8/16/2015 MUGHAL ARCHITECTURE http://indiapicks.com/annapurna/S_Mughal.htm 1/13 Search Indus Valley Buddhist Jain Rajput Rajput Civil Architecture Rajasthan Paintings Orissa Pallava Chalukya Rashtrakuta Hoysala Chola Pandya Vijayanagar Nayak Muslim Deccan Mughal BACK MUGHAL ARCHITECTURE All the early Mughal Rulers except Aurangzeb were great bui1ders. With the coming of the Mughals, Indian architecture was greatly influenced by Persian styles. The Mughals constructed excellent mausoleums, mosques, forts, gardens and cities. The Mughal buildings show a uniform pattern both in structure and character. The main characteristic features of Mughal architecture are the bulbous domes, the slender minarets with cupolas at the four corners, large halls, massive vaulted gateways and delicate ornamentation. The few mosques and palaces built by Babar and Humayun are not of much architectural significance Sher Shah of the Sur Dynasty who ruled over the Kingdom of the Mughals after driving Humayun out of the country was not only a great administrator but a lover of art also. He built several forts, tombs and mosques. The monuments of Sher Shah are a continuation of the Lodi style. The mausoleums are octagonal in plan and have verandahs around them, surmounted by huge domes. The verandahs have three smaller domes on each side. Purana Quila (Old Fort), Delhi Sher Shah built the Purana Quila in Delhi. Started by him, it was completed by Humayun. Built of red and buff sandstone, it is ornamented with black and white marble and coloured tiles. A beautiful
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Search
Indus Valley Buddhist Jain Rajput Rajput Civil Architecture RajasthanPaintings Orissa
PallavaChalukyaRashtrakutaHoysala Chola PandyaVijayanagarNayakMuslimDeccanMughalBACK
MUGHAL ARCHITECTURE
All the early Mughal Rulers except Aurangzeb were great bui1ders. With the coming of the Mughals,Indian architecture was greatly influenced by Persian styles. The Mughals constructed excellentmausoleums, mosques, forts, gardens and cities. The Mughal buildings show a uniform pattern both instructure and character.The main characteristic features of Mughal architecture are the bulbous domes, the slender minaretswith cupolas at the four corners, large halls, massive vaulted gateways and delicate ornamentation.The few mosques and palaces built by Babar and Humayun are not of much architectural significanceSher Shah of the Sur Dynasty who ruled over the Kingdom of the Mughals after driving Humayun outof the country was not only a great administrator but a lover of art also. He built several forts, tombsand mosques. The monuments of Sher Shah are a continuation of the Lodi style. The mausoleums areoctagonal in plan and have verandahs around them, surmounted by huge domes. The verandahs havethree smaller domes on each side.
Purana Quila (Old Fort), Delhi
Sher Shah built the Purana Quila in Delhi. Started by him, it was completed by Humayun. Built of redand buff sandstone, it is ornamented with black and white marble and coloured tiles. A beautiful
mosque inside the Quila with ornamental arches, decorative panels, geometrical designs andinscriptions is an example of the development of architecture and ornamentation during Sher Shah'sreign.
Sher Shah's tomb, Sasaram
Sher Shah's tomb at Sasaram in Bihar built in 1549 is in the centre of a large square tank and rises al46 metres high. It is a two storey construction on a terraced platform. The upper terrace has pillareddomes and the two storeys above have a pillared kiosk at the four corners. The base of the largecentral dome has thirty two sides. The tomb is decorated with coloured tiles, very few of whichremain now. Entrance to the tomb is through a domed structure.Mughal architecture begins with Akbar who showed his passion for building by planning andconstructing splendid edifices. During his reign Mughal architecture took on new forms. Akbar madefree use of both Hindu and Persian styles. The use of red sandstone inlaid with white marble andpainted designs on walls and ceiling are the salient features of Akbar's buildings.Akbar constructed numerous forts, towers, palaces, mosques, mausoleums and gateways. A structureof note built during his reign is Humayun's Tomb in Delhi. Humayun's TombHumayun’s tomb was built by his widow Haji Begum in 1565 A.D. in Delhi in 1569A.D., fourteenyears after his death. The mausoleum stands in the centre of a square enclosed garden. The garden isdivided and subdivided into squares, typical of Mughal gardens. The lofty double storeyed structureis built on a huge high platform terrace which has a row of calls with arched openings. The centralchamber is octagonal in shape and contains the tomb. Each side of the mausoleum has a large archedalcove in the centre with smaller ones on either side. It has a high marble double dome in the centreand pillared kiosks with cupolas surrounding it. Built of red sandstone with an inlay of black, whiteand yellow marble it presents an imposing picture. Planned by a Persian architect and constructed by
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Indian workers, it is a combination of both Persian and Indian styles of architecture. Entrance to themausoleum is through two double storeyed gateways.
Humayun's Tomb
(Picture courtesy Archaeological Survey of India)
Humayun Tomb in World Heritage Monumentsof India Images of Humayun's Tomb
Agra FortA greater part of the fort at Agra was constructed by Akbar starting in 1565 AD and completed it in1574 A.D. Situated on the bank of the river Jamuna, it is a massive and grand structure. The specialfeature of this fort is the 2.5 kms. long and 21 metres high circuitous wall of solid red sand stone. Thestones are linked with iron rings so close that not even a hair can pass through. The entrance to thefort is through two gateways. The main entrance known as Delhi Gate was the ceremonial entrance tothe fort. The other smaller gateway is called the Hathi Pol or Elephant Gate because of the two hugeelephants on either side of the gate and was meant for private use.The Delhi Gate entrance archway is flanked by two double storeyed octagonal bastions crowned byoctagonal domed kiosks. A balcony separates the two storeys. The structure above the balcony hasarched recesses. The gateway is decorated with beautiful panels of coloured tiles and marble inlaywork.The fort is surrounded by a deep moat. The fort formerly contained numerous buildings of red sandstone but these were later demolished in the reign of Shah Jehan who constructed marble pavilionsinstead. Some of the important buildings inside the fort are the Jahangiri Mahal built for Jahangir andhis family, the Moti Masjid, and Mena Bazaars. The Jehangiri Mahal is an impressive structure andhas a courtyard surrounded by doublestoreyed halls and rooms. The corbel brackets, doorways andthe chajja above them are profusely carved.The elaborate architecture of the brackets seems to be an imitation of wood work. The planning andconstruction of the fort show that Rajput architectural styles were freely adopted.
Agra Fort(Picture courtesy Archaeological Survey of India)
Fatehpur SikriAkbar’s greatest architectural achievement was the construction of Fatehpur Sikri, his Capital Citynear Agra. The construction pf the walled city was started in 1569 A.D. and completed in 1574 A.D. contained some of the most beautiful buildings – both religious and secular which testify to theEmperor’s aim of achieving social, political and religious integration. The religious edifices worthmentioning are the Jami Masjid and Salim Chisti’s Tomb. The tomb built in 1571 A.D. in the cornerof the mosque compound is a square marble chamber with a verandah. The cenotaph has anexquisitely designed lattice screen around it.
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Jami Masjid, Fatehpur Sikri(Picture courtesy Archaeological Survey of India)
Tomb of Sheikh Salim Chisti, Fatehpur Sikri(Picture courtesy Archaeological Survey of India)
The secular ones include Jodh Bai’s palace, the Panch Mahal, the Diwanikhas and the BulandDarwaza. Jodha Bai's palace is a large building consisting of rooms on all four sides of a courtyard.
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The centre part and four corners of the building are doubled storeyed. A small chapel attached hasniches in the wakks for idols. The panch Mahal is a five stored structure, each storey smaller in size asthey go up, the last one being only a kiosk.
Panch Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri(Picture courtesy Archaeological Survey of India)
The Diwani Khas, an outstanding structure was meant for the Emperor to sit in audience with hisministers and listen to disputes and discussions. A novel structure, it is a large hall with a giantmonolithic pillars in the centre with a circular railed platform on top like a cup which is supported bya circular array of beautifully carved brackets. From the Central platform branch out four diagonalrailed galleries symbolizing Akbar’s supremacy over his dominions. The gallery is continued on allfour sides of the hall. The audience sat in the galleries and in the hall below giving it the effect of atwostorey building. Sitting in the centre, Akbar heard discourses and discussions on religions.
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Diwani Khas(Picture courtesy Great Mirror)
Buland DarwazaA magnificent gateway was added later in 157172 to commemorate his conquest of Gujarat. Built ofred sand stone and marble it is said to be the “most perfect architectural achievement in the whole ofIndia". A flight of steps lead to the gateway which is about 53 metres in height and 39 metres inwidth. Entrance is through a huge arched domed recess. A broad rectangular strip bordering thearchway has calligraphic inscriptions on it. At the corners are slender turrets. The beautifulperforated parapet and the row of kiosks with cupolas add to the dignity of the monument. Aninscription on the gateway testifies to Akbar’s religious toleration.
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Buland Darwaza, Fatehour Sikri, Agra(Picture courtesy Archaeological Survey of India)
Jehangir though a lover of art was fond of natural beauty and so devoted his time to the laying ofbeautiful gardens such as the Shalimar and Nishat Bagh in Srinagar, Kashmir and to miniaturepaintings. Out of the few of his constructions of note are Akbar's tomb at Sikandra and the tomb of hisfatherinlaw ItmadudDaula both near Agra Akbar's Tomb, Sikandra The Mausoleum of Akbar at Sikandra near Agra was started by Akbar and completed by his sonJahangir in 1612 A.D. who changed the original design of his father. Designed on the model of aBuddhist Vihara, it is set in the centre of a square garden. The enclosure wall on each side has agateway. The main gateway has four white marble minarets in the four corners. The Mausoleum hasfive terraces, rising from the basement, one above the other, diminishing in size as they ascend. Thered sandstone entrance gateway is the largest and is richly decorated with inlaid coloured stonework. With its charming proportions, it is by itself a work of art.
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Akbar's Tomb, Sikandra(Picture courtesy Archaeological Survey of India)
ItmadUdDaula’s Tomb: The Mausoleum of ItmadudDaula, the revenue minister of Jahangir and Nur Jehan’s father was builtin Agra on the banks of the Jumuna. Started by Jahangir it was completed by Nur Jehan in 1628 A.D. A small rectangular structure in white marble, inlaid with semiprecious stones and coloured glass, itis a delicate and beautiful piece of architecture. It is the first pure marble monument and differs fromthe typical massive, red sandstone structures of earlier Mughals. Situated in a garden amidstfountains, it has a square lower storey with four minarets in the four corners. A traceried pavilionforms the second storey. A central chamber inside contains the tombs and is surrounded by anenclosed verandah. A jewel in marble“there is no other building like it in the entire range of MughalArchitecture”.
ItmadUdDaula’s Tomb, Agra(Picture courtesy Archaeological Survey of India)
Shah Jehan, the most famous of the Mughal builders had a passion for building. His reign marks theconstruction of numerous palaces, forts, mosques and gardens. His buildings are marked by thequality feminity, grace and elegance. They do not show the masculinity of Akbar's solid red sandstone constructions. Mughal architecture reached the peaks of excellence during this reign. The maincharacteristics of his buildings are the use of delicately carved white marble richly decoratedwith pietra dura or inlay of coloured stones and calligraphy in black marble. Some of his outstandingworks are the Moti Masjid or Pearl Mosque in Agra Fort and the Taj Mahal, the Red fort in Delhi withthe DiwaniAm and DiwaniKhas, the Jami Masjid in Delhi and the mausoleum of Jehangir inShahdara, Lahore (in Pakistan). Jama Masjid, DelhiThe Jama Masjid in Delhi is the largest mosque in India and was built between 16501656A.D. It isconstructed on a high platform and approached by a flight of steps on three sides. The main entranceis a double storeyed gateway and leads to a vast square courtyard which is enclosed by pillaredcorridors. The prayer hall, rectangular in plan has a facade of eleven arches. The high central arch isflanked by tall slender minarets with cupolas. White marble panels with inscriptions frame the arches.Three domes with alternate black and white marble stripes surmount the prayer hall. On the easterncorners, stand two tapering four storeyed minarets. Red Fort Soon after laying the foundation or his new Capital city of Shahjehanabad Shah Jchan startedconstruction of the red sandstone Red Fort or Lal Quila in 1638 A.D. on the banks of the riverJumuna. The fort took nearly nine years to complete. Within the walled city, the fortress is in theshape of a rectangle 900 metres by 550 metres. The rampart walls are about 34 metres high. A moatsurrounds the rampart. Two of the five gateways of the fort are three storeyed structures flanked byoctagonal towers. These are the Lahori Gate and the Delhi Gate. Figures of two huge elephants flank
the Delhi Gate. The main entrance to the fort is through the Lahori Gate. A covered passage withshops on either side leads to the palaces inside the fort. Barracks for soldiers, audience halls, horseand elephant stables, and ornamental gardens are other features of the fort.Some of the beautiful buildings are the DiwaniAm, DiwaniKhas, Moti Mahal, Hira Mahal andRang Mahal, the latter three, all halls decorated with pietro dura and patterns in gold and colour andfloors paved with marble slabs. The Moti Masjid was added later in 1654 A.D. and is an excellentspecimen of the balance and rhythm maintained in Mughal constructions. The DiwaniAm (Hall of Public Audience) is an arched pillared durbar hall. A white marble throne,embellished with coloured inlay work stands under a marble canopy. Below the throne is a marbledais inlaid with semiprecious stones. Behind the throne, the wall has beautiful panels of flowers andbirds in coloured inlay work.The DiwaniKhas (Hall of Private Audience) is a rectangular central hall with aisles of arches andpainted pillars. The four corners of the roof have pillars with chhatris on them. The walls have thefamous verses of Amir Khusro which says that “If there is paradise on earth it is here”
Red Fort, Delhi
Red Fort in World Heritage Monuments ofIndia Images of Red Fort Tomb
Taj MahalThe Taj Mahal in Agra, a dream in white marble was built by Shah Jehan as a memorial to hisbeloved wife Mumtaz Begum. Built on the banks of the river Jumna, it was started in 1632 A.D. andtook 22 years to complete. Marble from Makrana and precious stones from different parts of theworld were used in its construction. Planned by Isa, a Persian architect it is a masterpiece ofarchitecture. The Taj is situated in the centre of a high marble terrace. A marble minaret of fourstoreys stands on each of the four corners of the terrace. The minarets are crowned with domes. Themain structure is a square. A huge, vaulted recess with smaller arched recesses in two storeys oneither side make up the facade of the building on all sides. An octagonal hall with an exquisiteperforated marble screen contains the cenotaphs of Mumtaz and Shah Jehan. The vaulted ceiling iscrowned in the centre by a large bulbous dome which tapers off into a foliated crest. Around thedome are four cupolas. The surface of the walls – exterior and interior and the cenotaphs arebeautifully decorated with pietra dura, floral and geometrical designs. Borders of inscriptionsdecorate the main archways.A Mosque on the west and a corresponding structure on the east in red sandstone complete the effectof symmetry. Situated in a large enclosed rectangular garden with fountains, ornamental pools andwatercourses, entrance to the Taj is by a majestic gateway.
Taj Mahal, Agra(Picture courtesy Archaeological Survey of India)
Bibi Ka MaqbaraAurangzeb being a puritan did not encourage art in any form. Architecture and fine Arts declinedduring his reign never to come up again during Mughal rule. One of the very few buildings of thisperiod worth mentioning is the mausoleum of his wife, RabiaUdDaurani erected in 1679 A.D. inAurangabad (Deccan) by her son. A poor replica of the Taj Mahal and half its size, it shows the extentto which art had declined. Its noteworthy features are the latticed octagonal white marble screen,which encloses the tombs and the beaten brass doors with floral panels and borders. Sikh TemplesIn 1579, Guru Ramdas, the fourth Guru of the Sikhs founded the city of Amritsar in the Punjab. Hefirst constructed a pool and named it Amrit Sar or 'Pool of Nectar' on a stretch of land gifted to him byAkbar. His successor, Guru Arjun Dev built a temple in the middle of the pool to enshrine the GuruGranth Sahib, the sacred book of the Sikhs. In 1803, Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the Ruler of Punjabimproved the temple. The lower half of the temple was covered with marble and the upper half withcopper over which a pure gold leaf of 400 Kgs was covered. Since then this ‘Hari Mandir’ is calledthe ‘Golden Temple’. It has four entrances in the four cardinal directions. A marble causeway acrossthe water connects the entrance gateway to the main shrine. Floral patterns of coloured semipreciousstone inlay work , glass work and beautiful fresco paintings decorate the inner walls and ceiling of thetemple. The architecture is a combination of Hindu and Muslim styles and lays stress on calmness andserenity. A marble paved square construction adjacent to the Golden Temple is the Akal Takht orImmortal Throne – the seat of Sikh religion. The weapons used by the Sikh Gurus are also kept here.
The temple with its beautiful domes throwing its reflection in the pool is a piece of grace and beauty.Other important places of worship in Punjab for the Sikhs are the Gurudwara at Taran Taran Sahibdesigned in Mughal style, the Fatehgarh Sahib at Sirhind where the young sons of Guru Gobind Singhwere buried alive by Aurangjeb and the Gurudwara at Anandpur sahib where Guru Gobind Singhinitiated the Khalsa.