MOGHUL STYLE

G.SANGEETHA B.Arch.(NIT T), M.Tech. (IIT M)

Sr. Lecturer
Department of Architecture 1
National Institute of Technology Trichirappalli
 MOGHUL STYLE

5 Generations in all – Babur, Humayun, Akbar, Jahangir and ShahJahan

The Moghul style consists of two phases which lasted and had a time-
span of 132 years, practically from 1526 to 1658

1. Earlier period
Buildings were constructed of red sand stone by Akbar

2. Later period

- White marble of Shah Jahan’s period

– The architecture was well developed due to interest of the
individual rulers
– Reached concrete form only during Akbar's time in 2nd half of the
16th century
• Nearly 400 monuments of this style have survived, including
– city-walls and gates,
– forts,
– palaces,
– tombs,
– mosques,
– hammams,
– gardens,
– minarets,
– tanks,
– step-wells,
– bridges,
– and, of course, the Taj Mahal which marks that zenith of an art from
where it declined.
The examples

• Humayun’s Tomb
• Fatehpur Sikri
– Agra fort
– Buland Darwaza
– Jami Masjid
– Tomb of Salim Chisti
– Jodhbai’s palace
– Birbals Palace
– Diwani – Khas
– Diwani-am

• Akbars Tomb
• TajMahal
• Mughal Gardens
Humayun’s tomb
Plan of Humayun's Tomb complex
 Humayun’s tomb
• Humayun’s tomb was built by his widow Haji Begum in 1564 A.D. in Delhi 8 years
after his death.  

• The Humayun’s tomb marks the beginning of the major building activities of the
Mughals.

• The building style is a combination of Persian architecture and indigenous building

styles.

• The mausoleum stands in the centre of a square enclosed garden. 

• The garden complex is divided mainly into four compartments further being sub-
divided into many square parts (a typical example of Mughal char-bagh), with
causeways and water channels, and water pavilions at regular intervals.

• The lofty double storeyed structure is built on a huge high platform terrace which
has a row of arched openings. 

• The central chamber is octagonal in shape of 156’ side and contains the tomb. 
Each side of the mausoleum has a large arched alcove in the centre with smaller
ones on either side.
• It has a high marble double dome in the centre which rises to 140’ from ground and
pillared kiosks with cupolas surrounding it. 
The enclosure

• The tomb complex is enclosed by a high rubble wall; entered through two
entrance gateways, one on the west and other on the south

• The south gate rises to a height of nearly 15.5 metres and consists of a central
octagonal hall flanked rectangular rooms. The first floor of the gateway has
square and oblong rooms.

• On the outside, the gate is flanked by screen-walls with arched recesses.

• The west gate is smaller in comparison to the south gate and rises to a height of
7 metres and is also double-storeyed.

• The northern, southern and western walls of the boundary wall are built of
rubble stone and its interior face consists of recessed arches.
The tomb
• The tomb is constructed over a huge and elevated platform 6.5 m (22’) in
height, the face of which is relieved by a series of arched openings on all four
sides.

• There are 17 arched openings on each of the four sides, and the corners are
chamfered. The arched openings of the platform contain many miscellaneous
tombs.

• The ascending stairs at the centre of each of the four sides of the elevated
platform leads to an open terrace, at the centre of which is located is the main
tomb.

• The main tomb is located below the monument and is approached through a
horizontal passage to the east of southern stair.

•  The main tomb rises into two storeys, at the four diagonal corners of the
octagon are four chambers, which also houses tombs of the family members of
Humayun.

• The octagonal tomb is surmounted by a double dome supported by squinches.

The employment of double dome in a mausoleum is first seen here
• The exterior height gives an imposing look, the low ceiling of the lower dome
gives a proportionate height of the interior features.

• The main mausoleum is in different stages. The lower one consists of arched
openings of the octagon, above which is a balconied arch openings, over
which is the intrados of the inner dome, decorated with red sandstone grilles.

• The interior face of the main tomb is also relived with different kinds of stone and
the white marble as the bordering inlay decorative patterns.

• The red sandstone jail decorations is seen

• The extrados of the mausoleum is veneered with white marble stones in contrast
to the largely red sandstone building.

• The outline of the dome represents a complete semi-circle. The dome is bulbous
in shape; the skyline is relieved with small pavilions on the four corners along side
the main dome. 

• The Humayun’s Tomb complex also houses many other prominent buildings like
mosques,tombs etc.
 View of the garden on the western
side, view from the upper storey of
Humayun's Tomb

View of the façade, view from west

View of the cenotaph chamber A view of the floor decorations
View of the stone jalis
 Extrados of the dome

A view of the eastern false door, in the

foreground is the rejuvenated fountain and
water channels
Notable features

• Perfection of the proportions

• Interplay of surfaces and planes

• Shapes and judicious distribution of voids

• Graceful but bold curves of the arches

• The grand volume of the dome

• One defect – the placement of kiosks

 AKBAR , The Great (1556 – 1605)
Main elements of Akbari style

• His buildings are of red sandstone with white marble insertions

• Trabeated order in principle
• Tudor arch is introduced
• Equal proportions of arcuate and trabeate system is used
• Pillars are of many sided
• Capitals had decorative brackets as supports

Agra Fort

• A greater part of the fort at Agra was constructed by Akbar starting in 1565 AD
and completed it in 1574 A.D.

• Situated on the bank of the river Jamuna, it is a massive and grand structure. 

• The fort has a semi-circular plan, its chord lying parallel to the river having
2700’ length. Its walls are 70’ high – nearly 11/2 miles in circuit with complete
dressed sand stone work all along.
• It has massive circular bastions are regular intervals as also battlements,
string courses. Etc

• The stones are linked with iron rings so close that not even a hair can pass
through. 

• Four gates were provided on its four sides, one gate opening on to the
river.

• The monumental Delhi Gate, which faces the city on the western side of
the fort, is considered the grandest of the four gates and a masterpiece
of Akbar's time.

• The entrance to the fort is through two gateways.  Two of the fort's gates
are notable: the "Delhi Gate" and the "Lahore Gate.

• The main entrance known as Delhi Gate was the ceremonial entrance to
the fort. 
• The Lahore Gate is also popularly also known as the Amar Singh Gate

• The other smaller gateway is called the Hathi Pol or Elephant Gate because of
the two huge elephants on either side of the gate and was meant for private use
– south gate

• The Delhi Gate entrance archway is flanked by two double storeyed octagonal
bastions crowned by octagonal domed kiosks. 

• A balcony separates the two storeys.  The structure above the balcony has
arched recesses. 

• The gateway is decorated with beautiful panels of coloured tiles and marble
inlay work.
• The fort is surrounded by a deep moat. 

• The fort formerly contained numerous buildings of red sand stone but later during
the reign of Shah Jehan marble pavilions were added instead – after 66 years.

• Conventional bird type motif is seen repeatedly.

• Some of the important buildings inside the fort are the Jahangiri Mahal
built for Jahangir and his family, the Moti Masjid, and Bazaars.

• The Jehangiri Mahal is an impressive structure and has a courtyard

surrounded by double-storeyed halls and rooms.

• The corbel brackets, doorways and the chajja above them are profusely
carved and notable features of this building.

• The elaborate architecture of the brackets seems to be an imitation of

wood work from native style.

• The planning and construction of the fort shows the influence of Rajput
architectural styles.
 Fatehpur Sikri

Schematic plan of Fatehpur Sikri showing its main components,16th century)

Fatehpur Sikri plan of the royal complex
 Fatehpur Sikri
• Akbar’s greatest architectural achievement was the construction of
Fatehpur Sikri, his Capital City near Agra – 26 miles west of Agra

• A city with no streets, no ordinary habitations but an arrangement of

– Broad terraces
– State courtyard around which numerous pavilions and palaces that rival one
another in richness and elegance.

• The construction of the bastion walled city was started in 1569 A.D. and
completed in 1574 A.D. 

• 2 miles by 1 mile irregular rectangular in plan and it is a great complex of

palatial, residential, official and religious buildings.

•  The religious edifices worth mentioning are the Jami Masjid and Salim
Chisti’s Tomb
• The secular ones include Jodh Bai’s palace, Birbal’s palace, the Panch
Mahal, the Diwan-i-khas and the Buland Darwaza.

• The northern side has the offices, water body, ornamental garden etc
while the south had the private palaces.
General view of imperial buildings,
Fatehpur Sikri
General view of Turkish Sultana pavilion,
Panch mahal and Diwan-i-khass

General view of Panch mahal

 Aerial view of Anup Talao

General view of Anup talao with Turkish

sultana pavilion, Panch mahal and Diwan-i-
khass in background
The panch Mahal is a five stored structure, each storey smaller in size as they go up,
the last one being only a kiosk.
Jami Masjid Fatehpur Sikri
Jami Masjid Fatehpur Sikri
Jami Masjid Fatehpur Sikri

• Jami Masjid or the Friday Mosque is one of the most beautiful and largest mosques of the world
was completed in 1571.

• This most sacred building and the principal mosque of the town is situated on the highest point
of the ridge where Fatehpur Sikri is situated.

• The Buland Darwaja commemorating the victory of Akbar over Deccan and the Tomb of the
famous Sufi saint Sheikh Salim Chishti are a part of this spacious mosque complex.

• The vast quadrangle has the mosque on the western side and arcuate cloisters with broad
slanting chhajja and splendid brackets crowned by series of square chhatris on the other three
sides along with Buland Darwaja on the south, Badshahi Darwaja on the east and the tombs of
Sheikh Salim and Islam Khan and the ablution tank in the inner courtyard.

• The main rectangular mosque consists of a central nave with a single dome, two colonnaded
halls on its either side with two square chambers crowned with dome.
• The elegant and beautifully carved mihrabs adorn the main chamber and the two smaller
rooms
• The iwan with three arched openings framed by panels and crowned by five
chhatris and the central mihrab adorned with inlaid mosaic of stones that are
bordered by glazed tiles and has golden inscriptions on royal blue background
are certain typical features.

• The interiors of the iwan are adorned with watercolor paintings depicting
stylized floral designs.

• The dado panels, spandrels of arch, squinches and soffits are also painted
profusely.

• Elegant corbelled pendentives support the dome unlike the squinch system.
 Tomb of Shaikh Salim Chishti, 1580 – 81 AD

The tomb of salim chisti is built in the corner of the mosque compound is a
square marble chamber with a verandah and the special feature of
serpentine brackets. Has amazing marble tracery work with full of geometry.

The cenotaph has an exquisitely designed lattice screen around it.

• Square exterior is 24’ side

• Mortuary chamber has a

dome of 16’ dia
Serpentine brackets, Tomb of Shaikh Salim Chishti
 Buland Darwaza
• A magnificent gateway was added in 1571-72

• It is a mass of masonry. It is semi octagonal in plan and is topped by pillars and

chhatris.

• A flight of 42 steps lead to the gateway which is about 134’ in height 130’ width 
123’ deep and a total height of 176’ above the roadway.

• Entrance is through a huge arched domed recess.  A broad rectangular strip

bordering the archway has calligraphic inscriptions on it. 

• There are thirteen smaller domed kiosks on the roof, stylized battlement and
small turrets and inlay work of white and black marble.

• The beautiful perforated parapet and the row of kiosks with cupolas add to the
dignity of the monument. 

• Buland Darwaza echoes early Mughal design with simple ornamentation,

carved verses from the Koran and towering arches.
Buland Darwaza of Jami Masjid, view from
south east

Mihrab, Jami Masjid

Two great aspects :
The façade with its portals - the façade comprise of three planes comprising a
large central face and a lesser on each side
The back view consisting of a lower and plainer portion into the mosque
courtyard
 Diwan-i- Khas
• The Diwani Khas, an outstanding structure was meant for the Emperor to sit
in audience with his ministers and listen to disputes and discussions. 

• A novel structure almost square in plan , it is a large hall with a giant

monolithic pillars in the centre with a circular railed platform on top like a
cup which is supported by a circular array of beautifully carved brackets. 

• From the  Central platform branch out four diagonal railed galleries has
intricate stone tracery work of geometrical pattern.

• The gallery is continued on all four sides of the hall. 

• The audience  sat in the galleries and in the hall below giving it the effect
of a two-storey building. 

• Four Chatris at the four corners frames the building

• The deep projecting eaves supported by beautifully decorated brackets
demarcate the levels/façade in two stories.
General view of buildings known as Diwan-i-khass, Treasury or Astrologer's seat
Diwan-i-khass, view from south

Carved pillar, Diwan-i-Khass

Circular platform, Diwan-i-khass
 Jodhbai's palace

Jodha Bai's palace is a large building

consisting of rooms on all four sides of a
courtyard.

The centre part and four corners of the

building are doubled storeyed.

A small chapel attached has niches for

idols.
Façade of the monument
Important features:
• Shows life style of that period built for the comfort and pleasure of
Akbar’s favorite queen
• Plain outside wall with rooms attached to its inner side facing an
interior courtyard
• Exterior guarded by staggered gateway
• Has everything within
– a private chapel for devotions
– Roof terraces screened by parapet
– Convenience of services

• In plan
– Nearly a square measures 320 x 215 feet
– has an enclosing wall of 32 feet
– Gates on 3 sides
– North side has Hawa mahal-hanging pavilion(palace of air)
Interior

Symmetrical range of building

around square quadrangle

Two storied with regular

intervals with open terraced
roof

Use of blue glazed tiles in roofs

and cupolas

Ceiling is vaulted
Birbal's house
 BIRBAL PALACE

– Has arrangement of rooms in two stories with no central courtyard

or other amenities
– Interior has large murals and carved decorations
– It has 4 rooms in all - 2 rooms in the each floor
– 2 porches in ground floor
– Open terraces are enclosed by screens
– Cupolas over upper rooms is seen – the principle of double dome
is used that kept the interior cool
– Pyramidical roof over the porches
DIWANI –AM – FATEHPUR SIKHRI
 Front view of Diwan-i-Am

Rear view of Diwan-i-Am

DIWANI –AM – FATEHPUR SIKHRI
DIWANI –AM – FATEHPUR SIKHRI