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You are here: Home / Art & Culture / Architecture of Medieval India

Architecture of Medieval India

March 27, 2020 by BureaucratONE Leave a Comment Last Updated March 31, 2020

  • A.k.a Indo-Islamic
  • Replaced Trabeate Style with Arcuate Style
TrabeateArcuate
EntranceLintelArch
TopShikharaDome
MinarsAbsentPresent (Azan)
MaterialStonesBrick, Lime & Mortar
  • Special Features
    • Arch and dome
    • Presence of Minar
    • Mortar for cementing
    • Avoided human and animal figures
    • Used Calligraphy, ARABESQUE (decoration based on floral figures, geometric patterns)
    • Intricate Jali Work for lighting
    • Use of water in the form of courtyard pools for cooling, fountains for decoration, religious purpose like washing feets
    • Charbagh Style
    • Pietra dura technique - inlay of precious stones on the surface
    • Foresighting technique - inscription appears of the same size from any place
Table of Contents hide
1 Classification of Medieval Architecture
2 Delhi Sultanate
2.1 Imperial Style
2.1.1 Slave Dynasty / Ilbari Dynasty
2.1.2 Khilji Dynasty
2.1.3 Tughlaq Dynasty
2.1.4 Lodi Dynasty
2.2 Provincial Style
2.2.1 Bengal School of Architecture
2.2.2 Malwa School of Architecture
2.2.3 Jaunpur School of Architecture
2.2.4 Bijapur / Deccan School of Architecture
3 Mughal Architecture
3.1 Babur
3.2 Humayun
3.3 Akbar
3.4 Jahangir
3.5 Shahjahan
3.6 Aurangzeb
4 Sikh Architecture
5 Rajput Architecture

Classification of Medieval Architecture

  1. Delhi Sultanate
    1. Imperial Style - Patronized by Rulers
    2. Provincial Style - Patronized by Local rulers and Chiefs
  2. Mughal Period
    1. Mughal Architecture
    2. Sikh Architecture
    3. Rajput Architecure

Delhi Sultanate

Imperial Style

Slave Dynasty / Ilbari Dynasty

  • Style developed by them is called Mamluk Style
  • All belonged to Ilbari Tribe except Qutubuddin Aibak
  • Converted existing temples into mosques
  • E.g
    • Quwat-ul-Islam Mosque from Jain Temple
    • Alai din ka jhopra, Ajmer
    • Qutub Minar from demolishing 27 temples (named after Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki, a Sufi saint )

Khilji Dynasty

  • Seljuk Style
  • Used mortar, red sandstone and arch /dome method
  • E.g
    • Alai Darwaja in Qutub Minar Complex by Alaudin Khilji
    • Siri Fort / Siri City founded by Alaudin Khilji

Tughlaq Dynasty

  • Crisis period of Architecture
  • Focused on strength over beauty
  • So combined Arch + Lintel = Battar (Sloping wall)
  • Established 3 Cities
    • Tughlakabad by Gyasuddin Tughlaq
    • Jahapanah by Md Bin Tughlaq
    • Feroz Shah Kotla / Ferozabad by Firozshah Tughlaq
CityFounderRemark
1 Qutb Minar complex/Mehrauli { Qila Rai Pithora (earlier Lal Kot) } Rajput Tomar to Prithviraj Chauhan to Qutubuddin Aibak2nd Battle Terrain 1192, PRC ceded to Mamluk/Slave dynasty QBA
2 Siri Fort Allauddin Khilji To protect from Mongols; Hauz Khas region
3 Tughlaqabad Ghiyasuddin Tughluq
4JahapanahMohammed bin Tughlaq literally Sanctuary of the World; b/w two Delhis (Qutb Minar complex and Siri)
5 Firozabad Firozshah Tughlaq
6 Shergarh / Dilli sher Shahi Sher Shah Suri Started as Dinpanah by Humayun; Near Indraprastha
7 Shajahanabad Shah Jahan Walled city containing the Lal Qila & Chandni Chowk; nowadays known as Old Delhi

Lodi Dynasty

  • Again crisis period for Architecture
  • Commissioned Tombs
  • Introduced double dome(bcos focused on strength)
  • No decorations
  • E.g
    • Lodi Garden by Sikander Lodi
    • Sikander Lodi founded Agra city

Provincial Style

Bengal School of Architecture

  • Bricks & black Marble were used
  • No focus on decoration or strength but only Massiveness
  • Usage of Mortar & Lime plaster was less
  • Large windows for ventilation, artificial Water storage called Baulis
  • Batter system
  • Use of locally available materials
  • E.g
    • Kadam Rasul Mosque, Gaur
    • Adina Mosque, Pandua

Malwa School of Architecture

  • Absence of Minars in Mosques
  • European Influence - Large Windows
  • Use of Arch with pillars and Beams
  • Well proportioned Staircase
  • E.g
    • Hindola Mahal, Mandu
    • Rani Rupmati Pavilion, Mandu

Jaunpur School of Architecture

  • Under Sharqui dynasty
  • Absence of minars , like Malwa School
  • Bold & forceful character painted on central and side bays of prayer hall
  • E.g
    • Atala Mosque, Jaunpur

Bijapur / Deccan School of Architecture

  • Under the patronage of Adil Shah of Bijapur
  • Three arched facade
  • Bulbous dome
  • Cornices(chhjja)
  • E.g
    • Gol Gumbaj (mausoleum of Muhammad Adil Shah) - Largest dome in the world
    • Charminar & Golconda Fort by Mohammed Quli Qutb Shah

Mughal Architecture

Babur

  • Constant War, no time on Architecture
  • Built only 2 mosques
    • Panipat
    • Rohilkhand

Humayun

  • Constant struggle with Sher Shah, no time on Architecture
  • Founded city of Dinpanah but could not complete

Akbar

  • Keen interest in development of architecture
  • Focus on both strength and gracefulness
  • Influence of Hindu elements
  • Extensive use of red sandstone and Tudor Arch (four-centered arch)
  • E.g
    • Agra Fort
      • red sandstone
      • Charbagh Style
      • Most architecture inside Agra fort constructed by Shah Jahan
        • Moti Masjid(different from one in Red fort)
        • Diwan-e-aam (hall of public audience)
        • Diwan-e-khas (hall of private audience)
      • Jahangir Mahal - Aurangzeb house arrested Shah Jahan here
      • Harams - Place for women only - Akbar had 5000 women
    • Fatehpur Sikri
      • Capital City
      • Imp structures inside are
        • Buland Darwaza - commemorate triumph over Deccan
        • Jodhabahi's Palace
        • Panch Mahal
        • Ibadat Khana - meeting house where various religious leaders discuss spiritual matters
        • Salim Chisti's Tomb - best Jali work in India
      • Temple of Govid Dev in Vrindavan

Jahangir

  • Focus on paintings than on architecture
  • E.g
    • Akbar Tomb, Sikandara
    • His own Tomb - Only ruler to do it
    • Moti Masjid in Lahore (different from two Moti Masjid in India)
    • Shalimar Bagh, Kashmir
  • Noor Jahan (wife of Jahangir) constructed tomb of her father
    • Itmad-ud-daula
    • 1st mughal work completely of marble
    • Pietra Dura extensively used

Shahjahan

  • Mughal Architecture reached its climax
  • E.g
    • Taj Mahal - for Mumtaz Mahal (Arzum Bano Begum)
    • Red Fort, Delhi
    • Jama Masjid, Delhi
    • Shalimar Bagh, Lahore
    • Established city of Shahjahanabad
    • Peacock Throne
      • by Bebudal Khan
      • Couplet of Amir Khusro - 'If there is heaven on earth, it is this, it is this, it is this'

Aurangzeb

  • Disliked architecture
  • Bibi ka maqbara by his sons in the memory of their mother - poor imitation of taj mahal
  • E.g
    • Moti Masjid, Red Fort (white marble)
    • Badshahi Mosque, Lahore

Sikh Architecture

  • Golden Temple
    • Foundation laid by Ramdas
    • Completed by Arjun Deb
  • Features
    • Had Mughal influence
    • Multiplicity of chhatris
    • Fluted dome covered with brass and copper gilt
    • Chhaja- Shallow Cornice

Rajput Architecture

  • Introduced Hanging Balcony constructed in all shaped and sizes
  • Arch shaped cornices
  • Experimental work - combining Hindu and Islamic Architecture
    • Hava Mahal or Palace of Wind

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