Humayun Tomb - UNESCO Heritage Site - New Dehli

 New Dehli - This tomb, built in 1570, is of particular cultural significance as it was the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent. It inspired several major architectural innovations, culminating in the construction of the Taj Mahal.

Entrance to the Humayun's Tomb

Isa Khan's Tomb roof

Isa Khan's Tomb

Isa Khan was a noble and this enclosure includes his tomb and mosque, both built during his lifetime.  

Bu-Halimah's tomb

Arab Sarai Gateway

This 14 meter high gateway led to the walled enclosure which housed the Persian craftsmen who came here for the building of the Humayun Tomb.

Humayun's Tomb

External wall of Humayun's Tomb

Humayun's Tomb

Humayun’s garden-tomb is also called the ‘dormitory of the Mughals’ as in the cells are buried over 150 Mughal family members.

Lesley and me

Sweating in the heat

It was so hot and humid in Dehli walking around the Humayun Tomb area of 27.04 ha took us about 1 1/2hrs.  So, it is time for lunch.  

Qutub Minar - UNESCO Heritage site @ New Dehli

New Dehli - We booked a private car for 2,500 Rupee (S$ 44) for 8hrs and first went to Qutub Minar, this is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in South Dehli.  Qutub Minar is a minaret which is a slender tower, typically part of a mosque, with a balcony from which a muezzin calls Muslims to prayer.  

Foreign tourist pays Rp600 and local Indians pay Rp 40 - that's 15x.   The whole area which is essential an ancient Sultan tomb is a big area.   

The unfinished Alai Minar

Ruins around the Qutub Minar

Lesley pushing the Qutub Minar

In front of Qutub Minar

Qutub Minar

The Qutb Minar is 72.5 metres (239 ft) high, making it the tallest minaret in the world built of bricks. It has five distinct storeys, each marked by a projecting balcony carried on muqarnas (it is a type of corbel, used as a decorative element in traditional Islamic architecture) and tapers from a diameter 14.3 metres at the base to 2.7 metres at the top, which is 379 steps.

Iron Pillar

On this famous 'Iron Pillar' bears a Sanskrit inscription.  

Translation on the Iron Pillar

We spent about an hour walking around the huge Qutub Minar compound.

Architectural marvel