The tomb was built in 1570 and is of signifigance in that it is the first "garden tomb" on the Indian subcontinent. Some of the architectural innovations were later used in building the Taj Mahal. Humayun's Tomb (and the Taj Mahal) is an example of Mughal architecture, a distincive style of Islamic, Persian and Indian architecture developed during the 16th Century.

Humayun (1508-1556) was the eldest and most favored son of Barbur. He took the reigns of the Mugal empire at the age of 22 when his father died of an illness. Hamayun "shakily" ruled for about 10 years. He died at the age of 48 from injuries sustained in a fall. (added 16 July 2006; photo updated 19 July 2006)