Wonders Built by Babur and Humayun

Wonders Built by Babur and Humayun

Babur (1526–30)

Babur was a cultured person with unmatched aesthetic sense. Babur did not appreciate the buildings of the Turk-Afghan rulers of Sultanate period. In fact, he sent for the pupils of famous Albanian architect Sinan, to work with the Indian craftsmen whose skill he had admired in the palaces of Man Singh and Vikramajit at Gwalior.

Babur was fond of building buildings, but time did not allow him much opportunity.

Baghs (Gardens) Built During Babur’s Time

1. Aaram Bagh of Agra (1528, the oldest Mughal Bagh)

2. Panipat Bagh (Panipat dist., Haryana)

Masjids Built During Babur’s Time

1. Kabuli Bagh Masjid, Panipat (1527, named after Babur's wife Kabuli Beghum, first Masjid built by Mughals)

2. Jamali-Kamali Masjid, Mehrauli (began by Babur in 1528–29 and completed by Humayun in 1536, named after Sufi poet & saint Shekh Fazallullah Jamali and his brother Kamali).

Humayun (1530–40, 1555–56)

Humayun has inherited from his father Babur a taste for the fine arts, but he hardly found time to devote himself to those pursuits.

He ascended the throne in 1530 and in 1540, Shershah drove him out of the country and took possession of the throne. After spending his 15-year exile in Persia (Iran) he came back to India and defeated Sikandar Shah Sur (nephew of Shershah) and ascended the throne in July 1555 but died after six months in January 1556.

City Founded by Humayun

• Din Panah (Founded in 1533. It was destroyed by Shershah and established Purana Qila at that place).

Sher Mandal and Humayun’s Death

• Sher Mandal (situated in Purana Qila) was used as a library by Humayun.

• One day as he was descending the stairs of the library, he heard the voice of the muezzin, and he immediately sat down on the stairs.

• When he got up, his foot slipped and he fell down.

• He eventually died of his injuries in January 1556.

• Lane Poole rightly remarks on his misfortune: "Humayun tumbled through life and he tumbled out of it".

Mosques Built During Humayun’s Time

1. Masjid at Agra (1530)

2. Masjid at Fatehabad (1540)

Tombs Related to Humayun

1. Humayun's Tomb (Located at Delhi, Year of construction 1562–72)

• Commissioned by Hamida Banu Beghum and built by Bega Beghum (also known as Haji Beghum).

• Architect: Mirak Mirza Ghiyas.

• An outstanding landmark in the development of the Mughal style.

Specialities:

a) First Mughal tomb.

b) First Indian tomb with Char Bagh system.

c) First example of double dome in India.

d) First Mughal building in which white marble was used.

e) A fine example of synthesis of Indian and Persian architecture tradition.

f) Inspiration of Taj Mahal (Tomb of Mumtazmahal & Shahjahan).

g) Later on in the premise of Humayun's tomb, Bega Beghum (also known as Haji Beghum), Hamida Banu Beghum, Dara Shikoh, Jahandar Shah, Farrukhsiyar, Rafi-ud-Darjat, Rafi-ud-Daula, Alamghir-II were buried.

h) This was the place where the last Mughal ruler Bahadur Shah Zafar hid during the revolt of 1857 and was captured and then sent to Rangoon.

2. Sufi Muhammad Gaus's Tomb (Hajira, Gwalior)

• Tomb of Sufi Muhammad Gaus, a contemporary tomb of Humayun's Tomb.

Note: These tombs were concerned with Humayun but did not built during his time. Really these were built in the time of Akbar, therefore Akbar was called the Father of Mughal Magisara system.

Final Thoughts

Babur, with his refined taste, admired Indian craftsmanship but built little due to his short reign. He left behind gardens like the Aaram Bagh (1528) and mosques such as the Kabuli Bagh Masjid (1527).

Humayun shared this love for art but spent much of his rule in exile. His greatest legacy is Humayun’s Tomb (1562–72) in Delhi, commissioned by Hamida Banu Begum. It introduced the Char Bagh garden layout, double dome, and Indo-Persian style, later inspiring the Taj Mahal.

Though his life ended tragically at the Sher Mandal, Humayun’s tomb became a landmark in Mughal architecture.