U.S. President Obama arrives in Delhi, will visit Humayun Tomb

NEW DELHI - The United States President Barack Obama arrived in the national capital on Sunday afternoon and headed to the U.S. Embassy, later he will leave for the world heritage site Humayun Tomb on Mathura Road.

Humayun Tomb is the tomb of the Mughal Emperor Humayun’s tomb, commissioned by Humayun’s wife Hamida Banu Begum in 1562 CE, and 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, India, 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, and since then has undergone extensive restoration work

Meanwhile, on arrival, the Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in a rare and special gesture received the visiting United States President Obama and the First Lady Michelle Obama at the Air Force Station, Palam in New Delhi.

Obama and Michelle warmly met the Prime Minister and his wife on arrival at the airport and spent a few moment interacting with them.

Also present on this occasion were Prime Minister Dr. Singh’s wife Gursharan Kaur, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao at the Air Force Station, Palam.

Union Corporate Minister Salman Khursheed, and Indian Ambassador to U.S. Meera Shankar were also present on this occasion to receive the U.S. President.

President Obama’s today schedule include visiting the world heritage site, Humayun Tomb and holding interaction with the children of conservation workers who are being taught in makeshift schools run at the Archeological survey of India site.

In the evening, President Obama and the First Lady will attend a private dinner being hosted by Prime Minister Dr. Singh at his residence.

Select celebrities have been invited for the dinner.

On Monday, his second day in Delhi, President Obama will have a quite busy schedule after his ceremonial reception at the forecourts of Rastrapathi Bhavan.

After paying tributes at Raj Ghat, the samadhi of Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, the US President will head for talks with Dr Manmohan Singh at Hyderabad House.

The two leaders will also address a joint press conference after this meeting.

Vice President Hamid Ansari, the leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj, and the Chairperson of United Progressive Alliance Sonia Gandhi, will call on the US President in the afternoon.

In the evening, Obama will address a Joint Session of Parliament in the historic Central Hall. This is the second time, that a US President will be addressing a Joint sitting of Parliament, after Bill Clinton in 2000.

Indian President Pratiba Devi Singh Patil will host a banquet in honour of the visiting U.S. President.

Obama will leave for Indonesia on Tuesday morning, on the second leg of his Asian tour. (ANI)