ISLAMIC CITIES IN INDIA

INTRODUCTION

Medieval period in india is marked by the end of Rajput period

The Rajputs weakened each other by constant fighting.

This allowed the foreigners (Turks) to embark on victorious campaigns using duplicity
and deceit wherever military strength failed against Rajputs

Mohammad Ghori defeated Prithviraj Chauhan, the Tomar ruler of Delhi, at the battle of
Tarain in 1192 and left the Indian territories in the charge of his deputy,

Qutubudin (reign - 1206 - 1210), who had started life as a slave. Khiljis, Tughlaqs,
Sayyids and Lodi followed and this period is known as the Sultanate.

When the power of the Sultans declined, the outlying provinces once again became
important and the process of Hindu Islamic synthesis continued almost without any
interruption.
There was a brief interruption to Mughal rule when Babur's son Humayun was ousted
from Delhi, by Sher Shah, an Afghan chieftain. Sher Shah assumed power in the imperial
capital for a short while. It was Babur's grandson Akbar ,who consolidated political power
and extended his empire over practically the whole of north India and parts of the south.

Akbar was followed by Jahangir , Aurungzeb and Shah Jahan .Thus the mughal
architecture came into being after mughals captured the vast area of india.

Babur reign - 1526-30), the founder of the Mughal Empire in India, was the descendant of
Timur as well as Changez Khan. Ousted by his cousins, he came to India and defeated
Ibrahim, the last Lodi Sultan in First battle of Panipat and established mughal empire . 
Mughal architecture, an amalgam of Islamic, Persian and Indian architecture

The period of mughal rule saw the development of beautiful gardens, palaces, forts,

mosques and cities. 

Spread across the country from the Deccan to Kashmir and beyond, these urban
complexes reached their high point of development under the rule of Akbar and Shah
Jahan

Shah Jahan’s contribution to architecture, town planning and urban design was the most
extensive throughout the period of Mughal rule. 
The integration of the courts, gardens and pavilions have created some of the most
memorable historic spaces.

Since the muslim lifestyle was more urban centric and system of governance led to
development of various cities and towns.

Thus the development seems profound in town planning in India during Mughal era.
1.1.3 FATEHPUR SIKRI
1.2 ARCHITECTURE OF FIROZ SHAH TUGHLAK

Tughlak dynasty has some significance on the history of Mughal Architecture.

Tughlaks ruled in Delhi for about hundred and three years only.

Among the eleven Tughlak rulers, Firoz Shah Tughlak (1351-88)considered as the greatest
builder of that period (Prince of builder)

“Period of Firoz Shah indicates a marked change in style as well as building material”.

Contributed the Indian architecture with the erection of forty mosques, thirty colleges,
hundred palaces, thirty towns, five hospitals, ten public baths, ten minarets, hundred
and fifty bridges and twelve hundred gardens

A remarkable feature of the buildings of this period is their fine proportion and if they
don’t possess qualities of charm and elegance, they are expressive of strength and versatility
FIROZ SHAH KOTLA (FORTRESS CITY
SHAH JAHNA’SCONCEPT OF TOWN PLANNING IN DELHI

By the time the emperor Shah jahan came to the throne , the mughal empire had ruled

continuously over the northern India for almost a century,and the artistic tradition of
mughals had reached a stage of maturity and refinement .

Shah jahan‘speriod was comparatively long and peaceful marked by of cities , shah jahan
established residences in Lahore , agra and delhi .

In 1638 he laid foundation of the new capital, centered around lal quila or red fort.

The site for the new capital in delhi was ideally suited as a convergence point of land
being centrally located geographically 

It was situated on the western bank of river Yamuna, where a natural projection formed
a triangle with the land and the river.
SHAHJANABAD