Islamic Architecture in India

Mughal Dynasty
1526–1540 AD & 1555–1857 AD(?)

Arch 2205 | Architectural Heritage – IV | Part-B

| Kowshik Roy | Part Time Lecturer | Architecture Discipline | Khulna University |

 Before Mughal Dynasty

Slave (Ghulam/Mamluk) Dynasty (1206- 1290 AD)

Khilji Dynasty (1290- 1320 AD)

Tughlaq Dynasty (13201- 1413 AD)

Sayyid Dynasty (1414 - 1451 AD)

Lodi Dynasty (1451 - 1526 AD)

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 Babur, the First Mughal in India

Ibrahim Lodi Lost at First Battle

Babur
the last ruler of the founder of
of Panipath
Lodi Dynasty Mughal Dynasty

Mughal derived from the Arabic and Persian corruption

of Mongol

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 Babur, the First Mughal in India

Babur
(Founder of Mughal Empire)
Tamerlane Chengis Khan
(Turkish Leader) (Mongol Conqueror)

Omar Sk Mirza Nigar Khanum

Figure 01: Babur’s Ancestor

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 Babur, the First Mughal in India

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 Babur, the First Mughal in India

Babur (1483-1530 AD)

• ‘Babur’ a Persian Word, means
Tiger
• At age 12, succeeded his father as
sovereign of Fergana (now in
Uzbekistan)
• Established himself at Kabul in
1504, having lost Fergana the year
before
• From Kabul made repeated
attempts to conquer Samarqand,
the capital of his Timurid ancestors.
• Interested & impressed with the
garden, mosque, palace of
Samarqand.
Figure 02: Protrait of Babur

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 Babur, the First Mughal in India

• Defeated by Uzbek leader Shaybani, and finally lost both

Fargana & Samarqand.
• 1504 AD Dominate Kabul & later entire Afghanistan
• 1513 AD with the help of Ismail Safari, Persian Leader Conquer
Samarqand, again defeated by Uzbek.

All this failure result - Attempt to leave from his own territory

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 Babur, the First Mughal in India

Fergana
Samarkand
Kabul
Delhi

Figure 03: Regions ruled by Babur

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 Babur, the First Mughal in India

Reasons to Invade India

• Unstable political & social condition at INDIA
Kashmir, Jainpur, Meber, Gugrat ware fighting with each other
Lack of Central Power
Ibrahim Lody dominated partially Panjub, Ganga-jamna, Doyab

• Invitation of Doulot Khan lody, ruler of Lahore to invade India

• The extreme desire of Babur after capturing Kabul to conquer

India

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 Babur, the First Mughal in India

Figure 04: Babur’s route to India from Fargana

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 Babur, the First Mughal in India

Figure 04: First battle of Panipath

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 Babur, the First Mughal in India

India from Babur’s Perspective

“Hindustan is a country that has few pleasures to recommend it ……

The people have … no ingenuity or mechanical invention in planning or
executing their handicraft works
no skill or knowledge in design or architecture …….

no grapes no melons, no good fruits, no ice or cold water …. ….

There is an excessive quantity of earth and dust flying about”

“But a convenience of Hindustan is that

the workmen of every profession and trade are innumerable and
without end”

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 Mughal Dynasty

Ruler Reign Notes

Zahir-ud-din Muhammad
(1526 – 1530) Founder of Mughal Empire
Babur
Nasir-ud-din Muhammad
(1530 –1540) Ascended and Exiled
Humayun
Nasir-ud-din Muhammad
(1555 -1556) Recaptured Delhi
Humayun
Jalal-ud-din Muhammad
(1556 –1605) The King of Builders
Akbar
Nur-ud-din Muhammad Salim Introduced marbel as a buildig
(1605 –1627)
Jahangir material of Mughals
Shahab-ud-din Muhammad Khurram
(1658– 1627) Built Taj Mahal
Shah-Jahan
Muhy-ud-din Muhammad Ensured largest territory under
(1658 –1707)
Aurangzeb Mughals

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 Mughal Dynasty

Babur (1526-30)

Humayun 1530-56) Kamran Hindan Ashkary

Akbar 1556-1605) Md. Hakim

Jahangir (1605-1627) Murad Daniel

Khasru Parvez Shahjahan (1627-1658) Shahriar

Dara Suza Aurangazeb (1658-1707) Murad

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 Mughal Dynasty

Figure 05: Regions ruled by the Mughals

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 Bagh-I-Nilufar (Lotus Garden)
Dholpur, Rajasthan-1527-29 AD

50 km south of Agra, atop the red sandstone ridge that looms high
above the CHAMBAL river.

A centrally large Lotus-shaped pool and other pools.

Symmetrical garden divided into four quarters by course of running

water – introduced by Babur in India

A mosque, bath, well, 26 rock spouts, water courses, stone platform.

Melon brought from Kabul

Grapes were introduced
Grafted trees
Flower of various color

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 Bagh-I Hasht Bihisht (Garden of Eight Paradises)
Agara 1527 AD

Located at the East bank of Jamuna river

Served main residence and court

Timurid-Persian Scheme – garden subdivided into four quarters by

raised walkway and canals
Regularly ordered and symmetrical

Included bath, a large tank, and audience hall and a private dwelling

• Persian water wheel with deep steeped wells called ‘Baolis’

• Bath pipe with hot and cold water- inside such bath the heat
and flying dust are shut out.

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