Stephen Harper mesmerised by Humayun's Tomb

Taking a break from his diplomatic assignments, Harper and

his wife Laureen spent nearly an hour at the 16th century monument in the heart of the capital and the couple was so impressed by the beauty of the structure that they flooded their guide with several questions.

Arriving at the monument in Hazrat Nizamuddin in south Delhi a little after 1 PM, the couple were received by A K Pandey, Deputy Superintending Archaeologist of ASI (Delhi circle) and he took them around the sprawling campus.

Harper is one of the few visiting dignitaries to have made it to Humayun's Tomb after a visit by US President Barack Obama in 2010 made headlines worldwide.

The couple could not wait to immerse themselves in the glory of the architectural marvel located over a 32 acre plot. Humayun's Tomb is one of three World Heritage Sites in Delhi.

At the outset, Pandey explained to the couple about the history of the monument while he took them around the plush green gardens that surround a central structure.

"Laureen and I thank you for the wonderful tour and for all the great you are doing to preserve this priceless heritage and to enhance this portion of the city," Harper wrote in the visitor's book.

They were also told the structure was a confluence of three architectural styles -- Persian, Central Asian and Indian.

"The couple were mesmerised by the monument's beauty. They kept asking questions about the history and how long it took to build such a wonderful structure," Pandey said.