Architecture of the Provincial Sultanates

Malwa

The Malwa region, presently a part of Madhya Pradesh, effectively comprised of the cities of
Dhar, Mandu, Bhilsa, Chanderi, Nalcha, Sarangpur, Kherla, Narwar and Ujjain. Malwa was
under the rule of the erstwhile Gurjara-Pratiharas from the 8th – 10th centuries. The Paramaras
were the next formidable power in Malwa and they reached the zenith of their glory under Bhoja
Paramara (1010-1053 A.D.). Their capital was at Dhar. In 1305 A.D., Ain – ul – Mulk Multani,
at the behest of Sultan Allaudin Khalji, seized the territory of Malwa from the Paramaras. This
led to the incorporation of the Malwa region into the domains of the imperial sultanate at Delhi.

The Delhi sultans instated Governors to administer the province of Malwa. Taking advantage of
the political turmoil in Delhi following Sultan Nasiruddin Muhammad’s death, the Governor of
Malwa, Dilawar Khan Ghuri asserted his independence and became the first sovereign of the
Malwa Sultanate in 1401 A.D. The first capital of the Malwa sultans was Dhar, established by
Dilawar Khan Ghuri. It was then shifted to Mandu by his successor Hoshang Shah Ghuri. The
Ghuris were supplanted by the Khalji dynasty. A brief interregnum ensued from 1524 – 1534
A.D. when Malwa became a dependency of the sultanate of Gujarat. In 1534 A.D., Humayun
captured the fort of Mandu. In 1562, Akbar conquered Mandu and made it a province in the
Mughal Empire.

Three phases of architectural development can be discerned in Malwa. The first phase begins in
the early part of the 15th century at Dhar, the first capital of the Malwa sultans. Here, mosques
were built using desecrated temple material, a notable example is the Bhojashala mosque
constructed in 1400 A.D. It is believed the mosque was originally a temple of goddess Sarasvati
built by Paramara Bhoja in c. 11th Century A.D. Noted as a great patron of art and literature,
Bhoja is said to have established a school, known as Bhojashala, within the premises of this
temple. The mosque is quadrangular in plan with an open courtyard. The mode of construction is
trabeate using the age old Indian pillar and lintel ensemble. It is also known as the Kamal Maula
Masjid. Another contemporaneous structure is the Lat ki Masjid, constructed using the same
structural principles in 1405 A.D.

The second phase commences in Mandu, the second and final capital of the Malwa Sultans. It is
during this period that the Malwa architectural idiom crystallizes to attain its final form. The
buildings which exemplify this architectural style are Jama Masjid, Hindola Mahal, Hoshang
Shah’s tomb and Jahaz Mahal. The Jama Masjid is a stately structure and its construction began
under Hoshang Shah Ghuri but was completed by Mahmud Khalji I in 1554 A.D. It is built
around a central courtyard on a massive raised plinth, with three domes over the prayer hall and a
domed entrance chamber. Small domes crown the bays of the sanctuary and the aisles. The
courtyard is faced on all sides by arched colonnades. The entrance is rectangular and its huge
domed porch projects from the eastern facade. The doorway of the porch is beautifully
ornamented with carved screen patterns and a band of blue glazed tiles. Glazed blue tiles also
decorate the sanctuary interior. The Hindola Mahal is a unique structure conceived as an
assembly hall. It was constructed during the reign of Hoshang Shah Ghuri (r. 1405 – 1432 A.D.).
In plan, the building is in the form of the letter T, the upright stem representing the assembly hall
and the cross-bar indicates a transverse portion, which may have been added a little later. The
transverse portion is two – storied and was probably intended to be a residential quarter. The
batter of its walls is more than 77.5 degrees, creating an illusion that the entire structure is
swaying, hence the name Hindola Mahal. This pronounced batter is reminiscent of the Tughlaq
monuments in Delhi. The tomb of Hoshang Shah Ghuri is a magnificent structure built entirely
of white marble, making it one of the earliest structures to be constructed using this material. It
was conceptualized and partly built by Hoshang Shah, but completed in about 1440 A.D. by his
successor Mahmud Khalji I. The tomb building is a square structure erected on a broad plinth. It
is crowned by a large central dome flanked by cupolas on each side. The Jahaz Mahal is an
elegant structure constructed in all probability by the pleasure loving sultan Ghiyath – ud – din
Khalji (r. 1469 – 1500A.D.). Constructed on a narrow strip of land between the two lakes, Munj
Talao to the west and Kapur Talao to the east, the Jahaz (Ship) Mahal (Palace) is an appropriate
name for this building.  In this building, there is no heavy walling or extreme solidity. Its
surfaces are embellished with glazed tiling. The interior arrangement consists of pillared
compartments, corridors, sumptuous bathing halls and beautifully shaped cisterns; its roof
consists of airy pavillions, the corner most of which have gracefully proportioned cupolas
flanked by pyramidal roofs.

The third phase spanned from the end of the 15th century to the first half of the 16th century. The
architecture of this period comprised mainly of summer houses, palaces and pavillions, notable
specimens being Baz Bahadur’s Palace, Rupmati’s Pavilion, Nil Kanth Palace and Chisti Khan’s
Palace. The generic make-up of these summer houses and palaces comprised a colonnade
enclosing a quadrangular courtyard with a cistern or pool. The apartments were graced by
loggias and airy pavillions in their upper storeys.

The architecture of Malwa was at first characterized by solidity and later by elegance and poise.
Certain architectonic features were borrowed from Tughlaq monuments in Delhi including
Battered walls, pointed arch with spear – head fringe and the arch – lintel – bracket combination.
The building material was mostly red sandstone and marble. Regarding ornament, facades and
interiors of buildings were embellished with various coloured stones, marble and sometimes
encaustic tiles.
Gujarat

The territory of Gujarat was ruled by the Chawda Rajputs in the mid 8 th century who made Patan
their capital. Chawda Vanraj is credited with the foundation of the city of Anhilwara or
Nahrwalah which was later rechristened Patan, literally meaning a favoured town and place of
residence. The Chawdas were supplanted by the Solankis or Chalukyas during whose reign
Mahmud of Ghazni plundered the Somnath Temple in 1024-25 A.D. The Ghurids also camped in
Gujarat twice during this period, once in 1172 A.D. and then in 1197 A.D. when they
temporarily occupied Patan but did not succeed in deposing the main dynastic line which
continued to rule over a reduced territory. Solanki rule soon came to be plagued by internecine
conflict and as a result, they began to share power with the Vaghelas of Dholka in the late 12 th
century. This dynasty came to be known as the Solanki – Vaghela dynasty. Khalji forces
conducted raids in the territories administered by the Solanki – Vaghelas but were able to
establish effective control only by 1303-04 A.D. From 1304 A.D. onwards, after the territory of
Gujarat was formally incorporated into the domains of the Delhi Sultanate and successive
Sultans began appointing Governors to rule the territory on their behalf. For about a decade, this
practice continued till the rebellious Governor of Gujarat, Zafar Khan took advantage of the
strained political and administrative condition in Delhi following the death of Mohammad
Tughlaq II. He asserted his independence and founded the independent Sultanate of Gujarat in
1407 – 08 A.D. It continued to flourish till 1576 A.D but faced two Mughal interregnums from
1535 – 36 A.D. AND 1573 - 83 A.D. Its final incorporation into the domains of Mughal Empire
took place in 1583 A.D. during the reign of Akbar.

The Indo – Islamic architecture of Gujarat can be divided into three phases of development. The
first phase spans from 1300-1361 A.D., before the foundation of the independent sultanate of
Gujarat. The second phase prevails during the first half of the 15th century, it is known as the
Ahmad Shahi period as it takes the name of the reigning sultan Ahmad Shah I. The third period
also known as the Beghara period, named after Sultan Mehmud Beghara, commences in the later
half of the 15th century and lasts till the middle of the 16th century.
The precedents of the Indo – Islamic monuments of Gujarat can be found in the Maru – Gurjara
templar idiom where stone masons had achieved a very high degree of sophistication in
sculptural ornamentation. It was these very stone masons who were commissioned to construct
mosques and tombs in Gujarat. The building material employed was primarily sandstone.

The mosques of the first phase (1300-1361 A.D.) were constructed using pillaged temple
material ordained according to conventional mosque design principles. The Jama Masjid at
Broach (1300 A.D.) is a trabeate structure consisting of a courtyard and three gateways on the
northern, southern and eastern sides and a sanctuary on the western side. Three large domes
crown the sanctuary and small cupolas crown each square bay. The Jama Masjid at Cambay
(1325 A.D.) has a similar plan, the only addition being a screen of arches enclosing the
sanctuary.

The second phase which flourished during the first half of the 15 th century saw the erection of
numerous monuments by the reigning Sultan, Ahmad Shah I (r. 1411 – 1443 A.D.). He founded
the city of Ahmadabad in 1411 A.D. and declared it as the capital of the sultanate of Gujarat.
Three notable architectural specimens of this period were the Jama Masjid, Tin Darwaza and
Ahmad Shah’s tomb. These three structures were erected in the first quarter of the 15 th century
and represent a milestone in the evolution of Indo – Islamic architecture in Gujarat. The Jama
Masjid was completed in 1423 A.D. It is an imposing quadrangular structure with colonnades
composed of slender columns on all four sides. The central chamber of the sanctuary is three
stories high, held aloft ingeniously by superposed columns and crowned by a dome. The
sanctuary is enclosed by a tall arched screen, the central arch of which is flanked by two
beautifully ornamented circular turrets. The Tin Darwaza or triple gateway is a stately structure
constructed on the main thoroughfare of the city. It is an arrangement of three arches, the central
one being the largest. Two richly carved turrets flank the central arch. Three oriel windows
project from the parapet which surmounts the three arches. Ahmad Shah’s tomb is situated in
front of the eastern entrance of the Jama Masjid, the construction of which was completed by
Ahmad Shah’s successor Muhammad Shah. It is a square structure with projecting porticoes at
the centre of each side. All these frame an octagonal chamber with pillared verandahs. A large
dome crowns its central chamber while corner chambers are surmounted by smaller ones.
Another site of architectural significance during this period is Sarkhej, comprising mosques,
tombs, gardens, palaces, gateways and a large artificial lake. This grand architectural enterprise
was begun by Mohammad Shah I in 1446 A.D. and completed by his successor Qutb-al-din Shah
in 1551 A.D. It was initially conceived in memoriam of a famous saint, Shaikh Ahmad Khattri
and was to house his tomb and a mosque. It later grew to incorporate many structures, both
secular and religious. The mosque is quadrangular in plan with colonnades on all four sides
enclosing a courtyard. The tomb is composed of pillars and the spaces between these have been
filled by fitting perforated stone screens with trellis work. The mortuary chamber is surmounted
by a large dome and surrounded by rows of domes on each side.

The third phase, also known as the Beghara period, is characterized by a high degree of
sophistication in structure as well as surface ornamentation. It spans from the latter half of the
15th century to the middle of the 16 th century. Mahmud Beghara’s architectural impulses were
extended to Champaner which is located seventy – eight miles south east of Ahmedabad and was
intended to be the new capital. In this regard, the Jama Masjid at Champaner is of considerable
architectural importance. It is a rectangular mosque with an open courtyard. The main entrance
to the courtyard is on the east side in the form of a large domed portico raised on a platform with
steps on the north and south sides. The entrance to the mosque is flanked by two octagonal
turrets. The exterior is notable for its carvings and oriel windows. The sanctuary of the mosque is
surmounted by eleven domes and the central chamber is two storeys high. Another structure that
deserves special mention is the Sidi Sayyid Mosque at Ahmedabad. The Sidi Sayyid Mosque is
believed to have been constructed during the reign of Mahmud Beghara at Ahmedabad, although
some scholars attribute it to a later period. The plan of the mosque exhibits a slight deviation
from the conventional. It consists of an arcade on all four sides with octagonal turrets projecting
from the corners. The front or eastern arcade is open while the other three are filled with
perforated stone screens of exquisite trellis work including the palm and parasite motif. With
regard to utilitarian architecture, step-wells or vavs have been ubiquitous structures since the
Hindu period and were carried forward with a renewed vigour in the Islamic period. Notable
examples of this genre are Dada Harir’s Vav and Adalaj Vav, both built in around 1499 A.D.
These served as perennial reservoirs of water as well as cool retreats in the hot summer months.
It is in the sultanate architecture of Gujarat that the most fruitful amalgamation of the Indian and
Islamic architectural styles is witnessed. A confluence of the traditional methods of the Indian
stone masons with the conventions of Islamic building produced a very ornate form of
architecture in this region.
Jaunpur

The city of Jaunpur was founded in 1358 A.D. by Sultan Firoz Shah Tughlaq on an ancient
Hindu pilgrimage site. The independent sultanate of Jaunpur was established by Malik Sarwar,
the governor of the city, who had risen to power after Sultan Firoz Shah’s death in 1388 A.D.
Muhammad Shah II (1390 – 93), Firoz Shah’s successor, conferred the title ‘Sharqi’ or ruler of
the eastern kingdom on Malik Sarwar who was quick to throw off allegiance from the imperial
sultanate following the anarchy caused by Timur’s invasion in 1398 A.D. However, much of the
medieval grandeur of Jaunpur was ruined when Sikander Lodi annexed it in 1495 A.D. His
predatory raid into led to the destruction of many of the city’s splendid monuments.

The most phenomenal specimen of Indo – Islamic architecture at Jaunpur is the Atala Masjid,
built by Sultan Ibrahim Sharqi in 1408. Its heraldic deportment is partly the result of two battered
quadrangular turrets which flank the central arch of the sanctuary entrance portal. This massive
portal is flanked by two miniature portals of similar design; the arches of all these three are
embellished with a spear-head fringe ornament. The Atala Masjid is believed to have been built
on a Hindu temple site of Atala Devi, the materials of which, along with other temples in the
vicinity, have been ingeniously employed in the construction of this mosque. The plan of the
mosque is conventional with a square open courtyard surrounded by colonnades on all four sides.
The central chamber of the sanctuary is surmounted by a large hemispherical dome while smaller
hemispherical domes crown the corner chambers. Other notable Sharqi mosques of Jaunpur are
the Jama Masjid and Lal Darwaza Masjid. The building material employed was primarily
sandstone.
Deccan

The first Islamic inroad into the Deccan was made during the reign of Sultan Allaudin Khalji
who relentlessly invaded the region until he annexed Devagiri in 1317 A.D. Devagiri was
rechristened as Daulatabad by Mohammad bin Tughlaq in 1340 A.D., who proposed to shift the
capital of his dominions to this city. This was followed by a forced mass migration of his
subjects from Delhi and was etched in historical annals as the Deccan debacle of Sultan
Mohammad bin Tughlaq. This exodus included stone masons and artisans who served in Delhi
and who, in due course, laid the foundations of the architectural tradition in this region. The
Deccan also saw an extraordinary influx of scholars and artisans from Persia who came and
settled here and brought with them their literary and aesthetic traditions. This fortuitous
phenomenon produced a composite culture that conferred a unique identity on the Deccan
sultanates.

The first and largest sultanate of the Deccan was established by Allaudin Hasan Bahaman Shah
at Gulbarga in 1347 A.D. His dynasty came to be known as the Bahamani dynasty. Allaudin
Hasan was a Persian adventurer who had initially served as an officer in Mohammad bin
Tughlaq’s court. It is in the city of Gulbarga where Deccani architectural impulses find their
nascent expression. The Bahamani capital was then shifted to Bidar in 1425 A.D. After the
breakup of the Bahamani Empire, five independent sultanates arose in the Deccan viz. Bidar,
Golconda, Bijapur, Ahmadnagar and Berar. These were initially a part of the Bahamani
dominions. The Barid Shahis of Bidar were the first to assert their independence during the reign
of Mahmud Shah Bahamani (r. 1482-1513 A.D.) in 1489 A.D. Bijapur and Berar both attained
independence in 1490 A.D. under the Adil Shahis and Imad Shahis respectively. The Nizam
Shahis were next in line and established their empire at Ahmadnagar in 1494 A.D. Golconda
became independent under the Qutb Shahis in 1518 A.D.

The architectural enterprises of Gulbarga, Bidar, Bijapur and Golconda will be discussed in this
chapter. Gulbarga, Bidar and Bijapur are districts in the state of Karnataka while Golconda is
located in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh. Here, sandstone and basalt were the primary building
materials.

Gulbarga

The Jama Masjid and the Haft Gumbaz are important architectural sites in Gulbarga. The Jama
Masjid, constructed in 1397 A.D., is an unusual example of a mosque since it is entirely roofed
and has no open courtyard. It is believed that the architect of this mosque was a Persian native by
the name of Rafi. He fashioned this mosque on the lines of a domed and vaulted Basilica type
prototype that existed in some of the Islamic countries of Europe. It is rectangular in shape with
wide arcaded cloisters on three sides. A large dome rises over the prayer hall surrounded by
small cupolas roofing each bay formed by rows of aisles, while four smaller domes crown each
of the corners. The outer arcades are roofed by pointed vaults. Its exterior presents a picture of
restrained massiveness and dignified proportions. A group of tombs known as Haft Gumbaz or
seven domes houses the sarcophagi of four Bahamani rulers, the earliest being that of Mujhahid
Bahaman who died in 1378 A.D. The most intriguing structural feature which appears here is the
conjoined tomb with two domes, connected by a corridor. One contains the cenotaph of the king
while the other contains those of his family. The finest specimen of this double variety is that of
Tajuddin Firuz Bahamani (r.1397-1422 A.D.). It is a massive structure with two hemispherical
domes. Its exterior walls are divided into two tiers of arched niches; the ones on the upper part
are filled with pierced stone screens. A battlemented parapet crowns the entire structure.

Bidar

The Solah Khamba Masjid and the Madrasa of Mahmud Gawan are notable specimens of
architectural idiom at Bidar. The Solah Khamba Masjid or sixteen-pillared mosque derives its
name from the sixteen pillars used in the eastern arcade which is composed of fifteen arches.
Believed to have been constructed in 15th century, it is situated within the precincts of the Bidar
fort. It is akin to the Jama Masjid at Gulbarga in both plan and elevation, though its dome is
raised on a fairly taller drum. The Madrasa of Mahmud Gawan is a strikingly exotic in character
with exquisite glazed tile mosaics and calligraphy bands adorning its exterior. Mahmud Gawan
was a Persian immigrant employed as a minister in the court of Sultan Mohammad Shah III (r.
1463-1482 A.D.). The Madrasa is rectangular in plan and encloses a central quadrangle. The
main entrance, which is no longer extant, was to the east and believed to be framed by two lofty
minarets. The only extant minaret is the one in the south-eastern corner. The Madrasa is elevated
on a high base with two stepped terraces. Triple storied arcaded chambers on the western and
northern side are separated by large iwans or vaulted portals. Its form is conspicuously
reminiscent of Persian Madrasas specially the Ghiyatthiya Madrasa in Iran which was also built
in the 15th century. These iwans are further marked by domes. Mahmud Gawan was scholar of
considerable repute and his Madrasa attracted eminent theologians, philosophers and scientists. It
acquired the status of a great house of learning and its library contained over three thousand
manuscripts.

Bijapur

The rulers of the Adil Shahi dynasty were one of the most active patrons of architecture in the
Deccan. Building operations began during the first half of the 16 th century and continued till the
second half of the 17th century. The most striking feature of the sultanate architecture at Bijapur
is the dome which emerges out of a band of flower petals. The first notable specimen of Bijapuri
architecture is the Jama Masjid built by Ali Shah I (r.1558 – 1580). It is rectangular in plan and
encloses a square courtyard formed by arcaded cloisters on the northern and southern side and
the sanctuary on the western side, while the entrance to the mosque is on the eastern side. The
façade of the sanctuary is composed of seven stately arches surmounted by a wide and deep
cornice which is supported on ornate brackets. The dome rises high above the edifice and is
hemispherical in shape. The Ibrahim Rauza is a delicately conceived structure that exemplifies
the exquisite workmanship of Bijapuri stone masons. Raised on an arcaded platform, it is
surrounded on all four sides by an arched verandah with a deep cornice supported on brackets. In
each of its corners are slender turrets which lend a graceful air to the entire composition. The
central chamber containing the cenotaph of the Ibrahim Adil Shah I (r. 1580 – 1627) is crowned
by a shapely bulbous dome with a band of flower petals at its base. The Gol Gumbaz or ‘round
dome’ is a massive and majestic structure which boasts of the largest dome ever constructed. It is
a cube shaped mausoleum with a turret attached to each corner. It has four arched openings with
the main entrance on the southern side. The central arch on each side is flanked by two blind
arches and is wider than the others. It is dressed with wooden panels containing a small
rectangular entrance. Gol Gumbaz houses the cenotaph of Mohammad Adil Shah (r. 1627 – 57).
Its large hemispherical dome emerges out of a band of flower petals. The mausoleum is part of a
complex that includes a mosque, a guest house, a drum house and a gateway. It is built of dark
grey basalt stone and decorated with plaster.

Golconda

The most remarkable edifice built by the Qutb Shahi kings of Golconda was the Charminar. It
was perhaps conceived as a triumphal archway and was erected in 1591 A.D. It is square in plan
with a high turret attached to each corner and consists of four wide archways. Above the
archways rise diminishing arcaded storeys culminating in a balcony which affords a great view
of the old city of Hyderabad. The Qutb Shahi necropolis boasts of fine specimens of Deccani
tomb architecture. Much of the ornamentation is floral and is carved out of a superior quality of
stucco. The dome here assumes a very pronounced bulbous shape. Some of the tombs are
conceived as two-storeyed with a high arcaded verandah surmounted by a smaller arcaded cube
crowned by a bulbous dome with the characteristic band of flower petals at its rim. The most
magnificent specimen in this necropolis is the tomb of Abadullah Qutb Shah who died in 1672
A.D. It is a majestic two-storeyed edifice with the upper portion surrounded by a beautifully
ornamented hanging balcony.

The architectural enterprises of the Deccan present a varied picture as they are located in
different areas and their development occurs under the patronage of different dynasties. The
earliest specimens of Deccani architecture at Gulbarga display borrowings from the architectural
repertoire of the Tughlaqs, while those at Bidar start showing an individualistic style influenced
to an extent by Iranian architectural forms. At Bijapur, the stately and majestic combine with the
ornate to produce elegant proportioned edifices adorned with delicate carving. The structures at
Golconda are a fusion of substantial proportions with decorative flamboyance.
Bengal

The first Muslim incursion in Bengal took place in 1202 A.D. when Bakhtiyar Khalji raided the
territory at the behest of Sultan Qutbuddin Aibak of Delhi. The governors of Bengal were one of
the first to assert their independence from Delhi and gradually assumed sovereign powers. The
first dynasty of the independent sultanate of Bengal was the Ilyas Shahi dynasty founded by
Fakruddin Mubarak, who revolted against imperial power in 1338 A.D., during the reign of
Mohammad bin Tughlaq. The capital of the newly formed sultanate was established at Pandua
and later shifted Gaur. The Bengal sultanate flourished till 1576 A.D. until it was incorporated
into the Mughal dominions.

The primary building material in Bengal was brick since it was readily available in the region
while stone was sparse. Another vernacular tradition which greatly influenced the construction of
superstructures here was the coved ceiling of Bengali thatched huts. Curvilinear cornices of these
structures were later incorporated in the architectural repertoire of the Mughals.

Adina Masjid, Eklakhi Tomb, Dakhil Darwaza and Bara Sona Masjid are notable specimens of
Sultanate architecture at Bengal. The Adina Masjid and Eklakhi Tomb are located in Pandua
while the Dakhil Darwaza and Bara Sona Masjid are located in Gaur. The Adina Masjid, or
Friday mosque is a rectangular structure with a large open courtyard enclosed within cloisters.
Built by Sikandar Shah (r. 1358 – 1389 A.D.), the second sultan of the Ilyas Shahi dynasty, it is
one of the largest mosques in the Indian subcontinent. The main entrance of the mosque consists
of three arches that open on the south-east corner. There are three other small entrances in the
north-west wall, two of which lead to the Badshah-ka-takht, a private worship area for the sultan
and royal ladies. The arches and the domes are primarily built of brick. The prayer hall is on the
western side and its central chamber seems to have been roofed by a pointed vault which is no
longer extant. Small cupolas crown the bays formed by the aisles. The Eklakhi tomb, recorded to
be the mausoleum of Sultan Jalalaudin Mohammad Shah of Bengal (1414 – 1431 A.D.),
becomes a model for later Islamic tombs in Bengal. Conceived as square shaped and surmounted
by a hemispherical dome, its most striking feature is the curved cornice which becomes a central
feature in later tombs and mosques of the region. Four octagonal turrets project from its exterior
corners and a string course carried through the middle of the tomb façade gives it the appearance
of a two – storeyed structure. The Dakhil Darwaza is believed to be a triumphal archway aligned
to face the citadel of Gaur. It is an imposing structure constructed during the reign of Barbak
Shah (r. 1459 – 1474). Composed of a great mass of brick masonry, its surface is relieved by
alternating courses of projections and recesses. Two quadrangular turrets flank the central arch of
this gateway while circular turrets project from its corners. This grand portal seems to have been
crowned by a grouping of pyramidal roofs which are no longer extant. The Bara Sona Masjid or
great golden mosque marks the culmination of Sultanate architecture in Bengal. It was built
during the reign of Sultan Nusrat Shah in 1526 A.D and is the largest of all the monuments in
Gaur. The mosque has two gateways, still surviving, to its east and north. The sanctuary is
rectangular in plan and constructed of brick faced with stone. Eleven pointed arches are seen on
the eastern face and four each on the northern and southern. It is crowned by forty-four domes
which are raised over each of its square bays. Octagonal turrets project from each of the four
corners.

The sultanate architecture of Bengal possesses a unique character by virtue of both the method
and material employed for construction. Impulses derived from indigenous sources were
fashioned according to Islamic conventions to produce stately structures with a dignified
disposition.