MODULE 3

INDO-ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE
S3 HOA
INTRODUCTION
Delhi - people
inhabited since 6th
century

- not considered as
a bigger town until
early 12th century.
INTRODUCTION
Prithviraj Chauhan - conquered
Delhi in 12th century.

- Transformed it into an
important commercial centre.
- 1192 - defeat of Prithviraj
Chauhan, Mohammad Ghori
came into power.
- Established Muslim dynasty.
Prithviraj Chauhan
DYNASTIES
The earliest appearance of Islamic Architecture (IMPERIAL STYLE) may be
divided into five phases corresponding to the dynasties that prevailed from 12th
to 16th centuries.
IMPERIAL STYLE
● Slave/Mamluk Dynasty - 1206-1290
● Khalji Dynasty 1290- 1320
● Tughlaq Dynasty 1320-1410
● Sayyid Dynasty 1414-1444
● Lodi Dynasty 1451-1557
SLAVE DYNASTY
Qutb -ud -din aibaq - established the slave
dynasty on the death of Mohamed of Ghuri in
1206.
Son-in-law Iltumish were the active patrons of
building art.
Also known as Ilbari Dynasty.
Style of Architecture - Mamluk style of
Architecture.
Most of the constructions - remodelling of Hindu
Structures.
With time started separate construction.
SLAVE DYNASTY
Qutb Complex

Monuments and
buildings from
the Delhi
Sultanate at
Mehrauli in Delhi
SLAVE DYNASTY
SLAVE DYNASTY
Quwwat –ul-islam mosque

● Qutub Mosque or the Great Mosque of

Delhi
● Commissioned by Qutb-ud-din Aibak to
mark his victory.
● Built using spoilers from 27 Hindu and
Jain temples
● Built over the site of a large temple
● Main entrance - East side
● Arched doorway leads to a pillared
colonnade and courtyard.
 SLAVE DYNASTY

Pillars, ceilings and stones from multiple older Hindu and Jain temples were reused in
the construction of the colonnades.
SLAVE DYNASTY

courtyard dimension - 43 m (141 ft) x 33

m (108 ft).
SLAVE DYNASTY
Monumental sandstone
screen
Screen with five pointed
arches - built between the
courtyard and the prayer
hall.
Screen was constructed
with corbeled arches
Decorative with bands of
calligraphy, arabesques,
and other motifs, including
flowers and stems
SLAVE DYNASTY

Bricks or stones are placed overlapping each other. This allows for each stone to act as a
counterweight for the ones around it.
SLAVE DYNASTY
SLAVE DYNASTY

The prayer hall west of the

screen - lost most of its
components and the
original mihrab - no longer
survives
SLAVE DYNASTY
IRON PILLAR
● 7.21-metre high
● Weighing more than six tonnes.
● Originally erected by Chandragupta II
Vikramaditya
● Installed by Iltumish at the mosque.
● Pillar has an inscription in the Sanskrit
language.
● It was made by 98% wrought iron.
SLAVE DYNASTY
The Qutb Minar

● Built by Qutb-ud-din Aibak.

● Began in 1192 CE.
● Inspired by the Minaret of Jam in
Afghanistan.
● 72.5 metres (239 ft) high
● Tallest minaret in the world built of bricks.
● Built out of Red and light sandstone.
● Tapering Minar
● Five distinct storeys, each marked by a
projecting balcony.
SLAVE DYNASTY Base diameter - 14.3m

Top - 3 m

379 steps in between.

Inscriptions record that 27

Hindu and Jain temples
were torn down and used
for its creation.

Structure displays a
marked variation in
architectural styles from
Aibak to that of Tughlaq
dynasty.
SLAVE DYNASTY

Detail of the Qutb Minar - The minar is decorated with bands of calligraphy that are both
historic -surrounded by bands of intricate carving in Kufic style of Islamic calligraphy.
Minar’s exterior - Fluted column.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pg1NpMmPv48
KHALJI DYNASTY
● Founder - Jalal ud din Firuz Khilji
● Turkish Tribe from Afghanistan.
● Allaudin Khilji rose to power in 1296.
● Tried to extended Qutb complex.
● Proposed a colossal minar at the
northern end of the complex
KHALJI DYNASTY
ALAI DARWASA

Southern gateway of the Quwwat-ul-Islam

Mosque.

Built by Sultan Alauddin Khalji in 1311

Material Red Sandstone and White marble

Square domed Gate House.

Indo Islamic Style Architecture

 ALAI DARWASA
KHALJI DYNASTY Cubical plan - 55ft.
Height - 60m
each Wall containing a tall
archway over a flight of steps
leading to the higher floor of
the interior.
- hall of 36 feet side with a
domed ceiling.
Arches - Horse shoe style
Stone openwork screens are
present.
KHALJI DYNASTY
Plinth its faces are carved with
horizontal bands.
Surface wall - divided to two parts
● Upper - Rectangular panels
● Lower - Arches recess with stone
grills.
Arabesques and decorative
inscriptions.
KHALJI DYNASTY
SQUINCH ARCH
KHALJI DYNASTY
Tomb of Iltumish
KHALJI DYNASTY
Alai Minar
TUGHLAQ DYNASTY
Founders who were interested in Building Art.

● Ghiyas ud din Tuglaq – 1320-25

● his son Muhamad Shah Tuglaq-1325-51
● the prolific o f the builders- Firoz shah Tuglaq -
1351-88

Ghiyas ud din Tuglaq

TUGHLAQ DYNASTY
TOMB OF GHIYAS –UD DIN TUGHLAQ

Constructed in 1325.

Square tomb is in the center of a irregular

pentagonal enclosure with high walls.

Built of red sandstone and white marble.

Sloping walls at 75 degree angle

 Pentagon shaped plan - guarded with parapet
TUGHLAQ DYNASTY walls supporting massive cone-shaped bastions at
every intersection

Borderline walls - inclined inward - height of 11.75

meters

Tomb diagonally placed.(to face mecca).

Absence of outer carving works.

Massive wall - 18.74m outside & 11.74m inside

White marble Band - Stone lintel.

White marble Dome - placed with kalasha at top.

TUGHLAQ DYNASTY
Interior diameter of Dome - 10.41m

Exterior diameter - 13.41m

Horseshoe Arches, Kalasha - Hindu

architecture influence.
TUGHLAQ DYNASTY
Khirki masjid

Builder - Khan-e-Jahan
Junaan Shah - Prime
minister of Feroz Shah
Tughlaq.

Khirki means Windows

Hence its called - The

mosque of Windows.
TUGHLAQ DYNASTY
Square plan - 52M side.
Raised on a plinth of 3m.
4 open courtyards surrounded
with arcades - source of light
Roof divided into 25 squares -
each divided with 9 domes
Alternated by 12 flat roofs
4 corners of the mosque are with
towers.
TUGHLAQ DYNASTY
Fusion of local elements - Jalli style windows
TUGHLAQ DYNASTY
TUGHLAQ DYNASTY
SAYYID DYNASTY
Successors of the Tughlaq dynasty.(1414 - 1444).
First Sayyid ruler of Delhi - Khizr Khan.
Khizr Khan - succeeded by his son Sayyid Mubarak Shah - Muhammad Shah -
Sayyid Ala-ud-Din Shah (last ruler).
SAYYID DYNASTY
Tomb of Mubarak Sayyid
SAYYID DYNASTY
Tomb of Mubarak Sayyid

15-16century

Location - Kotla,Mubarakpur

Octagonal Plan - surrounded by Octagonal

Verandah.

Width of each phase - 10m

Chamber Dia - 8m

Main entrance is through the south

SAYYID DYNASTY
Each phase pierced by three
arched openings.
Chajja-overhanging eaves
supported by stone corbels.
Corner of the octagon -
reinforced by sloping
buttress.
Octagonal domed ‘chattri’
sits above each side of the
verandah.(Hindu influence)
SAYYID DYNASTY
SAYYID DYNASTY

Central Dome sits on 16 sided high drum -

verticality.
Dome of each 'chhatri' - smaller version
of the central dome - capped by a lotus
finial with a decorative band around the
base.
SAYYID DYNASTY
Ceiling - decorated with carved
stucco using circular designs
with arabesques and
calligraphic motifs.
LODI DYNASTY
Afgan Dynasty
From 1451 - 15 century
Founder - Bahlul Khan Lodi
Succeeded by Sikandar Khan Lodi
(1489–1517).
Found Agra in 1504 -built
mosques. Sikander Lodi

Shifted capital from Delhi to Agra.

LODI DYNASTY
Tomb of Sikander Lodi
LODI DYNASTY
LODI DYNASTY
Tomb of Sikandar Lodi
Location - Lodi Garden,New Delhi
Year - 1517-1518
Inspired from Tomb of Muhammad
Shah.
Style - Indo Isalamic
First Garden Tomb in India
Enclosed within a fortified
complex.
 LODI DYNASTY

Fortified walls
LODI DYNASTY
Octagonal Tomb
Main Entrance - South side.
Main entrance - having 2
umbrella shaped domes.
Surrounded by a wide veranda
with carved pillars.
Each side pierced by three
arches.
Buttress at angles.
Absence of Kiosks-chathris
LODI DYNASTY
Window Detail
LODI DYNASTY
Western wall has been built to serve as a wall mosque.
 SURI DYNASTY
Afgan Dynasty.
Ruled for 16 years.
1540-1556
Controlled most of the mughal territories.
Founder - Fard Khan.
Sher Shah Suri - Important Ruler.
Sher Shah Suri controlled Mughal Empire by defeating
Humayun in Battle of Chausa and Battle of Kanouj.(1540).
During this reign - much economic developments and
administrative reforms.
 SURI DYNASTY
Indo islamic Style of Architecture.
Location: Sasaram Town ,Bihar
Designed by - architect Mir
Muhammad Aliwal Khan.
Built between 1540 and 1545
Material- Red sand Stone.
Height - 122 ft
Known as second Taj mahal.
 Situated in the middle of a huge pond
SURI DYNASTY
(Artificial Lake of square plan)spread over
an area of 22 acres.

Tomb stands on a Square Stone plinth.

Stone banks and stepped moorings on all

sides of the plinth.

Connected to Mainland through a a wide

stone bridge.
SURI DYNASTY
Tomb - Octagonal Plan.
Topped by Dome - 22 ft diameter.
Surrounded ornamental domed kiosks (Once
decorated with coloured glazed tile).

Fortified walls around the tomb.

Kiosks - Indian Influence.
PROVINCIAL STYLE
Provincial - belonging to some particular province; local area.
Reasons:-
● Muslim powers and their practice of arts
● Nature of the indigenous arts in association with local artisans.
● Migration of experienced foreign craftsmen -
● Climatic conditions
Provincial styles of Islamic architectures developed in Indian subcontinent from
Punjab province and gradually expanded to the entire India.
PROVINCIAL STYLE
● Punjab Style
● Bengal Style
● Gujarat Style
● Deccan Style
PROVINCIAL STYLE - PUNJAB
First province experienced the Islamic
architecture in Indian subcontinent -
Undivided Punjab.
Invasion Started in 8th century-
established Islamic influence in 10nth
century.
Punjab Style - Mainly Brick works and
highly decorated building arts.
Fusion of Hindu style.
Timber Constructions.
PROVINCIAL STYLE - PUNJAB
Pre medieval period - Architecture of Punjab - Construction of bricks and
Timber.
Timber framed with the wooden beams inserted in the walls.
Arches were absent.
Substantial wooden elements in doorways, windows and also hanging
balconies.
Buildings were decorated with painted plaster with paneling of glazed
coloured tiles.
Doors were framed and carved with wooden designs - heavy tassels and
knotted fringes.
PROVINCIAL STYLE - PUNJAB

Group of Five Tombs in Multan.

● Shah Yusuf Gardizi's tomb

● Shah Bahau-1-Haqq's tomb
● Shadna Shahid's tomb
● Shah Shams-ud-din Tikrizi's tomb
● Shah Rukn-i-Ala'm's tomb.

Construction extends over a period of one hundred and seventy years.

These are made up of brick and wood, decorated with glazed tiles.
PROVINCIAL STYLE - PUNJAB
Tomb of saint Shah Rukn-i-Alam.
Sufi saint Sheikh Rukn-ud-Din Abul Fateh.
Located in Multan, Pakistan.
Constructed by the Delhi ruler Ghiyas-ud-din
Tughlaq.
Year 1320 to 1324.
Octagonal Tomb.
Pre Mughal Architecture style.
Pre date to Tughlaq Monuments.
 PROVINCIAL STYLE - PUNJAB
Three tiered
Structure.
First -Octagonal Plan
- 15m inside
Diameter
Wall Thickness - 4ft.
First tier height - 50ft.
Second Tier - 25 ft
Dome - 50ft Height,
Diametre - 15m
 First tier is buttressed
by small
PROVINCIAL STYLE - PUNJAB
minaret-shaped
towers in each of its 8
corners.

First Tier - Band of

Timber along with
Brickwork

Second Tier - small

domes at each
corners.

Sloping walls.
PROVINCIAL STYLE - PUNJAB

Wooden Window work

Brickwork is ornately chiseled with glazed tiles.

White dome is decorated with blue tile-work along its lower perimeter.

Exterior decorated with regional-style tile-work in floral, arabesque, and geometric motifs
with dark blue, azure, and white tiles.
PROVINCIAL STYLE - PUNJAB

Interior

Spacious Interior

Niches at the ground level - to enlarge the interior space.

Cenotaph surrounded by the graves of 72 of his relatives.

PROVINCIAL STYLE - BENGAL
Arabs invaded Bengal Province in the 13nth century.

Muslim rulers introduced new architecture styles in building new cities fortresses,
palaces, free-standing victory-towers, citadels, immense land bridges.

Created the buildings with the locally available building materials.

PROVINCIAL STYLE - BENGAL Chotasona Masjid
Also known as Small
Golden Mosque.
Location: Chapai
Nawabganj,
Bangladesh.
Built during the reign
of the Sultan of
Bengal Alauddin
Husain
Shah(1493-1519).
 PROVINCIAL STYLE - BENGAL
Square unit - 3.5m side
Material - Brick and Stone
Rectangular - 3.5m x 4.5m
Outer dimension - 25.1m X 15.9m.
Interior dimension - 21.2m X 12.2m.
Longitudinally divided to 3 aisles by
stone pillars.
Wide Central Nave
Total 15 units.
Towers at 4 corners.
PROVINCIAL STYLE - BENGAL
Brick structure - embellished with
Rajmahal black stone.
All arches and domes are of brick.
High quality of stone carving.
Mosque Domes were once richly
decorated with gilding.
5 arched doorways - eastern facade
3 each on the north and south walls.
5 semi-circular mihrabs inside the
west wall.
PROVINCIAL STYLE - BENGAL
PROVINCIAL STYLE - BENGAL

3 rectangular units - covered with chauchala vaults

12 square units each - inverted tumbler-shaped dome.

PROVINCIAL STYLE - BENGAL

Corbelled brick pendentive for transition of domes.

PROVINCIAL STYLE - GUJARATH
JAMI MASJID

Built by Sultan Ahmed Shah in A.D. 1423.

Location : Ahmedabad
PROVINCIAL STYLE - GUJARATH
Centered on a large rectangular
courtyard - 75 m X 66 m.

Courtyard lined with colonnades

except prayer hall at West.

Building Material - Yellow

sandstone.

3 entrance way at North,South

and East.

Center of the courtyard -

Rectangular basin for ablutions
PROVINCIAL STYLE - GUJARATH
PROVINCIAL STYLE - GUJARATH
Prayer Room
Rectangular in plan.
Prayer hall space is divided into fifteen bays
Covered with 15 domes.
Roof of the prayer room is arranged on three levels.
Cupola dome in the center is higher
PROVINCIAL STYLE - GUJARATH
PROVINCIAL STYLE - GUJARATH
Indo-Saracenic
architectural style.
Vaults of the masjid is
imprinted like lotus
flowers - similar with
the design of Jain
temples.
Columns of Jama
Masjid - imprinted with
bells, hanging from
chain - Hindu
influence.
 PROVINCIAL STYLE - DECCAN STYLE
GOL GUMBAZ
Location : Bijapur
Tomb of the king Mohammed
Adil Shah.
Construction in 17th century
1626 - 1656
Name Gol Gumbaz - a dome in
the circular shape - most
prominent feature of the
structure
PROVINCIAL STYLE - DECCAN STYLE

Deccan Indo-Islamic architectural style.

Material - Dark grey basalt.
Total height - 51m
Four dome-capped towers on the
edifice of four sides.
Each of the towers- seven stories high
and has a staircase built inside it.
Second Largest Dome - Dimetre - 44m.
PROVINCIAL STYLE - DECCAN STYLE
Structure is composed of a cube with - 48 m

Eight intersecting
arches created by
two rotated
squares - create
interlocking
pendentives.
Mausoleum hall
boasts of an area
18000 sq. ft
No towers or
pillars that provide
support to the
dome.
PROVINCIAL STYLE - DECCAN STYLE

Whispering gallery - Running

around the inside of the dome.
Upper floor of each tower
opens on to this gallery.
Sound made here gets echoed
at least seven times or more.
Acoustic quality - Softest sound
can be heard on the other side
of the mausoleum.
PROVINCIAL STYLE - DECCAN STYLE
PROVINCIAL STYLE - DECCAN STYLE
 PROVINCIAL STYLE - DECCAN STYLE
Charminar
Location : Hyderabad
Built by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah - fifth ruler
of the Qutb Shahi dynasty.
Year 1591 - after shifting his capital from
Golkonda to Hyderabad.
To commemorate the beginning of the second
Islamic millennium year.
Derived its name from the four minarets.
Old City of Hyderabad was designed with
Charminar as its centrepiece.
 PROVINCIAL STYLE - DECCAN STYLE
Structure is made of granite, limestone,
mortar, and marble.
Square structure with each side being 20
meters.
Each four sides has grand arches - facing a
directly onto the street in front of it.
At each corner stands - 56 meter-high
minaret, with a double balcony.
Minarets built on to the main structure.
Arches - width of 11m ,a height -20m from the
base.
Small mosque which is on the Western side.
 PROVINCIAL STYLE - DECCAN STYLE
Each minaret
crowned by a
bulbous dome with
dainty, petal-like
designs at the base.
The minarets have
four levels with level
circled by a ring
around the minaret.
Fluted minarets.
149 winding steps to
reach the upper
floor.
 PROVINCIAL STYLE - DECCAN STYLE
In the arches and domes, Islamic architecture is explicit
and the ornamentation- primarily Hindu style.
Stucco ornamentation.
 MUGHAL STYLE
Building Style Flourished in northern
and central India under the patronage
of the Mughal emperors-16th to the
late 17th century.

Striking revival of Islamic

architecture in northern India.

Persian, Indian, and various provincial

styles were fused to produce works of
unusual quality and refinement.
 MUGHAL STYLE - Features
Witnessed Large scale architectural activities that represented peak islamic art in
India.
A period were great exchange of ideas and styles led to creation of style that had
many features of local and regional style.
Architectural Construction of Mughals included - Magnificent Forts, Palaces, Public
buildings, Mosques and Mausoleums.
Mughals were fond of Laying Gardens with Running Water.
Keen interests in arts - Pietra Dura, Arabic Calligraphy, Painting, Music etc.
Architectural Features : Large bulbous domes, slender minarets at the corners,
massive halls, large vaulted gateways, and delicate ornamentation.
 MUGHAL STYLE
Development of the Mughal style under different rulers
BABUR & HUMAYOON
Mosques at Sambal and Panipat

Kabuli Bagh Mosque

 MUGHAL STYLE
BABUR
Gardens at Dholpur and Rambhagh
Zahra bagh at Agra
 AKBAR - 1556- 1560
MUGHAL STYLE
FatehPur Sikri
Akbar built a new capital at Agra - 1569

Bulan Darwasa
Entrance to Fatehpur Sikri
 MUGHAL STYLE

Humayoon’s Tomb Panch Mahal

MUGHAL STYLE
Jodhabhais Place.
MUGHAL STYLE
JAHANKIR
Akbars Tomb - Sikander.
Islamic Art - Pietra Dura-
Art work in White Marble.
MUGHAL STYLE
SHAJAHAN

Golden Period of Mughal Art.

Crowning Achievement : Taj Mahal.

Pietra Dura- used in Large scale -

Jewel of the builders art.

Minarets and the Massive Dome.

MUGHAL STYLE

Red Fort in Delhi

Jami Masjid,
Delhi
MUGHAL STYLE
Mughal Gardens

Nishat Bagh in Kashmir

Shalimar Bagh at Lahore

Pinjore Gardens in Punjab