TOMB ARCHITECTURE

• Manifested during the

rule of Sayyids and Lodis.
• Delhi-on account of its
imperial associations was Tomb
considered most
appropriate for tombs.
• Earlier, designed like Fortress
miniature fortresses. Eg:
Tomb of Ghiyasuddin
Tughlaq
• Later, designed to have
the character of Tombs. Cloisters/
• Designed in 2 different corridor
styles: Central dome
1. Octagonal Plan
2. Square Plan
 OCTAGONAL PLAN SQUARE PLAN
• Designed on Octagonal Plan • Designed on Square
• Surrounded by arched Plan
colonade with projecting • No verandah
eaves. • Exterior 2-3 stories
• One storey height. in height
• Dome centrally placed with • Dome centrally
chhatris at intersections placed

Colonade
Cloisters/
corridor
Chhatris
Central
dome
Central
dome
 OCTAGONAL PLAN SQUARE PLAN
• Kiosks rising above the • Kiosks rising above the
parapet parapet
• Meant for other high rank • Meant for nobles.
courtiers.

Tomb of Mubarak Shah Sayyid Shish Gumbad

 CONCLUSION
• Composition was still a matter of experiment, eg: position of dome and kiosks
around it.
• Not able to visualize the upper part of the structure as it is raised above the
spectators eye.
• Average line of sight masked by the projecting portion.
• Stunted elevation giving an appearance that the dome and kiosks are pressing
down the octagonal portion that supports it.
• In square plans, the structure, inspite of being large and imposing, was
monotonous, lacking a specific character and the facades were ineffective.
LESSONS TAKEN
• These initial defects were overcome after 10 yrs in the Tomb of Mohd. Sayyid.
• The drum of the dome has been raised several feet & kiosks were elevated to
an extent .
• Result was a well-proportioned structure where width of each octagonal face =
its height, and also half the height of the entire structure including the Finial.
• Each octagonal face contains 3 arched openings divided by pillars, the other
two openings slightly narrower than the central one.
• All the lines of the elevation are perpendicular.
• Tomb chamber is octagonal in plan with an “arch and beam” opening in each
face.
• Double dome style of construction was established, where inner dome gave a
proportionate height for the chamber it covered and the outer dome
presented a loftier and more imposing exterior.
• 3 Royal Tombs of octagonal type built during Sayyid and Lodi
regime
Mubarak Sayyid (1434) ,Muhammad Sayyid (1444) ,Sikandar Lodi (1517)
• Marks a definite stage of ‘transition’ with features like:

Large walled enclosure Ornamental gateway on southern wall

Mosque on the western wall Octagonal turrets at each corner

DOME
Outer
- composed of inner and outer shell Dome
of masonry with distinct space Inner
between the two (Double Dome) Dome
- To increase the height of the dome
to present a more imposing
exterior.
- In Delhi, it was called “Gumbad”.
Eg: Bara Gumbad, Shish Gumbad Section through Double Dome
FAÇADE DESIGN
- 2 to 3 storied arcaded façade,
only for treatment, not structural.
- Central portion: rectangular,
projected.
- Recessed archway about total
height of the structure.
- Arched recessed doorway with
arched window above.
STRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENTS IN TOMB ARCHITECTURE
Stalactite pendentive and Squinch
MOSQUE DEVELOPMENT
- No large mosques erected during Sayyids & Lodis.
- Mainly distinguished as :
1. Chapel Royal (Private Mosque)
eg: Quila-i-Kunha in 1550
2. Domestic Chapel (Public Mosque)
eg: Bara Gumbad 1494
Moth ki Masjid 1505
Jamala Masjid 1536
Bara Gumbad

Quila-i-Kunha Moth ki Masjid

Salient Features of Mosque:
- 5 main arches on the main façade, with
emphasis on the central bay
- Spacing, disposition and volume of three
domes
- Refinement of tapering turrets on the
rear wall
- Design of the doorway
- Projecting balcony opening at the sides
- Use of colour in the material employed
- Variation in the method of supporting the
dome
- System of squinch arch in the central nave
- Stalactite pendentive in the side aisles

- Patterns in plaster are inserted in the

form of borders above the arches & as
medallions in the spandrels, instead of
usual carving
- Exquisite arabesque designs, moulded in
low-relief painted in brilliant colours