Humayun's Tomb: A Closer Look Inside

Can You Go Inside Humayun’s Tomb?

Yes — visitors can go inside the main tomb of Humayun. A flight of stairs on each of the four sides leads up to the elevated plinth, where the main entrance to the tomb is located.

What's Inside The Tomb?

As you walk through the arched entrance, you’ll find yourself in a grand domed chamber housing the cenotaph of Emperor Humayun, placed at the center on a raised platform. The real grave, following Islamic tradition, lies in a crypt directly below.

The interiors are surprisingly minimal yet powerful — defined by perfect symmetry, high vaulted ceilings, and intricate jaali work that filters sunlight in mosaic-like patterns. The design reflects Persian architectural influences blended with early Mughal style — the same fusion that would later inspire the Taj Mahal.

The interior follows a nine-part floor plan, known as hasht bihisht (eight chambers surrounding a central one). Each chamber is connected through symmetrical passages and arched doorways, aligning with the Mughals' obsession with cosmic order and architectural balance.

Within these side chambers lie the graves of other royal family members, including Humayun’s wife, Dara Shikoh (the eldest son of Shah Jahan), and several later Mughal nobles.

But while the main tomb’s interior offers a moment of quiet grandeur, many visitors don’t realize that this is just one part of a much larger historical complex. In fact, some of the most fascinating structures — and stories — lie outside the central mausoleum.

The Complex Beyond the Tomb

While Humayun’s tomb is the centerpiece, it sits within a 27-acre garden-tomb complex filled with lesser-known monuments, each with its history. The area comprises three zones that you will sequentially walk through as you enter from the west. Most visitors walk straight to the main tomb and leave — missing over half the site's richness.

Zone A Highlights

• Isa Khan Niyazi's Tomb & Mosque (A1)—A 16th-century octagonal tomb, showcasing fine lattice screens, turquoise tiles, and a surrounding mosque built in the pre-Mughal style.

• Bu Halima's Tomb & Garden (A2) – A mysterious tomb set within a garden with its origins uncertain

• Bu Halima's Gate (A3) – An elaborately decorated eastern gateway suggesting it was once the grand entrance to an important enclosure

  
  

Zone B Highlights

• Arab Serai Gate (B1) – A richly adorned gateway leading to an area believed to have housed Persian artisans brought by Emperor Humayun’s widow to build his grand mausoleum

• Afsarwala Tomb & Mosque (B2) – A lesser-known Mughal-era tomb and mosque with an unknown history

• Humayun's Tomb West Gate (B3) – A monumental entrance featuring an iwan (vaulted hall) with a six-pointed star, a blend of Persian and Indian architectural influences. It offers a breathtaking first glimpse of the grand tomb through its arched opening

Zone C Highlights

• Charbagh Garden (C1) – A stunning Persian-style quadrilateral garden divided by flowing water channels, symbolizing paradise on earth

• Humayun's Tomb South Gate (C2) – A towering gateway connecting Nizamuddin to the mausoleum; intended to be the main entrance since tombs are often entered from the south.

• Humayun's Tomb Main Mausoleum (C3)—The crowning glory of Mughal architecture—a massive double-domed structure that influenced the design of the Taj Mahal

• Barber's Tomb (C4) – A modest yet elegant tomb within the charbagh with uncertain origins

• Nila Gumbad (C5) – A striking blue-domed tomb near the Yamuna decorated with vibrant tilework

How to Explore

The walking route inside the complex follows a straight path running eastward, with optional detours you can explore at your leisure.

Full exploration can take 2.5 to 3 hours, but if you are short on time, consider skipping:

• Isa Khan Niyazi Mosque

• Bu Halima's Tomb

• Afsarwala Tomb & Mosque

• Nila Gumbad