Indo-Islamic Architecture - Part 1

Introduction
• Islam came to India in the 7th and 8th centuries CE chiefly

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through Muslim traders, merchants, holy men and

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The religion spread in India over a time period of 600 years.
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Muslims in Gujarat and Sind had begun construction work in
the 8th century itself. But it was only in the 13th century that

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building activity on a large scale began by the Turkish State

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after the Turkish conquest of North India.

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Muslims absorbed many
aspects of local architectural
traditions and amalgamated
them into their own practices.

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• Architecturally, a mix of many techniques, stylised shapes
and surface decorations evolved through a continuous
amalgamation of architectural elements from the various

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styles. Such architectural entities that showcased multiple
styles are known as Indo-Saracenic or Indo-Islamic
architecture.
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While the Hindus were allowed to portray God in their art

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and were allowed to conceive manifestations of the divine in
any form, the Muslims were forbidden by their religion to
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replicate living forms on any surface. So, their religious art
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and architecture mainly consisted of arabesque, calligraphy

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and geometrical patterns on plaster and stone.
Types of architectural buildings: mosques for daily prayers,
Jama Masjids, dargahs, tombs, hammams, minars, gardens,
sarais or caravansarais, madrasas, Kos minars, etc.

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Categories of Styles
1. Imperial Style (Delhi Sultanate)

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2. Provincial Style (Mandu, Gujarat, Bengal, and Jaunpur)
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3. Mughal Style (Delhi, Agra, and Lahore)

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4. Deccani Style (Bijapur, Golconda)
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Architectural Influences
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The architecture of Jaunpur and Bengal is distinct.
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Gujarat had more local influence than other styles. Example:
toranas (gateways) from local temple traditions, carvings of bell and
chain motifs, lintels in mihrabs, and carved panels depicting trees.
• Example of provincial style: Dargah of Shaikh Ahmad Khattu of
Sarkhej (in white marble; 15th century).
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Decorative Forms
• Designing on plaster through incision or stucco.
• Designs were either left plain or filled with colours.
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Motifs of varieties of flowers (both Indian and foreign) were painted or
carved.
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In the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries, tiles were used to surface the walls
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and domes. Blue, green, yellow and turquoise were the popular colours.
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In the wall panels, surface decoration was done by the techniques of
tessellation (mosaic designs) and pietra dura (a decorative art that is an

create images).
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inlay technique of using cut and fitted, highly polished coloured stones to

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Other decorative forms: arabesque, calligraphy, high and low relief carving

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and a profuse use of jalis.
The roof was generally a mix of the central dome and other smaller
domes, chatris and tiny minarets.
• There was generally an inverted lotus flower motif and a metal or stone
pinnacle atop the central dome.
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Construction materials
• The walls were quite thick and made of rubble masonry.
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They were then coated with chunam or limestone
plaster or dressed stone.
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Stones used: sandstone, quartzite,
. buff, marble, etc.
• Polychrome tiles were also s
• Bricks were used fromle
s used.

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Forts
• Forts symbolise the seat of power of a ruler. Many large forts with
embattlements were built in the medieval times.
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When a fort was captured, it meant the ruler who owned the fort
had to surrender.
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E.g.: Chittor, Gwalior and Daulatabad
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Chittorgarh is the largest fort in Asia.
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Forts were constructed using great heights so that they were

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impregnable to enemy forces. Inside there were places for offices
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and residences.
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Many complex features were added in the structure and design so
as to making breaching the walls of the forts challenging.
• Golconda Fort (Hyderabad) had concentric circles of outer walls.
Daulatabad Fort had staggered entrances so that even elephants
could not be used to open the gates.
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Minars
• Minar was a form of stambha or tower.
• Examples of medieval minars: Qutub Minar in Delhi, Chand Minar at Daulatabad Fort.
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Everyday use of the minar: azaan (call to prayer).

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Qutub Minar

13th century

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successor Iltutmish.

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Construction started by Qutub-ud-din Aibak (Delhi Sultanate ruler) and completed by his

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UNESCO World Heritage Site

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234 feet high

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Tower is divided into five storeys

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Mix of polygonal and circular shapes

Material: red and buff sandstone with some marble in the upper storeys

Highly decorated balconies

There are inscriptions intertwined with foliated designs

It came to be associated with Khwaja Qutubuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki, a revered saint of Delhi

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• Chand Minar, Daulatabad
15th century
210 feet high
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Tapering tower has four storeys
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Work of architects from Delhi and Iran

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Tombs
• Tombs are monumental structures over the graves of rulers and royalty.
• They were a common medieval feature in India.
• Examples: tombs of Ghyasuddin Tughlaq, Humayun, Akbar, Abdur Rahim
Khan-i-Khanan, Itmaduddaula.
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Idea behind the tomb according to Anthony Welch was “eternal paradise

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as a reward for the true believer on the Day of Judgement.”
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Walls had Quranic verses. Tombs were generally placed within

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paradisiacal elements like a garden or a water body or both (as in the Taj
Mahal).
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Sarais
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Sarais were built on a simple rectangular or square plan around
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• They were meant to provide temporary accommodation to travellers,
traders, pilgrims, etc.
• They were basically public spaces and a hub of cross-cultural
interaction.
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Structures for Common People
• Buildings such as those for domestic usage, temples,
mosques, dargahs, khanqahs, pavilions in the
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buildings and gardens, bazaars, commemorative
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gateways, etc.
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Here also, a mixing of styles, techniques
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and

the medieval period. es

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Jama Masjid
• Large mosques sprang up during the medieval times in India.
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Congregational prayers were held every Friday afternoon. A quorum
of 40 Muslim male adults was required for this to take place.
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At the time of the prayers, a khutba was read out in the name of the
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ruler along with his laws for the realm.
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Generally, a city had one Jama Masjid and this place became the
centre of the town for religious, commercial and political activities.
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Generally, Jama Masjids were large with open courtyards.
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They were surrounded on three sides by cloisters with the Qibla
Liwan to the west. The mihrab and the mimbar for the Imam were
located here.
• The mihrab indicated the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca and so
people faced the mihrab while offering prayers.

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 Indo-Islamic Architecture - Part 2
Architecture in Mandu, Madhya Pradesh
• Mandu is located 60 miles from Indore in Madhya Pradesh.
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The city is at an elevation of 2000 feet overlooking the Malwa Plateau to the north and

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the Narmada Valley to the south.
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It was constantly occupied by the Parmara Rajputs, Afghans and Mughals because of

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its natural defence.

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It was the capital of the Ghauri Dynasty (1401 – 1561) founded by Hoshang Shah.

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Great example of the medieval provincial style of art and architecture.
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It has many official and residential pleasure palaces, mosques, artificial reservoirs,

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pavilions, baolis, embattlements, etc.
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Most structures have arched pavilions, and are light and airy, so that they do not
retain heat.
• Local stone and marble were used.
• Great example of architectural adaptation to the environment.
• Royal Enclave: Set of romantic buildings built around 2 artificial lakes.

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• Hindola Mahal
Audience hall of the Sultan
Resembles a railway viaduct bridge with its large buttresses to support the
walls

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• Jahaaz Mahal
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Batter was used to give the impression of swinging (hindola) walls

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Two-storeyed ship-palace

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Built between 2 reservoirs

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Has open pavilions, balconies and a terrace
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Built by Sultan Ghiyasuddin Khilji possibly for using as his harem

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Had a terrace swimming pool
Rani Rupamati’s double pavilion
• Baz Bahadur’s palace
• Asharfi Mahal – a madrassa

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• Hoshang Shah’s tomb
Example of the robustness of Afghan structures

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Majestic structure with a beautiful dome
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Has marble jail work, courts, porticos and towers

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Also has lattice work, toranas and carved
brackets
• Jama Masjid ele
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Has a grandti r and a squat dome
gateway
Building@is faced with red sandstone
Mihrab has a lotus bud fringe
Qibla Liwan is supported on carved brackets
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Taj Mahal

• Built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal.
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Built from 1632 and took almost 20 years to complete.
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Built by 20000 specialised workers.

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It is a mausoleum.

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It has a simple plan and elevation.

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One of the most famous architectural marvels of India worldwide.
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The structure is breathtakingly symmetrical.
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Made of white marble brought from the Makrana Mines, Rajasthan.
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It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Its monumental gateway is made of red sandstone.
• The tomb is set in a Chahar Bagh, criss-crossed with paths and water courses,
along with pools and fountains.

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• The tomb is on a floor terrace. On the four sides of the terrace, there are four tall
minarets which are 132 feet high each.
• The main building has a drum and a dome with four cupolas.
• Towards the west of the structure is a mosque made of red sandstone.
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Towards the east is a similar structure to maintain the balance.
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Interior arrangements of the mausoleum: crypt below, vaulted, octagonal tomb

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chamber above; there is a room at each angle which are all connected via corridors.
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Light comes into every corner of the building through perforated and carved jalis that

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are set in the arched recesses of the interior.

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A double dome helps create a void that makes the ceiling as high as the façade.
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Four types of embellishments:

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Stone carvings in high and low relief on the walls
Marble carving onto the jalis and volutes
Creation of arabesques with pietra dura on walls and tombstones, and geometric
designs with tessellation
Calligraphy – used in the inlay of jasper in white marble to write verses from the
Quran
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Gol Gumbad
• Location: Bijapur, Karnataka.
• Mausoleum of Muhammad Adil Shah (1626–1656), Adil Shahi

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Dynasty of Bijapur (1489–1686).y
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Built by Muhammad Adil Shah himself.
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Tomb is a complex consisting of a gateway, a mosque, a Naqqar
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Khana, and a sarai within a big-walled garden.

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• The building is a huge square one with a circular drum. Above the
drum is a majestic dome.
• Material: dark gray basalt with decorated plasterwork.
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The whole building is over 200 feet high.
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The tomb has a square chamber.

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The dome is the largest in the world with a diameter of 125 feet and
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an uninterrupted floor space of 18337 square feet.
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Pendentives helped build the hemispherical masonry dome over the
square base.
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The building has an impressive acoustic system with a whispering

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gallery where sounds get magnified and echoed multiple times.
At the four corners of the building there are seven-storeyed
octagonal spires or minarets.
• This structure is a mix of many styles including local, Timurid and
Persian styles.
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