Page "Humayun's Tomb" Paragraph 20

The high rubble built enclosure is entered through two lofty double-storeyed gateways on the west and south, 16 metres high with rooms on either side of the passage and a small courtyards on the upper floors.

Six-sided stars that adorn the main gateway on the west, are also seen on the iwan of the main tomb structure, though it has been used as ornamental cosmic symbol.

The mosque usually present alongside royal tombs, like the Taj, is conspicuously missing from the enclosure, which has only one other structure, the tomb of Emperor's favorite barber, now commonly known as Nai ka Gumbad ( Dome-of-barber ).

The tomb built of rubble masonry and red sandstone, uses white marble as a cladding material and also for the flooring, lattice screens ( jaalis ), door frames, eaves ( chhajja ) and for the main dome.

It stands on a vaulted terrace eight-metre high and spread over 12, 000m².

It is essentially square in design, though chamferred on the edges to appear octagonal, to prepare ground for the design of the interior structure.

The plinth made with rubble core has fifty-six cells all around, and houses over 100 gravestones.

Plus, the entire base structure is on a raised platform, a few steps high.