Humayun's Tomb
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, built 1570 — the Mughal garden-tomb that set the template for the Taj Mahal.
The tomb that came before the Taj.
Built in 1570 for the Mughal emperor Humayun, this tomb was the first grand garden-tomb of its kind in India, and its Persian-style charbagh layout — symmetrical quadrants of garden around a central structure — directly influenced the design of the Taj Mahal decades later. It sits quietly in South Delhi, far less crowded than the city's better-known sights.
The scale and calm of the gardens make it one of the more genuinely peaceful stops in the city, especially compared to the density of Old Delhi.
Best time & getting here.
Best Time to Visit
October–March, and early morning for the softest light on the sandstone.
Getting Here
South Delhi, near JLN Stadium metro station on the Violet Line.
Activities
Garden walks, architecture and photography, and a genuinely unhurried heritage visit.
Good To Know
Pair it with Qutub Minar for a single, unhurried heritage-focused day in South Delhi.