'Spectacular!'

That's how Barack Obama described the Humayun's tomb in the Capital, during his 40-minute visit to the Mughal-era monumentKK Muhammad describes it as a god-sent opportunity. The ASI Superintending Archaeologist has accompanied many foreign dignitaries around Delhi's splendid monuments. But Sunday was different. History lessons: US President Barack Obama with his Michelle at the Humayun's Tomb with ASI Superintending Archaeologist KK Mohammed as their tour guide in New Delhi on Sunday. PIC/Rajeev TyagiIt was a day when Muhammad had the opportunity to take the US first couple around the 32-acre red stone Mughal marvel, Humayun's Tomb, which inspired the creation of Taj Mahal. It was wonderful, wonderful. I can't explain... It is a god-sent opportunity, an elated Muhammad said after bidding adieu to the Obamas, who savoured India's rich cultural heritage at the monument for about 40 minutes. Muhammad was there to receive the US first couple as their limousine drove up to the west gate of the World Heritage site complex.Muhammad has been a chief guide to visiting leaders and heads of state when they go for sight-seeing to historical monuments - most famously, for former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf at Taj Mahal in 1999. The first head of state he took on a guided tour was German chancellor Helmut Kohl in 1989-90.For the US first couple, Muhammad did not have to do much homework. We know about the monument as it is part of the job, he said.Spectacular! This is how US President Barack Obama described the Humayun's Tomb as he visited the 450-year-old Mughal monument, getting a glimpse of India's rich cultural and historic civilisation.Obama, who kicked off his engagements in Delhi with the visit to the 16th century marvel, went around with his wife Michelle intently getting the feel of the monument, which is said to have inspired the creation of the Taj Mahal.49-year-old Obama and Michelle (46) drove to the monument soon after their arrival from Mumbai at the airport here, where the US first couple were personally received by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur. Masterpiece The tomb was commissioned by Humayun's wife Hamida Banu Begum in the year 1562, and was designed by Mirak Mirza Ghiyath, a Persian architect. It was the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent, and is located in Nizamuddin East, Delhi, close to the Dina-panah citadel also known as Purana Qila, that Humayun founded in 1533. It was also the first structure to use red sandstone at such a scale. The tomb was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993.