Delhi has a lot to offer to all, it’s just you need to explore it well and feel it. Winters are indeed the best times, where Delhi is even more Beautiful. So, again, we went out on an unplanned weekend. For me, an unplanned trip always turned out to be the best.

So, there, I woke up with a beautiful message by a friend;

” Good mrnin 🙂 Dear fren, I saw u in my dreams meetn me on saturday over lunch.. Shud I expect a dream come true today?“

There was no way to turn back to that lovely message. So, the calls flowed out among the group and availabilities were checked. And finally we 3 met – Gaurav, Shaheen and Ankur (myself). Gaurav picked us up with an undecided destination and we drove. After couple of debates, we decided on Humayun’s tomb, placed at the southern part of New Delhi.

I could clearly recall my last visit there during my school days, as a part of School Picnic, and falling sick the same night. It was most probably, food poisoning.

Well, this visit was completely different. The momentum looked clean and well restored. So, the beauty is retained.

As per the Archaeological Survey of India:

Humayun died in 1556, and his widow Hamida Banu Begam, also known as Haji Begam, commenced the construction of his tomb in 1569, fourteen years after his death. It is the first distinct example of proper Mughal style, which was inspired by Persian architecture. It is well known that Humayun picked up the principles of Persian architecture during his exile, and he himself is likely to have planned the tomb, although there is no record to that effect. The tomb was constructed at a cost of 15 lakh rupees (1.5 million).

Mirak Mirza Ghiyath, a Persian, was the architect employed by Haji Begam for this tomb.

The tomb proper stands in the centre of a square garden, divided into four main parterres by causeways (charbagh), in the centre of which ran shallow water-channels. The high rubble built enclosure is entered through two lofty double-storeyed gateways on the west and south. A baradari (pavilion) occupies the centre of the eastern wall and a hammam (bath chamber) in the centre of northern wall.

The square red sandstone double-storeyed structure of the mausoleum with chamfered corners rises from a 7-m. high square terrace, raised over a series of cells, which are accessible through, arches on each side. The grave proper in the centre of this cell-complex is reached by a passage on the south. The octagonal central chamber contains the cenotaph, and the diagonal sides lead to corner-chambers which house the graves of other members of the royal family. Externally each side of the tomb, its elevations decorated by marble borders and panels, is dominated by three arched alcoves, the central one being the highest. Over the roof pillared kiosks are disposed around the high emphatic double dome in the centre. The central octagonal chamber contains the cenotaph, encompassed by octagonal chambers at the diagonals and arched lobbies on the sides. Their openings are closed with perforated screens. Each side is dominated by three arches, the central one being the highest. This plan is repeated on the second storey too. The roof surmounted by a double dome (42.5m) of marble has pillared kiosks (chhatris) placed around it.

The tomb and mosque of Isa Khan is located to the south of the Bu Halima garden. An inscription on a red sandstone slab indicated that the tomb is of Masnad Ali Isa Khan, son of Niyaz Aghwan, the Chief chamberlain, and was built during the reign of Islam Shah, son of Sher Shah, in 1547-48 A.D.

After some good exploration, we headed to Hazrat Nizamuddin, named after Nizamuddin Auliya, Sufi saint of India. Besides being a holy place, its a foodies destination too. A blend of mouth watering Mughlai Cuisine can be tasted here, and at an amazingly budgeted price.

Our meet always has to end with a cup of tea, and conclusion conversations (though it never concludes); what took us to Indian Habitat Center. Nothing could have been better, than a cup of tea from the in-house food-court “Eatopia”, and the peace of the Amphitheater.

The only thing that I didn’t miss that day, is my camera. Me and my friends are quite habitual about, me carrying a camera. Well, my mobile phone saved the day. To capture a moment, I believe, you don’t need to have a professional camera, its just a vision that is needed.

So, there, again the day concluded on a good and happy note. Hope to explore something exciting soon and share. Till then, KEEP CLICKING. 🙂