Newsflash, people: the Taj Mahal is not the only mausoleum in India. If you really want to impress your mates, try visiting the place that inspired it, Humayun’s Tomb in New Delhi. Although not on the same scale as the Taj, it’s arguably more influential. And you don’t have to fight through the crowds to see it.
Set in a huge burial complex on the outskirts of New Delhi, this magnificent monument to the second Mughal emperor was the first garden tomb in India, and set in motion an architectural trend that peaked 80 years later with the construction of the Taj.
Like its more famous cousin, Humayun’s Tomb has a sad, romantic story attached to it. When Emperor Humayun died, his wife Haji Begum was so grieved that she dedicated her life to constructing a fitting tribute.
The results are magnificent, and well worth the short train ride out of the city. And with more than 100 tombs scattered around the complex, all dripping with intricate architectural details, you’ll need time to soak it all in. In other words, it’s the perfect excuse for a lazy day away from the bustle of the city.