Part-B

Indo Islamic Architecture in India

Tughlaq Dynasty (1321- 1413 AD)
 Tughlaq Dynasty (1321 AD - 1413 AD)

Historical glimpses:
After Alauddin Khilji's death, his successor proved incompetent to rule over the entire Sultanate
and very soon was replaced by Khusro Khan. Ghazi Malik was a feudatory and banner man of
the Khilji's and he, with the help of the forces of Multan and Sindh, overthrew Khusro Khan to
become the new emperor of Delhi Sultanate assuming the nameGhiyas-ud-din Tughlaq. He
established the famous Tughlaq dynasty and built the fort of Tughlaqabad within four years, from
1321-25. The fort was constructed primarily as a stronghold for defensive purposes against the
ever-invading Mongols rather than an architectural establishment.

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 Tughlaq Dynasty (1321 AD - 1413 AD)
Ruler Reign Notes
Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq 1321–1325 Ghiyath al-Din Tughluq
Muhammad binTughluq 1325–1351 aka Muhammad Shah II
Mahmud Ibn Muhammad 1351 (March)
Firuz Shah Tughlaq 1351–1388 Cousin of Muhammad bin
Tughlaq.
Ghiyas-ud-Din Tughluq II 1388–1389
Abu Bakr Shah 1389–1390
Nasir ud din Muhammad
1390–1393
Shah III
Ala-ud-Din Sikandar Shah I 1393 (March–April)

Nusrat Shah Grandson of Firuz Shah

1393–1394
Tughlaq, controlled the
west from Firozabad.
Nasiruddin Mahmud Shah Son of Mahmud Nasir-
1394–1399
ud- din, controlled the
east from Delhi.
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 Architectural Importance and structural
character of Tughlaq’s

 Tughlaqabad
 Tomb of Giyas-ud-din Tughlaq
 Feroz Shah Kotla
 Khirki Masjid
 Hauz Khas
 Tomb of Telangani
 Architectural Importance and structural
character of Tughlaq’s
 Tughlaqabad – Ruined fortified city near Delhi

 Tomb of Giyas-ud-din Tughlaq – Tomb structure inside Tughlaqabad

 Feroz Shah Kotla - Feroz Shah Tughlaq (r. 1351–1388), the Sultan of Delhi,
Established the fortified city of Firozabad in 1354, as the new capital of the Delhi
Sultanate
 Architectural Importance and structural
character of Tughlaq’s
 Khirki Masjid
Khan-i-Jahan Junaan Telangani and Feroz Shah Tughlaq were intensely committed towards
building architectural monuments. Together, they planned and built several tombs, forts and
mosques. Telangani in particular, was credited with building seven monuments of unique
designs. Constructed in the Jahapanah city, it is a novel cross–axial mosque in Tughluqian
architectural style. There are no specific inscriptions on the Mosque on its construction date,
though the name of the builder is inscribed on the eastern gate of the Mosque as 'Khan-e-Jahan
Junaan Shah'. Therefore, in the absence of "epigraphic and literary" evidence (though one
recent web reference mentions 1375 and another 1380) for its provenance, a research study has
been provided by Welch and Howard in their paper titled "The Tughluqs: Master Builders of the
Delhi Sultanate". The study has conjectured the year of building by comparing with many other
large monuments of this period. It is dated between 1351 and 1354 when Feroz Shah Tughlaq,
during his stay in Jahapanah, ordered this mosque to be built as "his pious inaugural
contribution to the Capital". It is approached from the Khirki village in South Delhi and close to
the Satpula or the seven arched bridge on the edge of southern wall of Jahapanah (the fourth
city of Medieval Delhi), was mosque built by Khan-i-Jahan Junan Shah, the Prime Minister of
Feroz Shah Tughlaq (1351–1388) of the Tughlaq Dynasty. The word 'Khirki' prefixed to mosque is
an Urdu word that means "window" and hence is also called "The Mosque of Windows".
 Architectural Importance and structural
character of Tughlaq’s

Hauz Khas
Hauz Khas is a neighborhood in South Delhi, its heart being the historic Hauz Khas Complex. Well
known in medieval times, the Hauz Khas village has amazing buildings built around the reservoir.
There are remnants of Islamic architecture roughly colored by splotches of urban culture. It is
centrally located and offers both rural Hauz Khas Village and urban Hauz Khas Enclave, Market
environments. Hauz Khas is surrounded by Green Park, SDA (Sri Aurobindo Marg) to the
west, Gulmohar Park (Balbir Saxena Marg) towards the north, Sarvapriya Vihar (Outer Ring Road)
towards the south and Asiad Village (August Kranti Marg) and Siri Fort to the east.
Hauz Khas is also home to various diplomatic missions such as the ones of Albania, Iraq, Guinea
Bissau, Burundi, and North Macedonia. Historically Hauz Khas was known as Hauz-e-Alai and is
the place where Khusro Khan of Delhi Sultanate was defeated by Ghazi Malik (Governor of
Dipalpur) in 1320.
 Architectural Importance and structural
character of Tughlaq’s
Tomb of Telangani
Khan-i-Jahan Khan Tilangani was the prime minister of Firoz Shah Tughlaq reign 1351-1388 of
the Tughluqid sultanate of Delhi and the father of Khan-i-Jahan Junan Shah. This was the first
octagonal mausoleum to be built in Delhi.

The monumental building is octagonal in plan and a transitional phase of Islamic Structure.The
tomb has a central chamber enclosed on all eight sides with an octagonal verandah. The
verandah has three arched openings on each side, with a finial bearing cupola crowning the
central arches. A large raised dome sits on top of the central chamber. While the parapet wall of
the verandah is articulated, a slanting stone overhang chajja runs beneath it, encasing all sides of
the structure. The main entrance to the structure is through the central arch of its south facade.
The walls of the chamber are substantially thick. The mihrab is set in a stepped niche on the
west wall of the chamber. A stairwell leading to the crypt below is also built into the western
wall and accessed from inside a doorway. A large rectangular sarcophagus sits centered in the
chamber beneath the dome in a two-tiered arrangement. All eight sides of the verandah are
under occupation and it is not possible to inspect the building. Below the Chajja s grooves or
railing, there are series of decorative medallio
TUGHLAKABAD - The ruined fortified city of Thuhluq’s
Location map

Tughlakabad village is one of the oldest

urban Village in South East District
of New Delhi. The Village is named after
Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq.
The Village is located in the shadows of
700 year old Ruins of Tughlaqabad Fort
 TUGHLAQABAD FORTIFIED CITY
Tughlaqabad Fort is a ruined fort in Delhi, stretching across 6.5 km, built by
Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq, the founder of Tughlaq dynasty, of the Delhi Sultanate of India in 1321.
 The ancient fort had two clear distinctions in its architecture –
I) The one was the portion
with the citadel and
II) The palatial residences,
the other was the old city to the north
 TUGHLAQABAD FORTIFIED CITY

 The entire fortification is made of granite and stands on a perimeter of roughly 6 kilometers.
 TUGHLAQABAD FORTIFIED CITY

 The southern part of the Tughlaqabad fort with the palace, royal residences and public halls
still stand, but the city is now entirely in ruins.
 However, parts of it have been refurbished and now encroached with the modern settlement,
especially near the lake regions.
Tughlaqabad fort
 PLAN OF TUGHLAQABAD FORT

 The pentagon shaped like plan is Irregular

guarded with parapet walls that pentagon iplan.
support massive cone-shaped The layout was
bastions at every intersection. dominated by
the topography
of the land.
 The borderline walls are inclined
inward and stand tall at a height of
11.75 meters seen with continuous
battlements furnish with crenels.

 The arch shaped corridors and

concave chambers stretch along the
interiors of the courts borderline wall.

Elevated cause
CONSTRUCTION
• The fort of Tughlaqabad was completed rapidly in a short span of four years (1321–25).
The fort’s massive battlements and bastions (some as high as 15–30 m, built of
enormous blocks of stone and walls 10 m thick in places)
• Within its sky-touching walls, double-storied bastions, and gigantic towers were
housed grand palaces, splendid mosques, and audience halls

MILITARTYSTYLEOF
ARCHITECTURE
• The crumbling ruins of the
Tughlaqabad Fort convey a sense of
lost grandeur. The massive ramparts,
battlements, and the mammoth
stonework of this fort speak highly of
the engineering skills of the workers
who constructed it. The fort served
the dual purpose of a defensive
structure as well as the imperial capital
of Ghiyas- ud-din Tughlaq, the
founder of the Tughlaq dynasty. There
are a number of monuments within
the precincts of this massive fort. Rampart Leadingto the FortEntrance
Ruins of the PalaceComplex Arch within Palace Complex
Kund of the PalaceComplex Bastions Palace Complex
Ruins of the PalaceComplex Arch within Palace Complex
 WALLS
• The walls are thick, sloping and high, capable of
withstanding Mongol attacks. Rubble masonry is
used to make up the shape of the structure, with
huge sandstone blocks, probably quarried from
the surrounding hills, enveloping the rubble.

Pointy Barbicans Surround the Tomb Complex Circular Bastion with Defensive
Barbican-like Parapet
• moving east from the main entrance to the
fort brings one to the citadel. This is probably
the best preserved area of the Fort, and
houses a few interesting structures. Walking
up the pathway to the citadel, there are
several defensive parapets
and circular bastions that are brought
into close view.
• The most interesting structure within the fort
is -
an underground passageway
with chambers along the length
linking to the palace area.

• There is a building with a roof – the

only one in the fort that is still
complete. It has been conjectured that
it functioned as a house.
 Tomb of Ghiyas-ud-dinTugluq

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3
CONSTRUCTION

• The tomb was constructed in 1325 and is built of red sandstone and white marble,
materials commonly used in Islamic structures at that time.
• It has a dome of white marble.
• It is considered to be one of the earliest masterpieces built of red sandstone and white
marble.
• The square tomb is in the center of a pentagonal enclosure with high walls.
• There are entrances on the north, east and south sides.
• There are no Minarets surrounding the tomb.
• The architectural style of the tomb is inspired by the Khalji portal- Alai darwaza- in the
Qutb Minar complex. This is hardly surprising as Ghiyas was originally a Khalji slave
who later became one of the governors.
• A notable feature of the tomb are the sloping walls, at a 75 degree angle with the ground
instead of vertical walls. This architectural style is similar to the sloping walls of the
Hindola Mahal (Swing palace) in Mandu, Madhya Pradesh.
• It is so called because of the distinctive sloping walls which give an impression that the
palace is swaying from side to side. Perhaps the wall design was intended to buttress the
heavy stone arches that support the ceiling. The inside walls are vertical and plain
 Tomb of Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq
General Information Known
as a Fortress Tomb

Tomb of Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq is placed within a fortress boundary.

The fortress boundary is located at southern (main) entrance of

Tughlaqabad Fort

Architectural Features
Only red sand stone structure of Tughlaq dynasty

Constructed in the midst of an artificial lake.

The courtyard of the tomb consisted of some underground chambers.

White marble panel and white marble blind alcove at upper part of the
structure.

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5
 TOMB OF GHIYAS-UD-DINT

Irregular pentagon
in plan.
The layout was
dominated by the
topography of the
land.

Elevated cause
way connection

Figure 02: Plan of the Tomb of Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq, Delhi

2
6
 Tomb of
Ghiyas-ud-
din

Figure 03: Aerial view of the Tomb of Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq,

Delhi
4/27/2017 2
7
 Covered dome
with white
marble casing
Blind
alcove

Blind
alcove

Figure 05: West façade of the Tomb of Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq,

Delhi
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8
 Tomb of Ghiyas-ud-din
Intrados of the
arch has lotus
bud/ fringe
design.
Apex is slightly
ogee , similar to
Tudor type of
Arch

Figure 06: Entarnce of the Tomb of Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq,

Delhi
 Khirki Mosque, Delhi

Figure 07: Khirki mosque,

Delhi
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 Khirki Mosque, Delhi
General Information
The Khirki, named for the perforated windows or khirkis

Built by Khan-i-Jahan Junan Shah, the Prime Minister of Feroz ShahTughlaq

(1351–1388)

Architectural Features
Built as a fortress with an unusual fusion of Islamic and traditional Hindu
architecture

The sahn was partially covered by a combination of a domed and flat roof,
leaving four symmetrically arranged open-to-sky courtyards for lighting and
ventilation

The mosque's walls are of rubble masonry construction with plastered surface
on the outside

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 Khirki Mosque, Delhi

The Mosque is 170.6 ft x 170.6 ft square plan, raised on a plinth of 9.8 ft

Figure 08: Plan of Khirki Mosque,

Delhi
4/27/2017 32
 Khirki Mosque, Delhi
The southern gate, with imposing steps at the main entrance, exhibits a combination
of arch and trabeated construction with an rectilinear frame.

Figure 09: Southern entrance of Khirki mosque,

Delhi
4/27/2017 33
 Khirki
Mosque,
Delhi

Figure 10: Axonometric view of Khirki mosque,

Delhi
4/27/2017 34
 Khirki Mosque, Delhi
There are four tapering corner towers and three projected gateways one in the
middle of each face, with tapering turrets flanking each gate.

Figure 11 & 12: Southern entrance (left) and corner tower (right) of Khirki mosque,
Delhi
4/27/2017 15
 Khirki Mosque, Delhi
The southern gate, with imposing steps at the main entrance, exhibits a combination
of arch and trabeated construction with an rectilinear frame.

Figure 13: Southern entrance of Khirki mosque,

Delhi
4/27/2017 16
 Khirki
Mosque,
Delhi

Figure 14: Arcade around the courtyard of Khirki mosque,

Delhi
4/27/2017 17
 Firuz Shah Kotla
(Fortress of Firuz Shah Tughlaq)

Figure 15: Remains of buildings at Firoz Shah Kotla, Delhi,

1795.
4/27/2017 38
 Firuz Shah Kotla
(Fortress of Firuz Shah Tughlaq)

General Information
Popularly known as Kushk-I-Feroz (Feroz's palace)
Erected on the bank of the river Yamuna because of availability water.

Architectural Features
Consist of three rubble-built walled rectangular enclosures

an irregular polygonal plan with its eastern wall in one alignment.

The eastern wall was built on the bank of the River Yamuna.

The central & largest enclosure had an imposing main gateway from
the western direction and bastions on either side flanked it.

4/27/2017 39
 Firuz Shah Kotla
(Fortress of Firuz Shah Tughlaq)

Figure 16: Plan of Firoz Shah Kotla,

Delhi
4/27/2017 40
 Firuz Shah Kotla
(Fortress of Firuz Shah Tughlaq)

Figure 17: aerial view of Firoz Shah Kotla,

Delhi.
4/27/2017 41
 Structures within Firuz Shah Kotla

Ashokan Pillar (Ashok Lat)

Made of sandstone, but so
polished that looks like metal

Called as Minar-i-Zarin (gold

or gloden) as ornamented by
Feroz Shah

In the afternoon on a bright

day it glitters like gold

Figure 18: Ashokan Pillar on top of Hawa Mahal at Firoz Shah Kotla,
Delhi
4/27/2017 42
 Structures within Firuz Shah Kotla

Jami Masjid
Located just next to the
Ashokan Pillar

Built on a series of
underground cells and
made of quartzite stone,
covered with lime stone

Surrounded by a large
courtyard with cloisters
and a Prayer Hall

Figure 19 Jami Masjid at Firoz Shah Kotla,

Delhi.
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 Structures within
Firuz Shah Kotla

Figure 20 Jami Masjid at Firoz Shah Kotla,

Delhi.
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 Structures within
Baoli (step well) Firuz Shah Kotla
Located northwest of the
Ashokan pillar, just in the
center of the garden

It has subterranean
apartments served as a cool
retreat in summer and was
used by persons of royal
lineage

A large underground drain

for the water towards its
eastern side

Figure 21: Baoli (step well) at Firoz Shah Kotla,

Delhi
4/27/2017 25
 Structures within
Firuz Shah Kotla

Figure 22: Baoli (step well) at Firoz Shah Kotla,

Delhi
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 Structures within
Hawa Palace
A tired structure
Firuz Shah Kotla
combined with
arched facades ,
influenced by of
Buddhist stupa.

Figure 23: Hawa Mahal with Ashokan Pillar on top at Firoz Shah Kotla,
Delhi
4/27/2017 27
 Structures within
Firuz Shah Kotla

Figure 24: Plan (left) and Section (right) of Hawa Mahal at Firoz Shah Kotla,
Delhi
28
 Distinct Features of Tughlaq Architecture

Massive battered wall made of rubble stone & brick

Figure 25: Out side view of Fort Wall, Firoz Shah Kotla, Delhi

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 Distinct Features of Tughlaq Architecture

Tapered conical shaped corner bastion (tower)

Figure 26: Corner Bastion, Firoz Shah Kotla,

Delhi
4/27/2017 30
 Distinct Features of Tughlaq
Fort like structure withArchitecture
Barbican (outer defense of a castle or walled city)
Merlon (solid part of a crenellated parapet)
Battlement (parapet at the top of fort or castle with regularly spaced openings)

Merlon

Figure 27: Battlement, Firoz Shah Kotla,

Delhi
4/27/2017 31
 Distinct Features of Tughlaq Architecture

Hall room ceiling has crossed arch

Figure 28: Celing of Khirki mosque,

Delhi
4/27/2017 32
 Distinct Features of Tughlaq Architecture

Hall room ceiling has crossed arch

Figure 29:Typical Crossed Arch

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 Distinct Features of Tughlaq Architecture

Four centered Arch along with

two centered arch

Combination of Arcuated &

Trabeated system in
construction of arched
openings

Usage of Pier also multiple

pillar & pier in arcade

Shallow dome a bit angular in

mosque
Figure 30:Four Centered
Arch

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