in the entrance of the cave so that the enemies would think no one had passed that way.
It was fun to peek through the sandstone windows at the tombs inside.
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| One of Caroline's awesome photos |
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| Another of Carrie's photos |
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| and another |
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