☰Humayun's Tomb

Commissioned in 1565 by Humayun's widow Bega Begum, this was the first major Mughal garden tomb and took eight years to complete. The design -- a central domed mausoleum set in a symmetrical char bagh garden -- set the template that would eventually lead to the Taj Mahal over a century later. The combination of red sandstone and white marble is striking, and the surrounding gardens are a welcome escape from Delhi's chaos. The complex contains over a hundred tombs in all, including those of later Mughal emperors. Go early to beat the crowds; the light is best in late afternoon.