Provincial architecture

Evolution of Indo-Islamic
Architecture
Various styles - Sultanate, Provincial
and Mughal
ARL 2204 HISTORY OF BUILT ENVIRONMENTS -IV
B. Arch 4th Semester (Jan- Aug 2015)

UNIT-I
•Development of Medieval European Towns. Architectural and urban elements and their
interrelationship.
•Characteristics of the Gothic Cathedral. Changes in functional, visual and structural
elements as compared to Romanesque period. Case examples.
•Comparison of Gothic Churches in France and England.
UNIT-II
•Introduction of Islam in India. New building types, structural and ornamentation systems.
Significance of civic architecture.
•Evolution of Indo-Islamic Architecture. Various styles - Sultanate, Provincial (Jaunpur,
Bengal, Malwa, Bijapur, Gujrat) and Mughal. Role of socio-political, economic, geographic
and technological factors in shaping their structural and stylistic characteristics. Significant
examples to trace development of the Tomb and the Mosque in each case.
UNIT-III
•Civic Architecture in Medieval India. Responsiveness to climatic and other locational
factors. Examples of individual structures (such as Hauz Khas, Jahaj Mahal), Mughal
Palaces (Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri, Shahjahanabad Fort), Rajput Forts( Orchha, Datia).
•Town of Medieval India - Jaisalmer, Shahjahanabad and Jaipur
Overview of the entire course to be covered during the semester

Provincial Style of Architecture
 The Provincial (belonging to some particular province; local) Style of Architecture
encompasses the architectural trends and developments noticed in different provincial
capitals in India, but specifically in:
 Punjab (1150-1325 AD),
 Bengal (1203-1573 AD),
 Gujarat (1300-1572 AD),
 Jaunpur (1376-1479 AD),
 Malwa (1405-1569 AD),
 Deccan (1347-1617 AD),
 Bijapur (1490-1656 AD),
 Khandesh (1425-1650 AD) and
 Kashmir (1410 onwards).
In syllabus
In syllabus

Provincial Style of Architecture – Bengal ( 1203-1573 AD)
In the thirteenth century Arabs invaded the Bengal province and introduced
their architecture for the first time in this region. These Muslim rulers
constructed several new cities fortresses, palaces, free-standing victory-towers,
citadels, immense land bridges and embankments, etc in this province that
included present day Bangladesh and West Bengal in India. These architectures
were maintained for a period of two hundred and fifty years. They created the
buildings with the locally available building materials combining the regional
styles with the typical Muslim features such as domes, arches, the minaret and
the mihrab. This amalgamation resulted into a new and improved technique
named as Indo-Islamic architecture, enriched with regional building tradition in
Bengal

Provincial Style of Architecture – Gujarat (1300-1572 AD)
Early in the fourteenth century, Gujarat developed the Islamic style of
architecture.
When Khalji dynasty of Delhi established their Governors in this province, they
started to build their architectures for the first time.
They constructed and developed their Islamic architecture until the
independent rule of the Ahmad Shahi dynasty declined, and absorbed into the
empire of the Mughals in the sixteenth century.
They constructed their several mosques, tombs and other buildings with the
amalgamation of Hindu culture

Important structures: JAMI MASJID – AHMEDABAD

Important structures: JAMI MASJID – CHAMPANIR

• Built with the Jami Masjid at
Ahmedabad as model except on a
smaller scale and a few differences.
• The entire structure is a rectangle of
270' X 180'. A bit less than half the
space is taken up by the sanctuary.
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.

Provincial Style of Architecture – Jaunpur (1376-1479 AD)
• The Governor of Jaunpur, an eastern province of the sultanate was given the title
'Malik-ush-Sharq' (King of the East) by the Tughlaq monarch in Delhi. Hence, the
dynasty was called the Sharqi dynasty.
• Under the Sharqi monarchs, Jaunpur became an important centre of Islamic art,
architecture and learning, a university town known as 'Shiraz-i-Hind' after the city of
Shiraz in Iran.
• Most of the structures of the style were destroyed when Sikander Lodi of Delhi
reconquered Jaunpur, leaving only 5 mosques.

Important structures: ATALA MASJID
• The Atala Masjid stands on the site of a Hindu temple of
Atala Devi. It was built in 1408 by Sultan Ibrahim (1401-
1440), Sharqi Sultan of Jaunpur on foundations laid
during the reign of Tughluqid Sultan Firuz Shah III
• A large number of its pillars, brackets, lintels and flat
ceilings were extracted from Hindu monuments.
• The mosque complex consists of a long rectangular
prayer hall that opens onto a large square courtyard to
the west.
• The courtyard is enveloped by a two-story veranda on
the exterior that are used by merchants and visitors.
• It is entered from three domed gates facing north, east
and west
• Inside, the courtyard is enveloped by a three-bay deep
double-story colonnade on three sides. The screened
upper story was most likely reserved for women
AExterior around the East entrance
BCentral iwan
CPrayer room-Facade-
DSouth wing
EDomed Chamber
FNorth wing

• The mosque occupies the western side of the courtyard; its facade is marked by an imposing
central portal -- close to twenty-three meters tall -- flanked by secondary portals.
• Its plan is centered around a tall domed sanctuary behind the central portal, with two long three-
bay deep galleries to the north and south.
• The dome of the main sanctuary is carried on squinches. Although it is raised on an octagonal
drum, it is still not visible from the courtyard due to the imposing height of the entry liwan, a
distinctive element of Jaunpuri architecture.
• Inside the sanctuary is stone mihrab niche with a ribbed semi-dome, flanked by the stone minbar.
The decoration consists mainly of carved floral patterns.
• The gallery wings have two-floors and are centered around domed rooms with a mihrab and
courtyard entrance.
• Their flat ceilings are supported on twin columns and beams resting on brackets. The three domed
rooms of the prayer hall project beyond the qibla wall, with tapering turrets bracing their corners in
the manner of Delhi's Tughluqid architecture.

http://tybarchhistory.weebly.com/atala-
masjid.html

Important structures: JAMI MASJID - JAUNPUR

• The Jami Masjid is the largest and the most
ambitious of the Jaunpur mosques. It was built in
1470 by Husayn Shah (1458-1483), the last ruler of
the Sharqi dynasty.
• Built on a six meter high plinth, the mosque is
accessed by an imposing flight of steps.
• Its plan, similar to previous Sharqi mosques,
consists of a long rectangular prayer hall occupying
the western side of a colonnaded courtyard.
• The prayer hall is centered around a square
sanctuary, covered by a dome that measures 11.4
meters in diameter.
• Windows pierced into the dome's drum illuminate
the interior.
• On either side of the sanctuary are barrel-vaulted
galleries that are accessed from three arched
openings along the courtyard facade.
A:East gate -facade-
B：Prayer room -exterior- and west side of
the south corridor
C:South gate and east side of the south
corridor
D,D':Central iwan
E:Domed chamber -interior-
F:North wing of the prayer room
G:Corridors
H:South wing of the prayer room

Provincial Style of Architecture – Malwa (1405-1569 AD)
Malwa province experienced the Indo-Islamic architecture in the late medieval period
with the invasion of Muslim invaders. This province which included the cities of Dhar and
Mandu also experienced a large number of Islamic architectures during the Muslim
dynasty. Initially they constructed new buildings on the ruins of Hindu and Jain temple
materials. Gradually they developed their own style in building art of Islamic culture.

• The cities of Dhar and Mandu of the Malwa province provide examples of distinct architectural
elements in the form of polychromatic ornamentation of buildings, which was obtained by the use of
coloured stones and marble as well as by means of encaustic tiles.
• The earliest buildings of this period are the Kamal Maula Masjid (1400) and the Lat Masjid (1405) at
Dhar and the Dilawar Khan Masjid (1405) and the Malik Mughis mosque (1452) at Mandu.
• The architectural activity took a new turn with the establishment of the capital at Mandu, especially
under the rule of Hoshang Shah (1405-1435).
• Important buildings in Mandu are the Jahaz Mahal (a 120 meter long 'ship palace' built by Sultan
Ghiyas-ud-din-Khilji between two artificial lakes Munj Talao and Kapur Talao),
• Taveli Mahal with two wells called Ujali and Andheri Baoli, Hindola Mahal, Dilawar Khan's Mosque,
Hoshang Shah's Tomb, Ashrafi Mahal and the Jami Masjid built by Mahmud Shah Khilji I.
• The city also has several gateways like the Delhi Darwaza, the Alamgir and Bhangi Darwaza,
Rampol Darwaza, Jehangir Gate and Tarapur Gate.

Important structures: The Jami-Masjid at Mandu
• The Jami-Masjid near the centre of the Mandu plateau was one of the finest achievements of the Ghauri
dynasty.
• A mosque, with its necessarily vast scale to accommodate numerous worshipers, is monumental by its
nature, and to endow it with elements of humanism can be counted as a very difficult exercise in design.

• Of the elements that make up this mosque,
the monumental entrance from the east with
a main arched doorway flanked by two
smaller openings.
• A squat yet well-proportioned dome crowns
this entrance, with its profile being reflected in
smaller domes over the cloisters surrounding
the central court, their proportions being ‘not
unlike in profile to the so-called shoulder
shaped contours of the shikharas of Orissan
temples.
• The courtyard is surrounded on three sides
by columned cloisters with galleries of
majestic arches.

The whole building is faced with red sandstone, with little concession to decoration.
Indeed, the only departure from sobriety is in the chattri inside the mosque, next to
the mihrab, which shows influences from florid Gujarati architecture.

Important structures: Hoshang Shah’s Tomb

• Conceived and partly built by Hushang
Shah, completed by Mahmud I in 1440 A.D.
• The tomb stands in a square enclosure
contiguous with the western wall of the
Jami Masjid at Mandu, approached by a
domed portico on the north, with a pillared
cloister on the west for devotions or
accommodation.
• The tomb itself if a square structure of 86'
side, with 30' high walls surmounted by a
large central dome with a cupola on each
corner, standing on a square plinth of 100'
side.
• The walls are faced with white marble
relieved by occasional patches of colour.
• There are triple openings on two of its
sides, with the central archway on the
south providing the entrance, while the
other two sides are plain, uninterrupted
walls.
Plan of Hoshang Shah’s Tomb
Combined Plan of Hoshang Shah’s
Tomb & Jami Masjid, Mandu

Important structures: ASHARFI MAHAL
Although little remains of the Asharfi Mahal, to the east of the Jami-masjid, it was an
extraordinary achievement in its time, serving as a madrassa with open courts
surrounded by cells for students on several levels. Here also are the remains of a seven-
storey victory tower – which collapsed in the 17th century – echoing Ala-ud-din’s
megalomaniac flights of fancy near the Qutb.

Important structures: Hindola Mahal

This vast longitudinal room enormous arches
punctuating its length - and is
uncharacteristically massive, with strongly
battered walls adding to its ponderousness.
One theory is that it was originally intended to
have several more storeys above.

Important structures: Jahaaz Mahal

• The Jahaz Mahal, built by Mahmud Khilji, was
a departure from the previously stolid and
somber style at Mandu. The most striking thing
about this monument is its location between
two water bodies, the Kaphur Talao and
the Munja Talao, which gives the building the
appearance of floating on water, hence its
name, literally the ‘ship palace’.
• Architecturally, the building consists of a series
of compartments and corridors over the Munja
Talao, with terraces, kiosks and numerous
open-air baths conforming to the lifestyle at
Mandu, which was slowly sliding into
decadence.
• The Jahaz Mahal proved an inspiration for later
Khilji sultans to dot the landscape with their
own pleasure pavilions and summer retreats.

Provincial Style of Architecture – Bijapur (1490-1656 AD)

Style of architecture

Style and features of architecture

Important structures: Jami Masjid At Bijapur

• Construction of the mosque began in the city's
eastern quarter, in 1576 under Ali Adil Shah I
(r.1558-1580).
• It is the largest mosque of Bijapur, covering an area
of 54, 250 square feet.
• The main entrance gate is from the east, though the
north gate is used more frequently.
• The ground plan is a large rectangular structure
measuring 492 by 262 feet (150 by 80 meters) with
a square courtyard of 164 feet (50 meters).
• A passage from the eastern gate leads into the
courtyard, which has fountains and a large reservoir
in the center.
• The perimeter walls are articulated on the exterior
by two orders of superimposed arches

• The lower ones are ornamental while the upper ones
form a continuous open gallery that runs along three
sides of the mosque and courtyard.
• The arches of the gallery facing the courtyard have fine
proportions and simple lines.
• There are also several windows of pierced stone-work
carved in a variety of pattern.
• The prayer hall on the west side has a façade of seven
bays, each bay having an arched opening.
• The arches are equal in size, while the central arch is
delineated through delicate arabesque patterns in
stucco.
• The prayer hall is crowned by an elegant, well-
proportioned dome. It has a diameter of 57 feet (17.4
meters) and rises to 120 feet (36.6 meters) from the
ground.

Important structures: IBRAHIM RAUZA

This is the tomb
of Ibrahim Adil Shah
II (ruled 1580-1627),
known for religious
tolerance.
Built on a single
rock bed, it is noted
for the symmetry of
its features. It is said
that the design for
the Ibrahim
Rauza served as an
inspiration for that of
the famous Taj
Mahal

Important structures: GOL GUMBAZ

Surroundings
• The mausoleum is part of a bigger complex.
• The other buildings in the complex are a mosque (to the
west), a gateway called Naqqar Khana (drum house) and a
dharmasala or rest-house.
Mosque Naqqar Khana

• Gol Gumbaz is one of the biggest single chamber structures in
the world.
• The central dome is the second largest in the world (the
largest being the dome of St Peter s Basilica in Rome) which
stands unsupported by pillars measuring at 38 meters in
diameter and covering an area of 1700 sq m with 51 meters in
height.
• The structure is composed of a cube, 47.5 metres (156 ft) on
each side, capped by a dome 44 m (144 ft) in external
diameter.
• The walls are 3 m thick and 30.5 m in height. The
measurement from the interior is 41m on each side.

PLAN
At each of the four corners of the
cube, is a dome-capped octagonal
tower seven stories high with a
staircase inside.The upper floor of
each opens on to a round gallery
which surrounds the dome.
A small annex to the north side
might have been intended as a
resting- place for his mother, but
it is a later, unfinished addition.
The walls are 3 m thick.
N

•The effect of the building is derived from the fine
proportions between its various elements, especially
between the cubical part below and the domed part
above.
SECTION
"Eight intersecting arches created by
two rotated squares that create
interlocking pendentives" support
the dome.
The eight high pointed arches bisect
in the interior of the cube at regular
intervals.
There are six openings at its base.
The low drum below the dome is
encircled by a foliated band.

 Inside the mausoleum hall, is a square
podium with steps on each side.
 In the middle of the podium,
a cenotaph slab on the ground marks the
actual grave below.
 A very strong circular foundation was
discovered in the basement that
resembled the circular opening of the
dome above. But this foundation
supports only a platform and a light
wooden pavilion.
 The real graves are in the basement,
which can be accessed by a staircase
below the entrance on the west.
 The south door is the main entrance to
the tomb.

The use of groined
compartments or
pendentives, which
counteract the outer thrust of
the dome.
They have a large central arch,
above which is a cornice of grey
basalt and a row of small arches
carrying a second line of plain
work crowned by a balustrade 6
feet high.

Dome with intersecting arches from
the inside
The interior of the dome converges
with the edge of the circle by about
4 m so that part of the weight falls
on the intersecting arches that bear
and neutralize any other exterior
forces.

The base of the monumental dome of the Gol Gumbaz is carved with
beautiful petals that cover the drum.
Horizontal courses of brick
have been used in the
construction of the dome
which has a flat section at its
crown. It has been cemented
with lime and has a total of six
openings at the base.
It is in the eighth storey is a broad gallery around the dome which hangs out at
around 11 feet. It can be reached by means of winding staircase in the four
towers.

On the exterior side of the
structure there are three
great blind arches. The
central arch is the widest of
all and is decorated with
wooden panels (chajja ) and
has a small rectangular
entrance and three rows of
windows with arches.
The cornice and parapet of the building is the most distinct characteristic of the
façade. The cornice rests on highly carved stone corbels that project to about 3
m from the wall. The cornice supports the parapet, which has a row of arched
openings and leaf-shaped walls.

The Whispering Gallery
Inside, at the base of the dome is the 'Whispering Gallery‘, where even
minute sounds can be heard clearly 37 metres away.
A particular attraction in this monument is the central chamber, where
every sound is echoed seven times.

Important structures: Mihtar Mahal

 Though modestly sized, Mehtar Mahal
dated to 1620 is one of the most
elegant structures in the fort
 Mehtar mosque is a three-storey
building. It has two slender minarets
that are covered with delicately carved
birds and rows of swans.
 The carvings are in Hindu
architectural style, in the form of
brackets supporting the balconies and
stone trellis work.
 The building has a flat roof and
minarets have rounded top

Doorway of the Mehtar Mahal

Provincial architecture

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