South Korean First Lady Kim Jung-sook today took a tour of the 16th century Humayun's Tomb, the celebrated monument which served as an architectural inspiration for the Taj Mahal, and said she would surely visit the Mughal-era icon in Agra in her next trip to India.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in and his wife had arrived in India yesterday as part of his first state visit to the country.
Kim spent nearly 45 minutes in the complex of the iconic garden-tomb that was commissioned by Mughal Emperor Humayun's widow Hamida Banu Begam.
She was given a tour of the UNESCO World Heritage complex by Praveen Singh, Deputy Superintending Archaeologist of the Archaeological Survey of India's Delhi Circle, which maintains the site.
Kim, who took a walk through the premises, stopped by at several places to admire the view and architecture of the main tomb.
"This time we had little time, so we are not able to visit the Taj. But, I knew that the Humayun Tomb's design had inspired the makers of Taj Mahal. So, next time, I will surely visit the Taj Mahal," she said.
Built in 1570, the tomb is of a particular cultural significance as it was the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent. It inspired several major architectural innovations, culminating in the construction of the Taj Mahal.
Humayun died in 1556, and his widow Hamida Banu Begam, also known as Haji Begam, commenced the construction of his tomb in 1569, 14 years after his death. It is the first distinct example of proper Mughal style, which was inspired by Persian architecture.
"She observed the designs and detailings in architecture very keenly and enquired about the carvings on the walls inside the main tomb. The first lady also visited the chambers in which the two wives of Humayun lay buried," Singh told PTI.
"I also requested her to visit the Taj Mahal in her next India trip," he said.
The Korean first lady also enquired about the finial crowning the main tomb and praised the symmetry of the monument and the 'charbagh' design of the garden.
The finial was hit by a massive storm in May 2014 which had dislodged and damaged it. It was restored in 2016.
"The steps leading to the tomb may be of bit high elevation, but the height lend symmetrical view to the monument," she said.
She also posed for pictures at its grand entrance endowed with fountains near the monument.
President Moon and his wife had yesterday visited the Akshardham temple here.
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