Humayun’s Tomb: A Marvel of Mughal Architecture in Delhi

Humayun’s Tomb, one of Delhi’s most iconic landmarks, is an architectural masterpiece that reflects the grandeur of the Mughal era. Built in the 16th century, this stunning mausoleum was the first garden-tomb in the Indian subcontinent and served as an inspiration for later Mughal tombs, including the world-famous Taj Mahal.

Humayun’s Tomb, one of Delhi’s most iconic landmarks, is an architectural masterpiece that reflects the grandeur of the Mughal era. Built in the 16th century, this stunning mausoleum was the first garden-tomb in the Indian subcontinent and served as an inspiration for later Mughal tombs, including the world-famous Taj Mahal.

Recently some of my friends had permissions to visit various monuments in Delhi to shoot Lunar Eclipse on 10th Dec, 2011. I also joined them, although all the hard-work for planning these photo-shoots, getting permissions and arranging appropriate equipments was done by other folks. All photographs shared here are not related to the project. These are some of the casual shots taken during eclipse hours on that evening...Here is one of the simple shot when eclipse just started This shot was taken around 6:35 pm on 10th Dec, 2011 !!! Usually Lunar Eclipse used to take place in January, when sky is mainly covered with clouds or fog. Since this time, it happened early, people got to see it clearly and there was huge buzz among various Photography communities.Here is one of the photograph of Humayun's tomb. It's taken with Zoon-in/Zoom-out during long-exposure. Since most of folks were busy on eclipse project and they had to spent 4 hrs at Humayun's tomb, I thought of roaming around and having some clicks of the place in this wonderful lighting, which is rare to capture. Above photograph is also a result of some of the experiments done at Humayun's Tomb, Delhi.Here are some water ponds in all four directions of Humayn's Tomb, but the one in front of entry gate is maintained well. Reflection of the main tomb was looking awesome in Eclipse hours, although above photograph failed to show the real magic... You can see the shining moon in the sky and lovely hues of sunset, when exposed this view for a long time.A similar photograph of Humayn Tomb, with some part of it being reflecting on adjoining water stream... Usually Humayun Tomb closes before Sunset, but if someone wants to have access for some specific purpose, permissions are required in advance.Relatively closer look at Lunar Eclipse through Humayun Tomb. Lunar Eclipse of 10th Dec 2011 can be seen in Photographs at http://www.examiner.com/photography-in-national/yesterday-s-total-lunar-eclipse-photos-1 as well !!!Light and colors were changing with every minute. In fact the change was very prominent for folks who were shooting moon close-ups with tele-photo lenses. After one stage, color of moon starts changing to red and again come back natural shade after few hours...Opposite side of Humayun Tomb, Delhi, INDIAThere are various photography techniques are explained on web and some of them are really technical. At the same time, some of them are really easy to get an idea about the concept and light variation trend during the eclipse hours. In my opinion, understanding the concept and applying your ideas is more important otherwise we always see similar shots on every lunar eclipse. Now many softwares even come with standard ways of capturing lunar eclipse and create single HDR or multi-exposure shots.Carrying Gorilla-pod helps in placing camera at low height, so that some of the other compositions can be tried... No doubt that sturdy and big tripods are important for such shoots but some desi fundas also work well :)Humayun Tomb is very well maintained by Archaeological Survey of India !!! ASI is is the organization to get special permissions to get entry into Humayun Tomb in odd hours. There is lot of green area around main tomb in this campus. And there is very special thing about Mughal Architecture that all four areas around a building are maintained in similar fashion. Alignments of landscapes, gardens and trees would be exactly same.During day time, entry fees for SAARC citizens is 10 Rs. SAARC includes Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Maldives and Afghanistan... BIMSTEC Countries like Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Myanmar also need to pay 10 Rs only. For others it's $5.This photograph would be give you a sense about it's shape and architecture. It has a square base and all four faces of Humayun Tomb look same. Theoretically it's a two storey building but height of one storey is unmatchable :) ... Whole building is made of red stone and Taj Mahal is exactly replica of this building, but in white marble...Light streaks touching ground after filtering through tree leaves around Humayun Tomb... Such photographs from early morning look stunning, as light is most favorable at that point of time of the day...Check following link on wiipedia to know more about Humayun Tomb - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomb_of_Humayun . This page has rich information about architecture of Humayun Tomb and history related to it.Humayun Tomb is also in the list of World Heritage sites maintained by UNESCO. Check out http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/232 for more details.Every other site about Delhi has special mention of Humayun Tomb, so I would not repeat all those well known facts about the place. Delhicapital.com has also written about Humayun Tomb in a well structured way... Check it out......A photographer sitting in front of main Tomb in the campus to shoot Lunar Eclipse 2011 with Humayun Tomb in foreground. These folks were sitting at same place, fiddling with camera setting to get best possible multi-exposure shots. Some of them also work on HDRs and hope to see the results soon.Some of the standard techniques of shooting Lunar Eclipses are available here - it was lovely evening with enthusiastic Photographers at Humayun Tomb !!!

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Humayun’s Tomb is not just a historical structure but a symbol of love, architectural brilliance, and a crucial piece of India’s rich cultural heritage. Whether you're a history enthusiast, an architecture lover, or a traveler exploring Delhi, this tomb is a must-visit destination.

Historical Background: A Tomb Built for a Beloved Emperor The tomb was commissioned in 1569 by Empress Bega Begum, the first wife and chief consort of Mughal Emperor Humayun. She was deeply devoted to her husband and wanted to build a magnificent tomb in his memory.

Historical Background: A Tomb Built for a Beloved Emperor

The tomb was commissioned in 1569 by Empress Bega Begum, the first wife and chief consort of Mughal Emperor Humayun. She was deeply devoted to her husband and wanted to build a magnificent tomb in his memory.


Humayun, the second Mughal emperor, died in 1556 after falling from the stairs of his library in Purana Qila, Delhi.

Bega Begum hired Mirak Mirza Ghiyas, a renowned Persian architect, to design the tomb.

The construction was completed in 1572, making it one of the earliest Mughal monuments in India.

The tomb became the first garden-tomb in India, marking a shift in the Mughal architectural style.

Architectural Brilliance of Humayun’s Tomb 1. Persian & Mughal Influence Humayun’s Tomb is a perfect blend of Persian, Turkish, and Indian architecture. The design was heavily influenced by Persian gardens and domed structures, while incorporating Indian red sandstone and marble.

Architectural Brilliance of Humayun’s Tomb

1. Persian & Mughal Influence

Humayun’s Tomb is a perfect blend of Persian, Turkish, and Indian architecture. The design was heavily influenced by Persian gardens and domed structures, while incorporating Indian red sandstone and marble.

Recently some of my friends had permissions to visit various monuments in Delhi to shoot Lunar Eclipse on 10th Dec, 2011. I also joined them, although all the hard-work for planning these photo-shoots, getting permissions and arranging appropriate equipments was done by other folks. All photographs shared here are not related to the project. These are some of the casual shots taken during eclipse hours on that evening...Here is one of the simple shot when eclipse just started This shot was taken around 6:35 pm on 10th Dec, 2011 !!! Usually Lunar Eclipse used to take place in January, when sky is mainly covered with clouds or fog. Since this time, it happened early, people got to see it clearly and there was huge buzz among various Photography communities.Here is one of the photograph of Humayun's tomb. It's taken with Zoon-in/Zoom-out during long-exposure. Since most of folks were busy on eclipse project and they had to spent 4 hrs at Humayun's tomb, I thought of roaming around and having some clicks of the place in this wonderful lighting, which is rare to capture. Above photograph is also a result of some of the experiments done at Humayun's Tomb, Delhi.Here are some water ponds in all four directions of Humayn's Tomb, but the one in front of entry gate is maintained well. Reflection of the main tomb was looking awesome in Eclipse hours, although above photograph failed to show the real magic... You can see the shining moon in the sky and lovely hues of sunset, when exposed this view for a long time.A similar photograph of Humayn Tomb, with some part of it being reflecting on adjoining water stream... Usually Humayun Tomb closes before Sunset, but if someone wants to have access for some specific purpose, permissions are required in advance.Relatively closer look at Lunar Eclipse through Humayun Tomb. Lunar Eclipse of 10th Dec 2011 can be seen in Photographs at http://www.examiner.com/photography-in-national/yesterday-s-total-lunar-eclipse-photos-1 as well !!!Light and colors were changing with every minute. In fact the change was very prominent for folks who were shooting moon close-ups with tele-photo lenses. After one stage, color of moon starts changing to red and again come back natural shade after few hours...Opposite side of Humayun Tomb, Delhi, INDIAThere are various photography techniques are explained on web and some of them are really technical. At the same time, some of them are really easy to get an idea about the concept and light variation trend during the eclipse hours. In my opinion, understanding the concept and applying your ideas is more important otherwise we always see similar shots on every lunar eclipse. Now many softwares even come with standard ways of capturing lunar eclipse and create single HDR or multi-exposure shots.Carrying Gorilla-pod helps in placing camera at low height, so that some of the other compositions can be tried... No doubt that sturdy and big tripods are important for such shoots but some desi fundas also work well :)Humayun Tomb is very well maintained by Archaeological Survey of India !!! ASI is is the organization to get special permissions to get entry into Humayun Tomb in odd hours. There is lot of green area around main tomb in this campus. And there is very special thing about Mughal Architecture that all four areas around a building are maintained in similar fashion. Alignments of landscapes, gardens and trees would be exactly same.During day time, entry fees for SAARC citizens is 10 Rs. SAARC includes Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Maldives and Afghanistan... BIMSTEC Countries like Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Myanmar also need to pay 10 Rs only. For others it's $5.This photograph would be give you a sense about it's shape and architecture. It has a square base and all four faces of Humayun Tomb look same. Theoretically it's a two storey building but height of one storey is unmatchable :) ... Whole building is made of red stone and Taj Mahal is exactly replica of this building, but in white marble...Light streaks touching ground after filtering through tree leaves around Humayun Tomb... Such photographs from early morning look stunning, as light is most favorable at that point of time of the day...Check following link on wiipedia to know more about Humayun Tomb - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomb_of_Humayun . This page has rich information about architecture of Humayun Tomb and history related to it.Humayun Tomb is also in the list of World Heritage sites maintained by UNESCO. Check out http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/232 for more details.Every other site about Delhi has special mention of Humayun Tomb, so I would not repeat all those well known facts about the place. Delhicapital.com has also written about Humayun Tomb in a well structured way... Check it out......A photographer sitting in front of main Tomb in the campus to shoot Lunar Eclipse 2011 with Humayun Tomb in foreground. These folks were sitting at same place, fiddling with camera setting to get best possible multi-exposure shots. Some of them also work on HDRs and hope to see the results soon.Some of the standard techniques of shooting Lunar Eclipses are available here - it was lovely evening with enthusiastic Photographers at Humayun Tomb !!!

2. The Grand Structure

The tomb stands on a high platform, measuring 47 meters in height and 91 meters in width.

The structure is built with red sandstone, while the domes are made of white marble.

The massive central dome, surrounded by smaller domes and arches, gives it a majestic appearance.

Recently some of my friends had permissions to visit various monuments in Delhi to shoot Lunar Eclipse on 10th Dec, 2011. I also joined them, although all the hard-work for planning these photo-shoots, getting permissions and arranging appropriate equipments was done by other folks. All photographs shared here are not related to the project. These are some of the casual shots taken during eclipse hours on that evening...Here is one of the simple shot when eclipse just started This shot was taken around 6:35 pm on 10th Dec, 2011 !!! Usually Lunar Eclipse used to take place in January, when sky is mainly covered with clouds or fog. Since this time, it happened early, people got to see it clearly and there was huge buzz among various Photography communities.Here is one of the photograph of Humayun's tomb. It's taken with Zoon-in/Zoom-out during long-exposure. Since most of folks were busy on eclipse project and they had to spent 4 hrs at Humayun's tomb, I thought of roaming around and having some clicks of the place in this wonderful lighting, which is rare to capture. Above photograph is also a result of some of the experiments done at Humayun's Tomb, Delhi.Here are some water ponds in all four directions of Humayn's Tomb, but the one in front of entry gate is maintained well. Reflection of the main tomb was looking awesome in Eclipse hours, although above photograph failed to show the real magic... You can see the shining moon in the sky and lovely hues of sunset, when exposed this view for a long time.A similar photograph of Humayn Tomb, with some part of it being reflecting on adjoining water stream... Usually Humayun Tomb closes before Sunset, but if someone wants to have access for some specific purpose, permissions are required in advance.Relatively closer look at Lunar Eclipse through Humayun Tomb. Lunar Eclipse of 10th Dec 2011 can be seen in Photographs at http://www.examiner.com/photography-in-national/yesterday-s-total-lunar-eclipse-photos-1 as well !!!Light and colors were changing with every minute. In fact the change was very prominent for folks who were shooting moon close-ups with tele-photo lenses. After one stage, color of moon starts changing to red and again come back natural shade after few hours...Opposite side of Humayun Tomb, Delhi, INDIAThere are various photography techniques are explained on web and some of them are really technical. At the same time, some of them are really easy to get an idea about the concept and light variation trend during the eclipse hours. In my opinion, understanding the concept and applying your ideas is more important otherwise we always see similar shots on every lunar eclipse. Now many softwares even come with standard ways of capturing lunar eclipse and create single HDR or multi-exposure shots.Carrying Gorilla-pod helps in placing camera at low height, so that some of the other compositions can be tried... No doubt that sturdy and big tripods are important for such shoots but some desi fundas also work well :)Humayun Tomb is very well maintained by Archaeological Survey of India !!! ASI is is the organization to get special permissions to get entry into Humayun Tomb in odd hours. There is lot of green area around main tomb in this campus. And there is very special thing about Mughal Architecture that all four areas around a building are maintained in similar fashion. Alignments of landscapes, gardens and trees would be exactly same.During day time, entry fees for SAARC citizens is 10 Rs. SAARC includes Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Maldives and Afghanistan... BIMSTEC Countries like Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Myanmar also need to pay 10 Rs only. For others it's $5.This photograph would be give you a sense about it's shape and architecture. It has a square base and all four faces of Humayun Tomb look same. Theoretically it's a two storey building but height of one storey is unmatchable :) ... Whole building is made of red stone and Taj Mahal is exactly replica of this building, but in white marble...Light streaks touching ground after filtering through tree leaves around Humayun Tomb... Such photographs from early morning look stunning, as light is most favorable at that point of time of the day...Check following link on wiipedia to know more about Humayun Tomb - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomb_of_Humayun . This page has rich information about architecture of Humayun Tomb and history related to it.Humayun Tomb is also in the list of World Heritage sites maintained by UNESCO. Check out http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/232 for more details.Every other site about Delhi has special mention of Humayun Tomb, so I would not repeat all those well known facts about the place. Delhicapital.com has also written about Humayun Tomb in a well structured way... Check it out......A photographer sitting in front of main Tomb in the campus to shoot Lunar Eclipse 2011 with Humayun Tomb in foreground. These folks were sitting at same place, fiddling with camera setting to get best possible multi-exposure shots. Some of them also work on HDRs and hope to see the results soon.Some of the standard techniques of shooting Lunar Eclipses are available here - it was lovely evening with enthusiastic Photographers at Humayun Tomb !!!

3. Charbagh Garden Layout

The tomb is set in a "Charbagh" garden, a Persian-style four-part garden divided by water channels.

The symmetrical layout symbolizes paradise as described in Islamic traditions.

These gardens later influenced the design of the Taj Mahal in Agra.

Recently some of my friends had permissions to visit various monuments in Delhi to shoot Lunar Eclipse on 10th Dec, 2011. I also joined them, although all the hard-work for planning these photo-shoots, getting permissions and arranging appropriate equipments was done by other folks. All photographs shared here are not related to the project. These are some of the casual shots taken during eclipse hours on that evening...Here is one of the simple shot when eclipse just started This shot was taken around 6:35 pm on 10th Dec, 2011 !!! Usually Lunar Eclipse used to take place in January, when sky is mainly covered with clouds or fog. Since this time, it happened early, people got to see it clearly and there was huge buzz among various Photography communities.Here is one of the photograph of Humayun's tomb. It's taken with Zoon-in/Zoom-out during long-exposure. Since most of folks were busy on eclipse project and they had to spent 4 hrs at Humayun's tomb, I thought of roaming around and having some clicks of the place in this wonderful lighting, which is rare to capture. Above photograph is also a result of some of the experiments done at Humayun's Tomb, Delhi.Here are some water ponds in all four directions of Humayn's Tomb, but the one in front of entry gate is maintained well. Reflection of the main tomb was looking awesome in Eclipse hours, although above photograph failed to show the real magic... You can see the shining moon in the sky and lovely hues of sunset, when exposed this view for a long time.A similar photograph of Humayn Tomb, with some part of it being reflecting on adjoining water stream... Usually Humayun Tomb closes before Sunset, but if someone wants to have access for some specific purpose, permissions are required in advance.Relatively closer look at Lunar Eclipse through Humayun Tomb. Lunar Eclipse of 10th Dec 2011 can be seen in Photographs at http://www.examiner.com/photography-in-national/yesterday-s-total-lunar-eclipse-photos-1 as well !!!Light and colors were changing with every minute. In fact the change was very prominent for folks who were shooting moon close-ups with tele-photo lenses. After one stage, color of moon starts changing to red and again come back natural shade after few hours...Opposite side of Humayun Tomb, Delhi, INDIAThere are various photography techniques are explained on web and some of them are really technical. At the same time, some of them are really easy to get an idea about the concept and light variation trend during the eclipse hours. In my opinion, understanding the concept and applying your ideas is more important otherwise we always see similar shots on every lunar eclipse. Now many softwares even come with standard ways of capturing lunar eclipse and create single HDR or multi-exposure shots.Carrying Gorilla-pod helps in placing camera at low height, so that some of the other compositions can be tried... No doubt that sturdy and big tripods are important for such shoots but some desi fundas also work well :)Humayun Tomb is very well maintained by Archaeological Survey of India !!! ASI is is the organization to get special permissions to get entry into Humayun Tomb in odd hours. There is lot of green area around main tomb in this campus. And there is very special thing about Mughal Architecture that all four areas around a building are maintained in similar fashion. Alignments of landscapes, gardens and trees would be exactly same.During day time, entry fees for SAARC citizens is 10 Rs. SAARC includes Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Maldives and Afghanistan... BIMSTEC Countries like Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Myanmar also need to pay 10 Rs only. For others it's $5.This photograph would be give you a sense about it's shape and architecture. It has a square base and all four faces of Humayun Tomb look same. Theoretically it's a two storey building but height of one storey is unmatchable :) ... Whole building is made of red stone and Taj Mahal is exactly replica of this building, but in white marble...Light streaks touching ground after filtering through tree leaves around Humayun Tomb... Such photographs from early morning look stunning, as light is most favorable at that point of time of the day...Check following link on wiipedia to know more about Humayun Tomb - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomb_of_Humayun . This page has rich information about architecture of Humayun Tomb and history related to it.Humayun Tomb is also in the list of World Heritage sites maintained by UNESCO. Check out http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/232 for more details.Every other site about Delhi has special mention of Humayun Tomb, so I would not repeat all those well known facts about the place. Delhicapital.com has also written about Humayun Tomb in a well structured way... Check it out......A photographer sitting in front of main Tomb in the campus to shoot Lunar Eclipse 2011 with Humayun Tomb in foreground. These folks were sitting at same place, fiddling with camera setting to get best possible multi-exposure shots. Some of them also work on HDRs and hope to see the results soon.Some of the standard techniques of shooting Lunar Eclipses are available here - it was lovely evening with enthusiastic Photographers at Humayun Tomb !!!

4. Jali Work & Decorative Elements

The tomb features intricate jali (lattice) screens, which allow soft light to filter into the interiors.

Calligraphy, floral motifs, and geometric patterns adorn the walls.

Other Monuments Within the Complex Apart from Humayun’s Tomb, the complex houses several other important monuments, making it a historical treasure trove:

Other Monuments Within the Complex

Apart from Humayun’s Tomb, the complex houses several other important monuments, making it a historical treasure trove:

Recently some of my friends had permissions to visit various monuments in Delhi to shoot Lunar Eclipse on 10th Dec, 2011. I also joined them, although all the hard-work for planning these photo-shoots, getting permissions and arranging appropriate equipments was done by other folks. All photographs shared here are not related to the project. These are some of the casual shots taken during eclipse hours on that evening...Here is one of the simple shot when eclipse just started This shot was taken around 6:35 pm on 10th Dec, 2011 !!! Usually Lunar Eclipse used to take place in January, when sky is mainly covered with clouds or fog. Since this time, it happened early, people got to see it clearly and there was huge buzz among various Photography communities.Here is one of the photograph of Humayun's tomb. It's taken with Zoon-in/Zoom-out during long-exposure. Since most of folks were busy on eclipse project and they had to spent 4 hrs at Humayun's tomb, I thought of roaming around and having some clicks of the place in this wonderful lighting, which is rare to capture. Above photograph is also a result of some of the experiments done at Humayun's Tomb, Delhi.Here are some water ponds in all four directions of Humayn's Tomb, but the one in front of entry gate is maintained well. Reflection of the main tomb was looking awesome in Eclipse hours, although above photograph failed to show the real magic... You can see the shining moon in the sky and lovely hues of sunset, when exposed this view for a long time.A similar photograph of Humayn Tomb, with some part of it being reflecting on adjoining water stream... Usually Humayun Tomb closes before Sunset, but if someone wants to have access for some specific purpose, permissions are required in advance.Relatively closer look at Lunar Eclipse through Humayun Tomb. Lunar Eclipse of 10th Dec 2011 can be seen in Photographs at http://www.examiner.com/photography-in-national/yesterday-s-total-lunar-eclipse-photos-1 as well !!!Light and colors were changing with every minute. In fact the change was very prominent for folks who were shooting moon close-ups with tele-photo lenses. After one stage, color of moon starts changing to red and again come back natural shade after few hours...Opposite side of Humayun Tomb, Delhi, INDIAThere are various photography techniques are explained on web and some of them are really technical. At the same time, some of them are really easy to get an idea about the concept and light variation trend during the eclipse hours. In my opinion, understanding the concept and applying your ideas is more important otherwise we always see similar shots on every lunar eclipse. Now many softwares even come with standard ways of capturing lunar eclipse and create single HDR or multi-exposure shots.Carrying Gorilla-pod helps in placing camera at low height, so that some of the other compositions can be tried... No doubt that sturdy and big tripods are important for such shoots but some desi fundas also work well :)Humayun Tomb is very well maintained by Archaeological Survey of India !!! ASI is is the organization to get special permissions to get entry into Humayun Tomb in odd hours. There is lot of green area around main tomb in this campus. And there is very special thing about Mughal Architecture that all four areas around a building are maintained in similar fashion. Alignments of landscapes, gardens and trees would be exactly same.During day time, entry fees for SAARC citizens is 10 Rs. SAARC includes Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Maldives and Afghanistan... BIMSTEC Countries like Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Myanmar also need to pay 10 Rs only. For others it's $5.This photograph would be give you a sense about it's shape and architecture. It has a square base and all four faces of Humayun Tomb look same. Theoretically it's a two storey building but height of one storey is unmatchable :) ... Whole building is made of red stone and Taj Mahal is exactly replica of this building, but in white marble...Light streaks touching ground after filtering through tree leaves around Humayun Tomb... Such photographs from early morning look stunning, as light is most favorable at that point of time of the day...Check following link on wiipedia to know more about Humayun Tomb - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomb_of_Humayun . This page has rich information about architecture of Humayun Tomb and history related to it.Humayun Tomb is also in the list of World Heritage sites maintained by UNESCO. Check out http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/232 for more details.Every other site about Delhi has special mention of Humayun Tomb, so I would not repeat all those well known facts about the place. Delhicapital.com has also written about Humayun Tomb in a well structured way... Check it out......A photographer sitting in front of main Tomb in the campus to shoot Lunar Eclipse 2011 with Humayun Tomb in foreground. These folks were sitting at same place, fiddling with camera setting to get best possible multi-exposure shots. Some of them also work on HDRs and hope to see the results soon.Some of the standard techniques of shooting Lunar Eclipses are available here - it was lovely evening with enthusiastic Photographers at Humayun Tomb !!!

1. Barber’s Tomb (Nai Ka Gumbad)

Located within the garden, this tomb is believed to be the resting place of Emperor Humayun’s royal barber.

2. Isa Khan’s Tomb

A pre-Mughal era tomb built for Isa Khan, a nobleman in the court of Sher Shah Suri.

Features intricate Lodi-era architecture and stands in contrast to Humayun’s Tomb.

Recently some of my friends had permissions to visit various monuments in Delhi to shoot Lunar Eclipse on 10th Dec, 2011. I also joined them, although all the hard-work for planning these photo-shoots, getting permissions and arranging appropriate equipments was done by other folks. All photographs shared here are not related to the project. These are some of the casual shots taken during eclipse hours on that evening...Here is one of the simple shot when eclipse just started This shot was taken around 6:35 pm on 10th Dec, 2011 !!! Usually Lunar Eclipse used to take place in January, when sky is mainly covered with clouds or fog. Since this time, it happened early, people got to see it clearly and there was huge buzz among various Photography communities.Here is one of the photograph of Humayun's tomb. It's taken with Zoon-in/Zoom-out during long-exposure. Since most of folks were busy on eclipse project and they had to spent 4 hrs at Humayun's tomb, I thought of roaming around and having some clicks of the place in this wonderful lighting, which is rare to capture. Above photograph is also a result of some of the experiments done at Humayun's Tomb, Delhi.Here are some water ponds in all four directions of Humayn's Tomb, but the one in front of entry gate is maintained well. Reflection of the main tomb was looking awesome in Eclipse hours, although above photograph failed to show the real magic... You can see the shining moon in the sky and lovely hues of sunset, when exposed this view for a long time.A similar photograph of Humayn Tomb, with some part of it being reflecting on adjoining water stream... Usually Humayun Tomb closes before Sunset, but if someone wants to have access for some specific purpose, permissions are required in advance.Relatively closer look at Lunar Eclipse through Humayun Tomb. Lunar Eclipse of 10th Dec 2011 can be seen in Photographs at http://www.examiner.com/photography-in-national/yesterday-s-total-lunar-eclipse-photos-1 as well !!!Light and colors were changing with every minute. In fact the change was very prominent for folks who were shooting moon close-ups with tele-photo lenses. After one stage, color of moon starts changing to red and again come back natural shade after few hours...Opposite side of Humayun Tomb, Delhi, INDIAThere are various photography techniques are explained on web and some of them are really technical. At the same time, some of them are really easy to get an idea about the concept and light variation trend during the eclipse hours. In my opinion, understanding the concept and applying your ideas is more important otherwise we always see similar shots on every lunar eclipse. Now many softwares even come with standard ways of capturing lunar eclipse and create single HDR or multi-exposure shots.Carrying Gorilla-pod helps in placing camera at low height, so that some of the other compositions can be tried... No doubt that sturdy and big tripods are important for such shoots but some desi fundas also work well :)Humayun Tomb is very well maintained by Archaeological Survey of India !!! ASI is is the organization to get special permissions to get entry into Humayun Tomb in odd hours. There is lot of green area around main tomb in this campus. And there is very special thing about Mughal Architecture that all four areas around a building are maintained in similar fashion. Alignments of landscapes, gardens and trees would be exactly same.During day time, entry fees for SAARC citizens is 10 Rs. SAARC includes Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Maldives and Afghanistan... BIMSTEC Countries like Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Myanmar also need to pay 10 Rs only. For others it's $5.This photograph would be give you a sense about it's shape and architecture. It has a square base and all four faces of Humayun Tomb look same. Theoretically it's a two storey building but height of one storey is unmatchable :) ... Whole building is made of red stone and Taj Mahal is exactly replica of this building, but in white marble...Light streaks touching ground after filtering through tree leaves around Humayun Tomb... Such photographs from early morning look stunning, as light is most favorable at that point of time of the day...Check following link on wiipedia to know more about Humayun Tomb - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomb_of_Humayun . This page has rich information about architecture of Humayun Tomb and history related to it.Humayun Tomb is also in the list of World Heritage sites maintained by UNESCO. Check out http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/232 for more details.Every other site about Delhi has special mention of Humayun Tomb, so I would not repeat all those well known facts about the place. Delhicapital.com has also written about Humayun Tomb in a well structured way... Check it out......A photographer sitting in front of main Tomb in the campus to shoot Lunar Eclipse 2011 with Humayun Tomb in foreground. These folks were sitting at same place, fiddling with camera setting to get best possible multi-exposure shots. Some of them also work on HDRs and hope to see the results soon.Some of the standard techniques of shooting Lunar Eclipses are available here - it was lovely evening with enthusiastic Photographers at Humayun Tomb !!!

3. Bu Halima’s Garden & Tomb

The remains of a walled garden complex with a small tomb, whose occupant is still unknown.

4. Afsarwala Tomb & Mosque

The tomb of a Mughal noble, showcasing early Mughal architecture.

Why is Humayun’s Tomb Important? ✅ First Garden-Tomb in India – It introduced Persian-style garden layouts to Indian architecture. ✅ Inspiration for the Taj Mahal – The tomb’s design influenced Shah Jahan while constructing the Taj Mahal. ✅ UNESCO World Heritage Site – Recognized for its historical and cultural significance. ✅ Burial Site of Mughal Royals – Apart from Humayun, the tomb complex houses over 150 Mughal family members, including Dara Shikoh (Shah Jahan’s son).

Why is Humayun’s Tomb Important?

✅ First Garden-Tomb in India – It introduced Persian-style garden layouts to Indian architecture.

✅ Inspiration for the Taj Mahal – The tomb’s design influenced Shah Jahan while constructing the Taj Mahal.

✅ UNESCO World Heritage Site – Recognized for its historical and cultural significance.

✅ Burial Site of Mughal Royals – Apart from Humayun, the tomb complex houses over 150 Mughal family members, including Dara Shikoh (Shah Jahan’s son).

Recently some of my friends had permissions to visit various monuments in Delhi to shoot Lunar Eclipse on 10th Dec, 2011. I also joined them, although all the hard-work for planning these photo-shoots, getting permissions and arranging appropriate equipments was done by other folks. All photographs shared here are not related to the project. These are some of the casual shots taken during eclipse hours on that evening...Here is one of the simple shot when eclipse just started This shot was taken around 6:35 pm on 10th Dec, 2011 !!! Usually Lunar Eclipse used to take place in January, when sky is mainly covered with clouds or fog. Since this time, it happened early, people got to see it clearly and there was huge buzz among various Photography communities.Here is one of the photograph of Humayun's tomb. It's taken with Zoon-in/Zoom-out during long-exposure. Since most of folks were busy on eclipse project and they had to spent 4 hrs at Humayun's tomb, I thought of roaming around and having some clicks of the place in this wonderful lighting, which is rare to capture. Above photograph is also a result of some of the experiments done at Humayun's Tomb, Delhi.Here are some water ponds in all four directions of Humayn's Tomb, but the one in front of entry gate is maintained well. Reflection of the main tomb was looking awesome in Eclipse hours, although above photograph failed to show the real magic... You can see the shining moon in the sky and lovely hues of sunset, when exposed this view for a long time.A similar photograph of Humayn Tomb, with some part of it being reflecting on adjoining water stream... Usually Humayun Tomb closes before Sunset, but if someone wants to have access for some specific purpose, permissions are required in advance.Relatively closer look at Lunar Eclipse through Humayun Tomb. Lunar Eclipse of 10th Dec 2011 can be seen in Photographs at http://www.examiner.com/photography-in-national/yesterday-s-total-lunar-eclipse-photos-1 as well !!!Light and colors were changing with every minute. In fact the change was very prominent for folks who were shooting moon close-ups with tele-photo lenses. After one stage, color of moon starts changing to red and again come back natural shade after few hours...Opposite side of Humayun Tomb, Delhi, INDIAThere are various photography techniques are explained on web and some of them are really technical. At the same time, some of them are really easy to get an idea about the concept and light variation trend during the eclipse hours. In my opinion, understanding the concept and applying your ideas is more important otherwise we always see similar shots on every lunar eclipse. Now many softwares even come with standard ways of capturing lunar eclipse and create single HDR or multi-exposure shots.Carrying Gorilla-pod helps in placing camera at low height, so that some of the other compositions can be tried... No doubt that sturdy and big tripods are important for such shoots but some desi fundas also work well :)Humayun Tomb is very well maintained by Archaeological Survey of India !!! ASI is is the organization to get special permissions to get entry into Humayun Tomb in odd hours. There is lot of green area around main tomb in this campus. And there is very special thing about Mughal Architecture that all four areas around a building are maintained in similar fashion. Alignments of landscapes, gardens and trees would be exactly same.During day time, entry fees for SAARC citizens is 10 Rs. SAARC includes Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Maldives and Afghanistan... BIMSTEC Countries like Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Myanmar also need to pay 10 Rs only. For others it's $5.This photograph would be give you a sense about it's shape and architecture. It has a square base and all four faces of Humayun Tomb look same. Theoretically it's a two storey building but height of one storey is unmatchable :) ... Whole building is made of red stone and Taj Mahal is exactly replica of this building, but in white marble...Light streaks touching ground after filtering through tree leaves around Humayun Tomb... Such photographs from early morning look stunning, as light is most favorable at that point of time of the day...Check following link on wiipedia to know more about Humayun Tomb - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomb_of_Humayun . This page has rich information about architecture of Humayun Tomb and history related to it.Humayun Tomb is also in the list of World Heritage sites maintained by UNESCO. Check out http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/232 for more details.Every other site about Delhi has special mention of Humayun Tomb, so I would not repeat all those well known facts about the place. Delhicapital.com has also written about Humayun Tomb in a well structured way... Check it out......A photographer sitting in front of main Tomb in the campus to shoot Lunar Eclipse 2011 with Humayun Tomb in foreground. These folks were sitting at same place, fiddling with camera setting to get best possible multi-exposure shots. Some of them also work on HDRs and hope to see the results soon.Some of the standard techniques of shooting Lunar Eclipses are available here - it was lovely evening with enthusiastic Photographers at Humayun Tomb !!!

Best Time to Visit Humayun’s Tomb

📍 Location: Mathura Road, Nizamuddin, Delhi

🕘 Timings: 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Open all days)

🎟️ Entry Fee:

Recently some of my friends had permissions to visit various monuments in Delhi to shoot Lunar Eclipse on 10th Dec, 2011. I also joined them, although all the hard-work for planning these photo-shoots, getting permissions and arranging appropriate equipments was done by other folks. All photographs shared here are not related to the project. These are some of the casual shots taken during eclipse hours on that evening...Here is one of the simple shot when eclipse just started This shot was taken around 6:35 pm on 10th Dec, 2011 !!! Usually Lunar Eclipse used to take place in January, when sky is mainly covered with clouds or fog. Since this time, it happened early, people got to see it clearly and there was huge buzz among various Photography communities.Here is one of the photograph of Humayun's tomb. It's taken with Zoon-in/Zoom-out during long-exposure. Since most of folks were busy on eclipse project and they had to spent 4 hrs at Humayun's tomb, I thought of roaming around and having some clicks of the place in this wonderful lighting, which is rare to capture. Above photograph is also a result of some of the experiments done at Humayun's Tomb, Delhi.Here are some water ponds in all four directions of Humayn's Tomb, but the one in front of entry gate is maintained well. Reflection of the main tomb was looking awesome in Eclipse hours, although above photograph failed to show the real magic... You can see the shining moon in the sky and lovely hues of sunset, when exposed this view for a long time.A similar photograph of Humayn Tomb, with some part of it being reflecting on adjoining water stream... Usually Humayun Tomb closes before Sunset, but if someone wants to have access for some specific purpose, permissions are required in advance.Relatively closer look at Lunar Eclipse through Humayun Tomb. Lunar Eclipse of 10th Dec 2011 can be seen in Photographs at http://www.examiner.com/photography-in-national/yesterday-s-total-lunar-eclipse-photos-1 as well !!!Light and colors were changing with every minute. In fact the change was very prominent for folks who were shooting moon close-ups with tele-photo lenses. After one stage, color of moon starts changing to red and again come back natural shade after few hours...Opposite side of Humayun Tomb, Delhi, INDIAThere are various photography techniques are explained on web and some of them are really technical. At the same time, some of them are really easy to get an idea about the concept and light variation trend during the eclipse hours. In my opinion, understanding the concept and applying your ideas is more important otherwise we always see similar shots on every lunar eclipse. Now many softwares even come with standard ways of capturing lunar eclipse and create single HDR or multi-exposure shots.Carrying Gorilla-pod helps in placing camera at low height, so that some of the other compositions can be tried... No doubt that sturdy and big tripods are important for such shoots but some desi fundas also work well :)Humayun Tomb is very well maintained by Archaeological Survey of India !!! ASI is is the organization to get special permissions to get entry into Humayun Tomb in odd hours. There is lot of green area around main tomb in this campus. And there is very special thing about Mughal Architecture that all four areas around a building are maintained in similar fashion. Alignments of landscapes, gardens and trees would be exactly same.During day time, entry fees for SAARC citizens is 10 Rs. SAARC includes Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Maldives and Afghanistan... BIMSTEC Countries like Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Myanmar also need to pay 10 Rs only. For others it's $5.This photograph would be give you a sense about it's shape and architecture. It has a square base and all four faces of Humayun Tomb look same. Theoretically it's a two storey building but height of one storey is unmatchable :) ... Whole building is made of red stone and Taj Mahal is exactly replica of this building, but in white marble...Light streaks touching ground after filtering through tree leaves around Humayun Tomb... Such photographs from early morning look stunning, as light is most favorable at that point of time of the day...Check following link on wiipedia to know more about Humayun Tomb - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomb_of_Humayun . This page has rich information about architecture of Humayun Tomb and history related to it.Humayun Tomb is also in the list of World Heritage sites maintained by UNESCO. Check out http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/232 for more details.Every other site about Delhi has special mention of Humayun Tomb, so I would not repeat all those well known facts about the place. Delhicapital.com has also written about Humayun Tomb in a well structured way... Check it out......A photographer sitting in front of main Tomb in the campus to shoot Lunar Eclipse 2011 with Humayun Tomb in foreground. These folks were sitting at same place, fiddling with camera setting to get best possible multi-exposure shots. Some of them also work on HDRs and hope to see the results soon.Some of the standard techniques of shooting Lunar Eclipses are available here - it was lovely evening with enthusiastic Photographers at Humayun Tomb !!!

Indians: ₹40

Foreigners: ₹600

Children below 15: Free

🚉 Nearest Metro Station: JLN Stadium or Khan Market (Violet Line)


Travel Tips for Visitors

✔ Visit early in the morning or late afternoon for the best photography and pleasant weather.

✔ Wear comfortable footwear, as there’s a lot of walking involved.

✔ Hire a guide or use an audio tour to understand the rich history.

✔ Visit nearby attractions like Nizamuddin Dargah, Lodhi Garden, and India Gate.


Humayun’s Tomb is not just a resting place for an emperor—it is a testament to Mughal grandeur, Persian elegance, and India's architectural brilliance. Its timeless beauty continues to inspire visitors from around the world.

Humayun’s Tomb is not just a resting place for an emperor—it is a testament to Mughal grandeur, Persian elegance, and India's architectural brilliance. Its timeless beauty continues to inspire visitors from around the world.


If you love history, art, or simply want to soak in Delhi’s rich heritage, this iconic monument is a must-visit. Have you been to Humayun’s Tomb? Share your experience in the comments! 😊

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