short note on History of Maratha Architecture

1. Maratha Architecture
HISTORY OF
Ar. Pranay Kumar Tode
Conservation Architect
pktode@yahoo.co.in

2. Genealogy of
The Marathas
Ar. Pranay Kumar Tode
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3. Spread of Maratha Empire
Ar. Pranay Kumar Tode
Early maratha period- 13th century till beginning of
14th century :
• Yadavas of Devagiri are considered as first
Maratha empire.
• Ramadev yadava was defeated by Alla-ud-din
Khilji in 1294, kingdom was given back in lieu of
huge amount of ransom and annual tribute.
• The amount was not paid till 1307 AD, when
Malik Kafur was sent to retake the kingdom.
• Ruled by Alla-ud-din Khilji till 1317 AD, Devagiri
renamed as ‘DAULATABAD’.
• After that there was a period of anarchy till
Mohammed-bin Tughlaq shifted his capital to
Daulatabad in 1340 AD.
• Alla-ud-din baman shah a Persian official
established his kingdom in Gulbarga in Deccan.

4. Ar. Pranay Kumar Tode
Spread of Maratha Empire
5 divisions of Islamic rule in Deccan:
1. Berar - Imad Shahi (1490-1574 AD)
2. Ahmednagar – Nizam shahi (1490 – 1636 AD)
3. Bijapur- Adil shahi (1490-1686 AD)
4. Bidar – Barid Shahi (1492-1619 AD)
5. Golkonda- Kutubshahi (1518-1687 AD)
6. Several Jagirdars and Sardars were also in rule in
smaller parts.
• Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaja gave a fight against the
Sultanates and later also against Mughal emperor
Aurangzeb till his death in 1680 AD.
• Later his sons Sambhaji (1657-1689AD) and Rajaram
(1670- 1700AD) also continued the fight.
• The actual Maratha rule spans from 1749 – 1818.

5. Ar. Pranay Kumar Tode
Spread of Maratha Empire
Maratha Period 1749-1818 AD:
• Rein of the Prime Ministers of Maratha Rulers.
• Pune was established as the capital and empire extended
upto Punjab, Kashmir, Bengal, Mysore, Tanjore and major
lands of west and central India.
• Greater Maratha Kingdoms of the Great importance were
established as Indore (The Holkars), Gwalior (The Scindias),
Baroda (Giakwads).

6. Architecture of Maratha Empire
Ar. Pranay Kumar Tode
- Civil
Town-planning, Roads and Bridges, Wadas, Houses,
mansions and palaces, Gardens and fountains, water-
supply, Sanitary arrangements, Step-well.
- Military
Gadis, Civil Defence, Forts.
- Religious
Maratha Temples Type A (Neo-Yadav)
Maratha Temples Type B (Indo-Aryan)
Maratha Temples Type A (Maratha)
Ghats, Dharamshalas and Kunds Chhattris and Samadhis.

7. Architecture of Maratha Empire
Ar. Pranay Kumar Tode
Wadas - which were the traditional residential form of Maratha
architecture, evolved under the reign of Peshwas. A wada was typically a
large building of two or more storey with groups of rooms arranged
around open courtyards.
Types of wadas:
• Palace Wadas
• Nobleman Wadas
• Ordinary Wadas
• Its style was an amalgamation where features from Mughal, Rajasthan,
and Gujarat architecture were combined with local construction
techniques. Settlements developed around the Peshwa’s residence.
Land around the Peshwa residence was divided into wards called
peths. Similarly the wadas were built in rest of the Maharashtra.
• The streets and roads in the settlement were narrow. Roads were
never straight as the growth of the settlement was organic. The plots
for construction of wadas were rectangular and lay right next to the
streets. A wada never had a garden or vistas leading to it. The urban
form of the settlement appeared like a maze of two or three storied
structures having internal open spaces, placed along the road network
with very little open community space.

8. Architecture of Maratha Empire
Ar. Pranay Kumar Tode
• Shaniwarada is a historical fortification in the city of Pune in
Maharashtra, India. Built in 1732, it was the seat of the Peshwas of the
Maratha Empire until 1818, when the Peshwas lost control to the
British East India company after the Third Anglo-Maratha War.
Following the rise of the Maratha Empire, the palace became the
center of Indian politics in the 18th century.
• The Shaniwarwada was originally the seven-storey capital building of
the Peshwas of the Maratha Empire. It was supposed to be made
entirely of stone but after the completion of the base floor or the first
storey, the people of Satara (the national capital) complained to the
Shahu(King) saying that a stone monument can be sanctioned and
built only by the Shahu(King) himself and not the Peshwas. Following
this, an official letter was written to the Peshwas stating that the
remaining building had to be made of brick and not stone. Even today
if you visit and see the walls carefully, they are partly made of stone
and partly by bricks. The Wada was then completed and upon being
attacked by the British Artillery 90 years later, all the top six stories
collapsed leaving only the stone base, which was immune to the
British artillery. Hence only the stone base of the Shaniwar Wada
remains and can be seen even today in the older parts of Pune.

9. Architecture of Maratha Empire
Ar. Pranay Kumar Tode
• Distinct zoning can be seen.
• Separate entrances for guests, domestic help, people visiting the
durbar, separate entries for the people performing in the durbar
and a separate entry into the cattle shed.
• Privacy for the women given a priority. Three main courtyards or
chowks.
• The wada has it’s entrance in the southern side.
• The most significant features of the wada was the way it’s zoning
of public, private and semi-private spaces was done.
• This can be seen very distinctly in the plan.
• Three main courtyards.
• Architectural Details Courtyard of Wada Wooden window Details.
Brick of size 12 inches x 24 inches x 15 inches were used for
construction of walls which were plastered with lime plaster. Door
and window openings were done in teak woods
• Columns made of great dark processed saag (teak) columns and
cream walls. Intricately curved ornamental tear drop teak pillars.
The banana flower embellishment are characteristic to the
Peshwa era. Wooden makara Detail made up of teak wood.
Wooden Beam-Bracket Detail made up of teak wood.

10. Architecture of Maratha Empire
Ar. Pranay Kumar Tode
Military Structures
• Nearly 350 forts of different types are found in Maharashtra many of them were built by chatrapati shivaji
• maharaja.
• Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaja, founder of maratha empire in western india in 1664, was well known for his forts; he was
in possession of around 370 at the time of his death. Many, like Panhala Fort and Rajgad existed before him but
others, like Sindhudurg and Pratapgadh, were built by him from scratch.
• Most of these forts were built mainly along the highways to check on the enemies.
• Maratha kings mainly Shivaji maharaja built many forts Several defensive architectural features were evolved for the
guerilla warfare tactics,
Forts are mainly of three types:
1. Hill forts
2. Sea forts
3. Land forts

11. Architecture of Maratha Empire
Ar. Pranay Kumar Tode
Military Structures
Notable features of Maharaja Shivaji's forts:
• Design changes with the topography and in harmony of the contour, no monotony of design.
• No ornate palaces or dance floors or gardens.
• No temple complexes.
• Not much difference in the area of higher or lower ranks.
• Marvelous acoustics in the capital.
• Sanskritization of fort names.
• Community participation in the defense of forts.
• Three tier administration of forts.
• System of inspection of forts by higher ups including the king.
• Distinct feature of forts like double line fortification of Pratapgad, citadel of Rajgad.
• Foresight in selection of sites.

12. Architecture of Maratha Empire
Ar. Pranay Kumar Tode
Military Structures
Raigad Fort (Mahad, Raigad District)
• Shivaji seized the fort in 1656, then known as the fort of Rairi
from Chandraraoji More, The King of Jawali.
• Shivaji renovated and expanded the fort of Rairi and renamed it
as Raigad (King's Fort). It became the capital of Maharaja
Shivaji's Maratha Empire.

13. Architecture of Maratha Empire
Ar. Pranay Kumar Tode
Religious Structures
Developed from Hemadpanti style as well as gradually got fused with Islamic features.
Both Dravidian & Nagara (specially Gujarat, Rajasthan) influences were synthesized.
The evolution of temples could be grouped in three categories :
1.Neo-Yadava
2.Nagara style
3.Maratha style
Neo-Yadava style
• Developed from the earlier Yadava style
• Introduced Islamic arcuated system of construction with dome in Garbhagriha.
• Vimana with dressed black trap (basalt) stone with mortar & shikhara has stucco with conical upward sweep lotus petal
base
• Horizontal bands with motifs
• Domical amalaka finial with kalash
• Monolithic pillars of square, octagonal, round profile, with motifs and capital.
Nagara style
• Followed Nagara style of Gujarat & Rajasthan
• More Islamic style adapted for construction & decoration like arches in porch, dressed stone with mortar
• Two types of Shikhara found- plain domes, conical Nagara style, decorated with motifs Devdeveshwar temple, Pune

14. Architecture of Maratha Empire
Ar. Pranay Kumar Tode
Maratha style
• Most popular since 1725 AD during Peshwa period
• Adapted Islamic methods of construction & features widely (domes, arches, minerate motifs)
• characterized by plain shrine & rich row of columns
• Main features are arches (cusped, pointed circular) cypruss column, wooden pillars.
• Example
1. Kartik Swami temple at Parvati, Pune
2. Tulsi bag temple, Pune
3.Omkareshwar temple, Pune
Omkareshwara Temple, Pune
• Omkareshwar temple is situated in Shaniwar Peth on the banks
of river Mutha. It is one of the biggest and oldest temples in the
city. The holy abode was built by Shivaram Bhat, spiritual guru of
Peshwas between 1740 to 1760 .Temple proclaims the splendor
of the fallen Peshwa Empire.
• Chimaji Appa, commander of Maratha Empire and brother of
Bajirao Peshwa provided donations to built the temple. The
samadhi of Chimaji Appa is in the temple where he regularly
visited and left for heavenly abode.

15. Architecture of Maratha Empire
Ar. Pranay Kumar Tode
Maratha style (Omkareshwar Temple, Pune)
Omkareshwara boasts of splendid architecture, huge domes, and
intricate carvings that charm and amaze devotees with its beauty.
Spacious verrandah with artistic columns enhance the grandeur of the
shrine. The columns are in the shapes of circles, polygons and squares.
In addition to the Shiva temple, you have six other temples in the
premises. These include Lord Shani, Lord Hanuman, Lord Vishnu, Lord
Ganesh and Goddess Durga
The white dome of the temple is made of soft soap stone displaying
intricate carving on upper portion as well as on the stone roof of
temple.
Nandi Mandap: As you enter the shrine through a gateway, you can see
a beautiful mandap a home of Nandi Maharaj.
Shivling:In the Garbhagriha, devotees mind fills with spiritual emotions,
as they see pleasing Shivling decorated by the priests. Devotees offer
flowers, bael leaves, and milk for the blessings of the most divine hindu
god, Shiva

16. Architecture of Maratha Empire
Ar. Pranay Kumar Tode
Maratha style (Omkareshwar Temple, Pune)
• The temple is surrounded by verandaa each column
• These columns are carved in polygons, squares and circles,
• The temple provides nice showcase of the creativity and charm of
that period.
• The temple has become well known for its extravagant style of
construction.
• This temples at pune is built in Nagara style of architecture and
consist of five distinct layers which
• represents the different hindu Gods.

17. Conclusion
Ar. Pranay Kumar Tode
• The characteristic of the Maratha style from later buildings such as forts palaces and temples. Brick, wood, mortar
and stone were the materials use for construction. Besides other apartments, the palaces contained darbar halls
and ranga and chitra mandirs.
• The use of the arch was kept to the minimum and, where used, followed the Deccan style. Forts were naturally the
most common feature of the earlier period.
• The decorative features of the mansions were “pointed arches, heavy carved stone brackets, narrow balconies
projecting on rows of such brackets, domical shallow ceilings resting on a variety of squinches, the chief being the
interwoven type”.
• The temples constructed during the period, we may refer to the Vitthalwadi temple near Poona and the temple of
Shambhu Mahadvat Shinganapur. Both of them are said to have been constructed during the time of Shivaji. These
temples followed the earlier style of the Yadava temples.
• The Maratha temples generally provided with a huge lampstand (deepmala) represents a renaissance of the
medieval western Chalukyan or Shilhara sanctuary often combined with the Mughal arches and coupolas, its spire
is a curious transposition of the ancient shikara (tower) into Deccan-Mughal forms, a bulbous lotus dome (in place
of amalaka) rising on top of several storeys of domed chhattris (pavilion).
• The Maratha architecture lacked the beauty and grace of the buildings of the Mughals, and the Rajputs. But the
Marathas excelled in fort architecture. The wood work they used to decorate their palaces and other civil buildings
was intricate and minute. Maratha art could have developed and attained a distinctive character but it was not
possible because of the unstable times. https://nptel.ac.in/content/storage2/124/106/124106009/MP4/mod03lec14.mp4

18. References
Ar. Pranay Kumar Tode
http://cdn.iiit.ac.in/cdn/eerc.iiit.ac.in/IHE/Wada.pdf
http://www.ijera.com/papers/Vol7_issue3/Part-1/B0703011222.pdf
https://nptel.ac.in/courses/124/106/124106009/#
https://archive.org/details/dli.ernet.53927
https://nptel.ac.in/content/storage2/124/106/124106009/MP4/mod03lec14.mp4