The half-a-millennium old monument — a UNESCO World Heritage Site in New Delhi — is lit up by 800 energy-efficient LED lights
In terms of architectural specifics, the white marble dome of Humayun’s Tomb towers more than 100 feet over the Delhi skyline. This grand dome now shines bright in the Delhi night sky, having been lit by 800 energy saving lamps, LED luminaires in a manner that mimics and enhances the effect of moonlight. Professor Ebba Koch, Mughal historian has said: “The tomb of Humayun is the first of the grand dynastic mausoleums that were to become synonyms of Mughal architecture. Here, for the first time, the monumental scale is attained that was to become the characteristic of Mughal imperial projects.”
Humayun’s Tomb, Delhi | LED Bulbs and Moonlight
Koch’s words come alive when you see the incandescent aura of the dome as if lit on a moonlit night. “LED bulbs have replaced high energy consuming halogen light fixtures, which were installed at the sepulchre in 1999. New lights at the monuments will reduce the power consumption by 90 per cent,” says Ratish Nanda, chief executive officer (CEO) of Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC), which restored the monument. He said illumination of the dome was a challenge because lighting had to be designed in a way as to prevent any shadow on its surface. Visible from major road networks such as the Ring Road, Barahpullah elevated road, Nizamuddin Bridge, the illumination will significantly enhance the skyline of historic Delhi. This endeavour was carried out by Havells India Ltd, as part of their CSR initiative in partnership with the Aga Khan Trust for Culture and, in turn, the Archaeological Survey of India.
Humayun’s Tomb, Delhi | Sacred Geometry
Ace photographer Ram Rahman has captured the surreal splendour of Humayun’s Tomb in the night sky; the images fill us with a sense of awe as we see the geometric perfection,
the study of space juxtaposed against the play of light; the striking characteristics of materials; and meticulous craftsmanship that harks back to the 16th century. The gilded finial that glistens in the night sky is an emblem of the science of sacred geometry, which lies in the perfection of its reflection of the physical world and its representation of how strongly humanity is governed by geometry. The finial was blown away by a storm in May 2014 and a new one was installed in December 2016 with the help of skilled workers and gold leafing.
Read more at the source: https://www.architecturaldigest.in/content/ram-rahman-humayun-tomb-delhi/
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