Quwwat ul Islam Mosque
To mark his victory over Rai Pithora,
Qutub-ud-Din Aibak built the Quwwat-ul-
Islam Masjid in 1192 which was completed
in 1197.
It is the earliest extant mosque in India,
having a rectangular court.
The court is enclosed by cloisters which
were erected with carved columns and
other architectural members from the 27
Hindu and Jain temples, which were later
demolished.
The walls and pillars are having
intrinsic Hindu architectural motifs.
Qutub minar, New Delhi
Expansion of the Qutub Complex
Iltutmish Tomb:
• Built in around 1235 AD
• Located in north-west corner of the mosque complex.
• Illustrates the development of Indo-Islamic architecture
• Indian builder came to terms with the most elementary
grammar of the Islamic language of building.
Method of dome construction
• Circular in plan over a cubic
compartment
• Square in configuration
• supporting the circular drum
like base
• decorative aspects
than in the structural
aspects.
• arches were covered
with highly intricate
and beautiful Islamic
arabesques in
marbles and sand
stones.
• constructed the dome
with the method of
corbelling
• The rich interior and plain exterior
• Three mihrabs (prayer niches)
• Arched entrances
• Indicative of Hindu decoration
Khilji Dynasty (1290-1320)
• Enlarged the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque and built a gateway known as Alahi Darwaja to the enclosure of
the mosque
• Allauddin Khilji also established the 2nd city of Delhi at Siri and dug a vast reservoir at Hauz Khas
(Hydraulically structured) around 1311AD
• Prominent features of this dynasty adopted by the Khiljis were –
• the true arch in the form of a pointed horseshoe
• broad dome, recessed arches under the squinch
• perforated windows, inscriptional bands
• use of red sandstone relieved by marble
ALAI DARWAZA
• It is the southern gateway of the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque, and is a gem of Islamic architecture in India.
• It was built by Alla-ud-din Khilji in 1311.
• It is 17.2m square and pierced by arched openings that echo the contours of the covering dome.
• The arch to the north is semicircular while the others are of pointed horse shoe shape.
• It has intricate carvings in red sandstone and marble.
• It has red stone jali screens.
FACADE OF ALAI DARWAZA
The arched entrances and jalis are decorated by
fringes of lotus buds.
Alai Minar
Ghiaz-al-ud-din Tomb:
Ghiyath al Din Tughluq Shah I (r. 1320-1325) was the first Tughluq ruler who, upon succeeding the Khaljis, established the Tughluqabad
Fort on the southeastern side of the Qutb complex in old Delhi. Built during his lifetime, his tomb is a fortress-like complex, constructed on
an (now-dry) artificial lake, which separates the tomb from the Tughluqabad Fort. A 229-meter-long causeway, supported by 26 arched
piers, crosses the lake to connect the tomb to the fort. Water also added a dimension to the paradise imagery in tomb architecture, a
theme that would be carried on from the Tughluq tombs to reach its height with Mughal architecture.
The tomb complex has an oblique pentagonal plan with a battlement perimeter wall supporting conical bastions at each angle. Measuring
11.75 meters in height, the perimeter wall inclines inwards and has a continuous crenelated parapet. One enters the court through a
strategically staggered, decorated entrance gate. Arched corridors and vaulted chambers run along the interior side of the court perimeter
wall.
Placed diagonally within the court, the tomb itself is constructed of rubble masonry, unadorned on its exterior and faced with red
sandstone and a white marble decorative course on the interior. Square in plan, its battered walls are massive: the interior tomb walls
measure 11.74 meters in length (18.74 meters on the exterior), with an overall height of 24.4 meters and a 75 degree slope.
Its pointed dome, which rests on a transition of corner squinches, has an an interior diameter of 10.41 meters and an exterior diameter of
13.41 meters. Crowned with a vase and melon (kalash and amala) finial, the dome follows the typology of Hindu temples in the Delhi
region. Three sides (north, south, and east) of the tomb have horseshoe-arched doorway openings with spearhead extrusions in their
intrados and are flanked by a niche on either side. A marble band begins at the base of these horseshoe arches, running across the
architrave. The western wall of the tomb accommodates the mihrab.
The interior of the tomb is faced in red sandstone up to the base of the dome, above which it is clad in white marble. Three tombstones
are housed within the tomb structure itself. With the exception of the marble-clad mihrab, the interiors are unplastered and undecorated.
In addition to the grave of Ghiyath al-Din, the tomb also contains the graves of his wife Makhdima-Jehan, and his son Sultan Muhammad
Adil Tughlaq Shah (d. 1351).
Firoz Shah Kotla: The entrance has a huge iron gate with a board that bears the name of Feroz Shah
• Built in 1354 Kotla.The boundary walls of the fort, built as a stone masonary, are as high as 15
• Also known as ‘the metres. Inside the fort you will find a number of ruined structures, of which the
Mosque and the Baoli (step well) are still recognizable. The Ashoka Pillar which stands
palace of Firoz’
tall on the top of a pyramidal three-tiered structure. The 13 metres high pillar, which
was brought by Feroz Shah Tughlaq from Ambala to Delhi, bears the edicts of Ashoka’s
• A vast walled enclosure principles.
with all the amenities
and necessities
• Fairly symmetrical plan
• Rectangle less than half
a mile long and a
quarter broad
• Its longer axis running
north and south
• Surrounded by high
battlemented walls
with tall spreading
bastions at frequent
intervals
• Main entrance was on the
western side and consisted
of a fortified gateway;
protected by a guard room
and barrack in a courtyard
inside.
• On the opposite side to the
main gate , there was a large
rectangular enclosure
overlooking the river.
• The palace and royal and
private residences aligned
along and above the outer
wall to receive the cool air
carried across the river.
• Diwan-i-am
• Diwan-i-khas
• Inside the fort, a number of ruined
structures, of which the Mosque and
the Baoli (step well) are still
recognizable.
• The Ashokan Pillar which stands tall
on the top of a pyramidal three-
tiered structure. The 13 metres high
pillar, which was brought by Feroz
Shah Tughlaq from Ambala to Delhi,
bears the edicts of Ashoka’s
principles.
Pyramidal structure: Jami Masjid:
• It is a three-storey building which was specially • It was built on a series of underground cells and made of
commissioned by Feroz Shah to support the quartzite stone covered with lime plaster and surrounded by
Ashokan pillar. a huge courtyard with cloisters and a Prayer Hall.
• Large structure occupying a prominent position • The entrance of Jama Masjid lies on the northern side and
towards the centre and consisting of a series of was connected by a causeway to the pyramidal structure of
square arcades terraces, a kind of stepped the Ashokan Pillar.
pyramid.
This monolith pillar is 13 meters high, with a diameter of 65 cm
at the top and 97 cm at the bottom.
It was crowned by a capital of colored stones and a golden
globe with a crescent on top.
Baoli:
• The circular Baoli, which means 'step well', lies towards the north western side of the Ashokan Pillar.
• The outer wall of the baoli has arched recesses, and the baoli itself is three storeys deep, with a staircase descending
down to the water level at the western end. The water from the baoli is nowadays pumped up to irrigate the gardens of
Firoz Shah Kotla.
Section
Plan
Khirki Masjid:
• The techniques of Islamic architecture, were fundamentally of the Arabian type with the plan of hypostyle
oblong hall, but the Khirki Masjid (c.1375) presents a peculiar plan, having four courtyards like a Charbagh-
style .
• The mosque is unique in many ways, more than 80 % of the mosque is roofed over, the entire design is such
that the west side of the mosque, the side pointing to the Kaa’ba from India is built in exactly the same
manner as the other three sides, the only difference is in the absence of a gate on this side.
• Piers are short and thickest, and plain square
monolithic pillars; composed of groups of two or
sometimes four.
• Khirki masjid is designed on a cruciform plan,
produced by the two main aisles crossing at right
angles.
The play of light through the day creates fascinating patterns
from the shadows of the many arches that supported the 90
domes that adorned the more than 2500 square meter
mosque the roofing of the Khirki masjid and dividing of the
interior spaces into various small courtyards - perhaps to
avoid the scorching heat of North India in the summer -
effectively broke up the congregation into small groups.
• Whatever the reason for this unusual masjid, it was
apparently not very successful as a building type and was
not repeated.
• The whole structure is raised on a tahkhana, or
sub structure of arches.
• Projected entrance approached by fine flights of
steps
• Rounded bastions thrown out from each corner.
• The interior consists of cloisters formed by a series
of square bays.
• The corner of each bay supported on a heavy pier
with ‘tudor’ arches between, and each bay roofed
by a cup-shaped dome.
Haus Khas:
The name Hauz Khas in Urdu
language is derived from the
words -
‘Hauz’: “water tank” (or
lake) and
‘Khas’:“royal”- the “Royal
tank”
• The notable structures built by Firuz Shah on the eastern and northern side of the reservoir consisted of
the Madrasa (Islamic School of Learning – a theological college), the small Mosque, the Main tomb for himself and six
domed pavilions in its precincts, which were all built between 1352 and 1354 A.D.
• The madrasa complex measures 76 meters N-S by 138 meters along the E-W. The six individual domed pavilions are all
scattered in the gardens of the eastern part of the complex.
Tomb of Firuz Shah: • His tomb is in the middle of a madrasa he
commissioned. The simple 15 foot square structure is
built of ashlar walls finished with lime plaster with
arched entrances and merlons along the parapet.
• Above the parapet rises an octagonal drum, which
supports a shallow and slightly pointed dome.
• The north and west of the tomb are contiguous with
one of the wings of the madrasa. To the east are
several chattris, small domed structures supported by
pillars, which house tombs of saints and religious
teachers.
• The tomb has a low platform to the south that is
The interior of the tomb is a square chamber with squinch enclosed by a graceful stone railing. a large school,
arches in each angle to support the dome, and an arched mosque and his own tomb were added by Firoz Shah.
mihrab is sunk in its western wall.
• Both in the interior and on the outside of this tomb there is • These buildings are laid out in an ‘L’ shape on a high
certain amount of inscribed arabesque ornamentation which, rocky outcrop overlooking the tank. Firoz Shah’s tomb
however, does not belong to the original structure, as it was is at the junction of this ‘L’, and is also the highest
added during some repairs executed by Sultan Sikandar Lodi building there, surmounted by a dome with its
th
at the beginning of the 16 century. interior finely stuccoed. -
First civil war breaks out
1384
Death of Firoz Shah Tughlaq
1388
Period of Civil Wars
The Mongols sack Firoz's son and grandson at war with each other;
Delhi rebellions in all parts of the empire; six sultans in ten years.
Invasion of Timur 1388 - 1414
1398
Formation of the
THE SAYYIDS
Provincial Kingdoms
Deputed as governors of Delhi by Timur,
BENGAL
starting with Sayyid Khizr Khan
KASHMIR
1414 - 1451 GUJARAT
JAUNPUR
MALWA
THE LODIS BAHAMANIS
Dynasty begins with Bahlul Khan Lodi after the last Sayyid KHANDESH
ruler, Ala-ud-din Alam Shah willingly abdicated in his favour
1451 - 1526
Sayyid and Lodi Dynasty:
During the 15th century and also into the first quarter of the 16th century, a number of buildings were erected in various
parts of the Delhi area, first under the rule of the Sayyids and afterwards under their successors, the Lodis.
No great buildings undertakings are recorded as during the previous regime, no capital cities were founded, no imperial
palaces, no fortresses or strongholds were created, no mosques of any importance, no colleges and no public buildings of
any kind appear to have been produced.
In the sphere of architecture it was a period of the macabre, appropriately so named as that word is probably derived
from maqbarah, the Arabic for cemetery.
The more important of these buildings took two separate forms, the outcome of two different conventions. On the one
hand there was a type designed on an octagonal plan, surrounded by an arched colonnade or verandah with a projecting
eave and one storey in height. On the other hand there was another type, square in plan, having no verandah, and the
exterior being two or sometimes three storeys in height.
The three royal tombs of the octagonal type built during the Sayyid and Lodi regime are those of
1. Mubarak Sayyid, died 1434
2. Muhammed Sayyid, died 1444
3. Sikandar Lodi, died 1517
Mubarak Sayyid Tomb: • The tomb of Mubarak Shah
(died 1434) is situated
within Kotla Mubarakpur, at
the heart of the modern day
New Delhi South Extension
I.
• The structure is one of the
early tombs to be modelled
on the typical octagonal
style that rose to
prominence during this
period.
• The central octagonal
chamber is surrounded by
an octagonal verandah,
with three identical arches
piercing each face. Each
corner of the verandah is
reinforced by a sloping
buttress.
• An octagonal domed
‘chattri’ sits above
each side of the
verandah. The central
chamber supports a
sixteen sided
battlemented drum,
which in turn supports
the broad, low dome.
• The dome itself is
Tomb of Mubarak Shah Sayyid crowned by a lantern,
an unusual feature
unique to this tomb.
The verandah that runs around the
An octagonal ‘chattri’ octagonal central chamber.
Shish Ghumbad:
• Architecturally, this tomb follows the
pattern of square Lodi tombs with a
double storied appearance and is similar
to the gate-house of the Bara Gumbad
mosque.
• Originally, the monument was richly
decorated with blue tiles. It is not
known who lies buried here. It was
perhaps built during Sikandar Lodi's
reign (A.D. 1489-1517)
These facades are so designed
as to have the central portion in
shape of a rectangle, projected
and containing a large recessed
archway occupying nearly the
total height of the structure
almost to the parapet.
• Within this arched recess is a
doorway of the beam and
bracket order, the space
above being occupied by an
arched window opening.
• The ‘stories’ of the façade are formed or arched recesses in sunk rectangular
panels, those arches on each side of the doorway being made into opening like
windows to carry light into the interior.
• The parapet and the whole of the super structure including the dome is treated
in much the same architectural manner as in the octagonal examples.
• A single chamber comprising the interior which is square in plan, with sunk archways occupying each side, that
on the west containing the mihrab.
• In each corner is squinch arch to support the base of the dome, while over the cornice is blind arcade with an
arch in each of its sixteen sides.
• The ceiling is decorated with incised plaster work containing
floral designs and Quranic inscriptions.
