Indian Columbus

Most visitors enter the Humayun’s Tomb Complex with their eyes fixed on the grand mausoleum ahead. It is easy to understand why. But towards the eastern side of the complex stands a much smaller structure with a blue-tiled dome. This is Nila Gumbad , one of the earlier surviving Mughal-era tombs in Delhi. It does not have the scale or elaborate decoration of Humayun’s Tomb. Yet its unusual dome, simple form and uncertain history make it worth a closer look. Who Was Buried Here? There is no inscription inside the monument to confirm when it was built or for whom. It is generally believed to date from the middle of the 16th century. The tomb is commonly associated with Miyan Fahim , who is said to have served Abdul Rahim Khan-i-Khana, the son of Bairam Khan. Rahim later became an important noble and poet in Emperor Akbar’s court. Much about Nila Gumbad remains uncertain. That, in a way, is part of its appeal. It belongs to a period when Mughal architecture in India was still develop...