The Mughal Architecture

Lecture 4
INTRODUCTION

The main characteristics of Mughal architecture

Slender minerate with cupolas at the four corner Bulbous dome

Char Bagh Large halls

THE MUGHAL EMPIRE (1526-1707)
THE MUGHAL EMPERORS (FIRST SIX RULERS).
 BABUR (1526-30)

 HUMAYUN (1530-56)

 AKBAR (1556-1605)

 JAHANGIR (1605-28)

 SHAHJAHAN (1628-58)

 AURANGZEB (1658-1707)
SULTUNATE OF AKBAR – GOLDEN ERA
Babur’s Grandson
• Akbar took throne at age 13
• Realized India had diverse
population, which could lead to
breakdown of
empire he did everything he could to
win people’s loyalty
• Akbar married daughter of local
noble to win noble’s support
• Brought sons of other nobles to live
at court
• Did not hesitate to fight to prevent
rebellion
• 1605, Akbar died; at time, Mughals
ruled most of north India,

. Akbar himself was a patron of art and culture. He was fond of literature,
and created a library of over 24,000 volumes written in Sanskrit, Urdu,
Persian, Greek, Latin, Arabic and Kashmiri, staffed by many scholars,
translators, artists, calligraphers, scribes, bookbinders and readers
FATEHPUR SIKRI

The name of the city derives from the village called Sikri which occupied the
spot before.
Sikri was the first planned city of the Mughals.
Akbar planned the complex on Persian principles. But the influences of his
adopted land came through in the typically Indian embellishments.
FATEHPUR SIKRI
FATEHPUR SIKRI
BULAND DARWAZA

was built in 1601 A.D. by Akbar to

commemorate his victory over
Gujarat. It is the main entrance to
the palace at Fatehpur Sikri
The Buland Darwaza is made of red
and buff sandstone, decorated by
white and black marble and is higher
than the courtyard of the mosque.
The Buland Darwaza is symmetrical
and is topped by large free standing
kiosks, which are the chhatris. The gate was added around five years
after the completion of the mosque
The total height of the structure is
about 54 metres . It is a 15-storied
high gateway acting as the southern
entrance of the city of Fatehpur Sikri.
The approach to the gate consists of
42 steps. It is semi octagonal in plan.
FATEHPUR SIKRI
JAMA MASJID

t is a Jama Mosque meaning the congregational mosque and was perhaps one
of the first buildings to be constructed in the complex.the Buland-Darwaza
added some five years later. 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.
FATEHPUR SIKRI
TOMB OF SHEIKH SALIM CHISTI

The Tomb of
Sheikh Salim
Chishti is famed
as one of the finest
examples of
Mughal
architecture in
India, built during
the years 1580 and
1581

The tomb has been constructed on a platform which is about 1 m. high, a

flight of five steps leading to the entrance portico. The main tomb building is
enclosed by delicate marble screens on all sides, and the tomb is located in
the centre of the main hall, which has a single semi-circular dome. The
marble building is beautifully carved, and has an ivory-like appearance. The
plinth is ornamented with mosaics of black and yellow marble arranged in
 FATEHPUR SIKRI

Live Map
• Entrance (Diwani-i-
Amnm)
• Diwani-i-khas
• Daulat khana
• Panch Mahal
• Anup Talao
• House of the turkish
sultana
• House of Miram
• Palace of Jodha Bai
• Garden
• House of Birbal
FATEHPUR SIKRI
DIWAN – I - AAM

is a building typology found in many

cities where the ruler meets the
general public. In this case, 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

The Mughal fusion of Hindu and

Muslim architectural styles was The gate was added around five years
embodied in spacious courtyards, wide after the completion of the mosque
palaces and open pavilions, quarried
from the local sandstone and cooled by
numerous water channels, ponds.
FATEHPUR SIKRI
Panch mahal

This is an extraordinary structure employing the design elements of a Buddhist

Temple; entirely columnar

A five-storied palatial structure, with the tiers gradually diminishing in size, till
the final one, which is a single large-domed chhatri. Originally pierced stone
screens faced the facade and probably sub-divided the interior as well,
suggesting it was built for the ladies of the court. The floors are supported by
intricately carved columns on each level, totalling to 176 columns in all.
FATEHPUR SIKRI
Diwan I khas
FATEHPUR SIKRI
Diwan I khas

It is two-storey square
building with a balcony
supported on heavy
corbels above which is
a chajja also supported
on heavy corbels.

Hall of Private Audience, is a plain square building with four chhatris on the roof.
However 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. It is here that Akbar had representatives of different religions discuss
their faiths and gave private audience.
FATEHPUR SIKRI
Anoop Talao

Anup Talao was built by Raja Anup Singh Sikarwar A ornamental pool with
a central platform and four bridges leading up to it. Some of the important
buildings of the royal enclave are surround by it including,
Khwabgah(House of Dreams) Akbar's residence, Panch Mahal, a five-storey
palace, Diwan-i-Khas(Hall of Private Audience), Ankh Michauli and the
Astrologer's Seat, in the south-west corner of the Pachisi Court.
FATEHPUR SIKRI
Anoop Talao

The house of Akbar's favorite minister, who was a Hindu. Notable features of the
building are the horizontal sloping sunshades or chajjas and the brackets which
support them.
‫آخر‬