GUJRAT PROVINCIAL ARCHITECTURE

HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE – IV

ADITI , AMAN , ANURAG , ARUSHI , ATHUL , CHINMAY , SIDDHANT LABDE , SIDDHANT MORE

MITSOA 2021-22 SYBARCH DIV- B

 INDEX

Introduction
Timeline /Era
Major periods of style
a)First Phase
b)Second Phase
c)Third Phase

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INTRODUCTION
Gujarat is a state in the western part of India known
locally as Jewel of the Westernport of India. It has
an area of 196,204 km2 (75,755 sq. mi) with a
coastline of 1,600 km (990 mi), most of which lies on
the Kathiawar peninsula, and a population in
excess of 60 million. The state is bordered by
Rajasthan to the north, Maharashtra to the south,
Madhya Pradesh to the east, and the Arabian Sea,
as wells the Pakistani province of Sindh to the west.
Its capital city is Gandhinagar, while its largest city is
Ahmedabad.

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 The Gujarat style is the most important of all
the provincial styles in India. Two factors are
responsible for the prodigious output of
architecture in this region: a) The egotism of
the powerful Ahmed Shahi dynasty who
wanted to surround themselves with
architectural evidences of their might's) The
supply of skilled indigenous workmen. The
Gujarat style is the most indigenous Indian
style of all the provincial styles. Many
structures are adaptations or extracts of local
Hindu and Jain temples.

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TIMELINE ERA -
First Phase (till first half of the 14th century):• It was marked by thè demolition of the Hindu
temples and their reconversion into Muslim buildings.
Second Phase (first half of the 15th century):• It shows signs of hesitant maturity of a distinctive
style . Ahmad Shah I (1411-42):• He was a great builder, and beautified the town with many
magnificent palaces and bazars , mosques and madrasas.• He drew on the rich architectural
tradition of the Jains of Gujarat to devise a style of building which was markedly different from Delhi

Some of its features are:• slender turrets , exquisite stone-carving, and•

highly ornate brackets . Example of architecture : Jama Masjid in Ahmedabad:• in 1424 during the
reign of Ahmed Shah I . situated outside Bhadra Fort

Third Phase (latter half of the 15th century)• Gujarat style emerges in its own magnificent form.•
The Gujarat style of architecture is one of the most indigenous in character.• In some of the finer
examples of this style considerable portions of the buildings are in fact adaptations from either Hindu or
Jain temples . structure of a temple is fitted into the sanctuary of the mosque in the form of a central
compartment• Almost all the mosques from the second and third phase are composed in this manner,

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 MAJOR PERIODS OF THE STYLE

First period (14th cent.)

Second period (15th cent.).
Third period (1550- 16th cent)

REASONS FOR GOOD ARCHITECTURE-

Got most accomplished artisans of

India in their region Unrivalled aesthetic
resources in their region.

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 Three phases of the Gujarat style:

First Phase - (till first half of the

14thcentury)
It was marked by the demolition of the Hindu temples and their
reconversion into Muslim buildings.

Buildings don't have definite character because of having

formative and experimental appearance. Materials of Hindu
temples were used. Walls were built of original masonry while pillars
would be used as they were . Ex Jami masjid. Bharuch. Jami
masjids , Cambay.

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 Jami Masjid (Bharuch) :

Probably dates from about the beginning of the1300's.Largely composed of temple materials, it was planned and
constructed as per mosque principles. Consists of a courtyard with gateways on 3 sides and sanctuary in the west. The
sanctuary is of the open pillared variety i.e. Without a screen of arches put across the front. It is merely an elaborated loggia
or verandah . All 48 pillars of the sanctuary are of bracket pattern. They are arranged so as to divide the interior into
3compartments, each corresponding to the three temple mandapas from where the pillars were taken.

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jami masjid cambay -
jami masjid cambay -
• Built in the year 1325 A.D Judging from the appearance, it is
probable that local artisans were reinforced by a group of
artisans from Delhi to build this structure . The sanctuary of the
masque is having an enclosed facade with a screen of arches.
The shape and position of the arches, the masonry consisting
of alternate broad and narrow courses and the overall
architectural treatment is reminiscent of the architectural style
of Delhi under the Khalji dynasty . The arrangement of pillars
inside the arch ways of the facade borrows from the Ajmer
type of mosque , The pillars have been enriched by an
engrailed arch similar to one found in temples, a motif which
later figures prominently as the flying arch within the central
openings of mosque facades in Gujarat.
 Second Phase (first half of the 15thcentury)-

It shows signs of hesitant maturity of a distinctive style.

Ahmad Shah :
He was a great builder, and beautified the town with
many magnificent palaces and bazars, mosques
madrasas.
He drew on the rich architectural tradition of the Jains
of Gujarat to devise a style of building which was
markedly different from Delhi.
Some of its features are:
slender turrets exquisite stone-carving and highly ornate
brackets.

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 Information about second phase

• In this period, we see the art approaching an early

consummation, with slightly tentative qualities.
• - There is more directional authority in the buildings
and increased assurance in the design.
• - This can also be called the Ahmed Shahi period,
after the Sultan Ahmed Shah

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 JAMI MASJID AT AHMEDABAD-

• Built by Sultan Ahmed

Shah in A.D. 1423.
• Considered to be the high
water mark of mosque
design on western India .
• Most of the architectural
effect is concentrated in
the sanctuary.
• The flagged courtyard is
255' X 220'

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 • Sanctuary consists of
around 300 slender pillars,
closely set at an average
intercolumniation of 5 .
• The columns are
symmetrically arranged to
form 15bays across the long
ads of the hall.
• Each is surmounted by a
dome and connected to
the next through a
columned interspace.
• Columns are symmetrically
arranged to form 15 bays
across the long axis of hall.
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 SANCTUARY EXTERIOR-
• Combination of two types of sanctuary
facades , the screen of arches and the
pillared portico . The screen is on centre
and portico on wings.
• The juxtaposition of the two elements
creates contrast between the volume and
strength of the wall surface and the depth
and airy lightness of the colonnade .
• The large central archway has large
moulded buttresses of minarets on either
side .
• Two smaller archways are placed on either
side of the central one .
• Directly visible through the archway is the
colonnade of the interior with its engrailed
arch springing lightly from its slender
columns
SANCTUARY INTERIOR-
• The sanctuary is a hypostyle hall
of 64 mX30 m .
• It consists of 300 slender pillars,
closely set at an average
intercolumniation of 1.6m.
• The columns are symmetrically
arranged to form 15 bays across
the long axis of the hall, each
surmounted by a dome.
• The central compartment of the
nave rises up to 3 storeys , the
side aisles are 2 storeys and the
rest of the hall is single storeyed
• Nave is composed of two pillared
galleries one above the other.
Third period -

• THIRD PERIOD- (Second half of 15'h cent. A.D.)

• This is the most magnificent aspect of the style .
• Most of the development in this phase happened
under Sultan Mahmud I Begarha (1458-1511).
• Mahmud Begarha-1 founded three main cities
Bitwa , Mehmudabad and Champaner . Major ex-
Jami Masjld , Champaner ,
 BAI HARI'S VAV
• Built in A.D. 1499 at Ahmedabad
• Only kiosks on two ends are visible above
ground, the rest of the structure being
subterranean.
• The wav is 125' long, 18' wide and. 30'
deep.
• The subterranean passage takes the form
of a series of galleries interconnected by
stairways.
• At each stage, the gallery is expanded
into a pillared compartment. Due to the
balconies around each compartment,
each storey becomes a cool and quiet
retreat .
• The pillars, capitals, railings, wall surfaces,
cornices and borders are exquisitely
crafted .
 JAMI MASJID, CHAMPANER

• Built with the Jami Maid at Ahmedabad as

model except on a smaller scale.
• The entire structure is a rectangle of 270' X 180'.
A bit less than half the space is taken up by the
sanctuary .
• The entire structure is rectangle and the
courtyard is surrounded by a range of arched
cloisters, one aisle deep.
• The entrance pavilion projects from the centre
of each of the north, south and east cloisters.
• Sanctuary facade is of enclosed type
containing 5 pointe arch ways with two slender
minarets flanking the central opening
• Sanctuary is a pillared hall, total mosque
measuring 86.4 mm X 57.6 m, containing 176
pillars.
 Cloisters
• The courtyard is surrounded by a
range of arched cloisters, one
aisle deep.
• An imposing entrance pavilion
projects from the centre of each
of the north, south and east
cloisters. The eastern pavilion is a
fine example of architecture in
itself.
• A series of moulded buttresses
along the exterior of the qibla wall
along with traceried openings at
close intervals along the entire
periphery makes the exterior of the
mosque attractive as well.
Thank you .