MUGHAL ARCHITECTURE
PLEASURE GARDENS
Gardens built by the Mughals in the Persian style of
architecture.
This style is heavily influenced by the Charbagh structure.
Significant use of rectilinear layouts are made within the
walled enclosures. Some of the typical features
include pools, fountains and canals inside the gardens.
The Ram Bagh (Agra) is the first charbagh. Some examples
of Mughal gardens are Shalimar Gardens (Lahore), Lalbagh
Fort at Dhaka, and Shalimar Bagh (Srinagar) etc.
SHALIMAR GARDENS , LAHORE
CHARBAGH AT
HUMAYUN'S TOMB The Mughals were obsessed with symbol and
incorporated it into their gardens in many ways:
Large ornamental gardens laid out in various places.
The idea of these retreats was brought in from Persia.
Babur, commemorated his victory over Ibrahim Lodi in 1526
with a large garden called Kabul Bagh at Panipat.
Most of the important monuments were surrounded by park
like enclosures.
Spacious gardens not associated with buildings were also
created, especially the gardens of Kashmir, eg. Shalimar and
Nishat Baghs.
They are formed by means of a series of rectangular
terraces arranged in descending levels to ensure a
continuous flow of water throughout the entire system.
Fountains, pools, basins cascades and similar devices turn
the whole into a very effective water garden.
The layout is rigidly conventional and axially symmetrical.
The aim of the design is to discipline nature and not to
imitate it.
The plan of the Mughal Gardens is worked out in a regular
arrangement of squares , often subdivided into smaller
squares to form the figure of the char bagh.
Paved pathways and water channels follow the shapes of
these squares ,with oblique or curved lines used rarely or
not at all.
At central points in the scheme, masonry pavilions, Kiosks
and arbors are built.
The entire garden was surrounded by a high enclosing wall
to ensure privacy.
The water supply required to maintain such gardens was
often brought in from distant sources by means of canals,
which were in themselves greats feats of engineering.
The numbers eight and nine were considered auspicious by
the Mughals and can be found in the number of terraces or
in garden architecture such as octagonal pools.
Its features included running water (perhaps the most
important element) and a pool to reflect the beauties of sky
and garden; trees of various sorts, some to provide shade
merely, and others to produce fruits; flowers, colorful and
sweet-smelling; grass, usually growing wild under the trees.
SHALIMAR BAGH, KASHMIR
FATEHPUR SIKRI
The city was founded in 1569 by the Mughal emperor Akbar,
and served as the capital of the Mughal Empire from 1571 to
1585.
Fatehpur Sikri sits on rocky ridge, 3 kilometres in length
and 1 km wide, and palace city is surrounded by a 6 km wall
on three side with the fourth being a lake at the time.
The building material used is the locally quarried red
sandstone, known as 'Sikri sandstone.
It is accessed through gates along the five-mile long fort
wall, namely, Delhi Gate, the Lal Gate, the Agra Gate,
Birbal's Gate, Chandanpal Gate, The Gwalior Gate, the Tehra
Gate, the Chor Gate and the Ajmere Gate.
Some of the important buildings in this city are:
1. BULAND DARWAZA:
A magnficent gateway was added later in 1571-72 to
commemorate his conquest of Gujarat.
Built of red sandstone and marble.
A flight of steps lead to the gateway which is about 53
meters in height and 39 metres in width.
Entrance is through a huge arched dome recess.
A broad rectangular strip bordering the archway has
calligraphic inscriptions on it.
At the corners are slender turrets.
The beautiful perforated parapet and the row of kiosks with
cupolas add to the dignity of the monument.
2. Jama Masjid:
It is a Jama Mosque meaning the congregational
mosque.
It was built in the manner of Indian mosques, with
iwans around a central courtyard.
A distinguishing feature is the row of chhatri over the
sanctuary.
There are three mihrabs in each of the seven bays,
while the large central mihrab is covered by a dome, it
is decorated with white marble inlay, in geometric
patterns.
2. Tomb of SalimChishti:
A white marble encased tomb of
the Sufi saint, SalimChishti (14781572), within the
Jama Masjids courtyard.
The single-storey structure is built around a central
square chamber, within which is the grave of the saint,
under an ornate wooden canopy encrusted
with mother-of-pearl mosaic.
Surrounding it is a covered passageway
for circumambulation, with carved Jalis, stone pierced
screens all around with intricate geometric design, and
an entrance to the south.
The tomb is influenced by earlier mausolea.
Other striking features of the tomb are white marble
serpentine brackets, which support
sloping eaves around the parapet
3. Diwan-i-Aam (Hall of Public Audience) :
is a building typology found in many cities where the
ruler meets the general public.
it is a pavilion-like multi-bayed rectangular structure
fronting a large open space.
South west of the Diwan-i-Am and next to the Turkic
Sultana's House stand Turkic Baths.
4. Diwan-i-Khas (Hall of Private Audience):
It is a plain square building with four chhatris on the
roof.
It is famous for its central pillar, which has a square
base and an octagonal shaft, both carved with bands of
geometric and floral designs.
Further its thirty-six serpentine brackets support a
circular platform for Akbar, which is connected to each
corner of the building on the first floor, by four stone
walkways.
HUMAYUN'S TOMB
The main elements in the Islamic architecture is the
introduction of arches and beams, and it is the arcuate style
of construction
The early buildings consisted of false domes and false
arches.
The introduction of true arches and true domes started to
appear, the earliest example is the Alai Darwaza by the side
of Qutub Minar.
The different religious beliefs are also reflected in the mode
of construction and architectural styles.
The Islamic style also incorporated many elements from the
traditional Indian style and a compound style emanated. The
introduction of decorative brackets, balconies, pendentive
decorations, etc. in the architecture is an example in this
regard.
The other distinguishing features of Indo-Islamic
architecture are the utilization of kiosks (chhatris), tall
towers (minars) and half-domed double portals.
The use of lime as mortar was also a major element distinct
from the traditional building style.
As human worship and its representation are not allowed in
Islam, the buildings and other edifices are generally
decorated richly in geometrical and arabesque designs.
These designs were carved on stone in low relief, cut on
plaster, painted or inlaid.
The tomb architecture is another feature of the Islamic
architecture as the practice of the burial of the dead is
adopted.
The general pattern of the tomb architecture is consisted of
o a domed chamber (hujra),
o a cenotaph in its centre with a mihrab on the western
wall
o the real grave in the underground chamber.
The Mughals also built large gardens in various levels and
terraces on the char-bagh pattern.
They evolved a transformed style of char-bagh pattern of
gardening.
The Mughals are also credited to have introduced the double
dome system of dome architecture and the pietra-dura style
of inlay decorations.
The tomb stands in the center of a square garden, divided
into four main parterres by causeways (charbagh), in the
center of which ran shallow water-channels.
The high rubble built enclosure is entered through two lofty
double-storeyed gateways on the west and south.
A baradari (pavilion) occupies the center of the eastern wall
and a hammam (bath chamber) in the Center of northern
wall.
The square red sandstone double-storeyed structure of the
mausoleum with chamfered corners rises from a 7-m. high
square terrace, raised over a series of cells, which are
accessible through, arches on each side. The grave proper in
the center of this cell-complex is reached by a passage on
the south.
The octagonal central chamber contains the cenotaph.
the diagonal sides lead to corner-chambers which house the
graves of other members of the royal family. They have
arched lobbies on the sides. Whose openings are closed with
perforated screens. Each side is dominated by three arches,
the central one being the highest. This plan is repeated on
the second storey too.
Over the roof pillared kiosks are disposed around the high
emphatic double dome in the center.
The roof surmounted by a double dome (42.5m) of marble
has pillared kiosks (chhatris) placed around it.
TAJ MAHAL
The crowning jewel of Indo-Islamic architecture, the Taj
Mahal is one of the worlds most beautiful and beloved
structures. The monument was built in Agra, India, for
Mumtaz Mahal, the favorite wife of Mughal emperor Shah
Jahan.
The pinnacle of Mughal architecture, was built by the
Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in the memory of his queen
Arjumand Bano Begum, entitled Mumtaz Mahal.
The Taj Mahal is the mausoleum of both Mumtaz Mahal and
Shah Jahan.
The mausoleum is located on the right bank of the river
Yamuna at a point where it takes a sharp turn and flows
eastwards.
Its design is rational with strict geometry, and its planned
with perfect symmetry.
