Aspects of Indo-Islamic Architecture PDF

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Indo-Islamic Architecture – Part I :Introduction 

Islam came to India in the 7th and 8th centuries CE chiefly through Muslim traders, merchants, holy men, and conquerors.

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The religion spread in India over a time period of 600 years.

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Muslims in Gujarat and Sind had begun construction work in the 8th century itself. But it was only in the 13th century that building activity on a large scale began by the Turkish State after the Turkish conquest of North India.

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Muslims absorbed many aspects of local architectural traditions and amalgamated them into their own practices.

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Architecturally, a mix of many techniques, stylized shapes, and surface decorations evolved through a continuous amalgamation of architectural elements from various styles. Such architectural entities that showcased multiple styles are known as Indo-Saracenic or Indo-Islamic architecture.

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While the Hindus were allowed to portray God in their art and were allowed to conceive manifestations of the divine in any form, the Muslims were forbidden by their religion to replicate living forms on any surface. So, their religious art and architecture mainly consisted of arabesque, calligraphy, and geometrical patterns on plaster and stone.

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Types of architectural buildings: mosques for daily prayers, Jama Masjids, dargahs, tombs, hammams, minars, gardens, sarais or caravansarais, madrasas, Kos minars, etc.

Categories of Styles 1. 2. 3. 4.

Imperial Style (Delhi Sultanate) Provincial Style (Mandu, Gujarat, Bengal, and Jaunpur) Mughal Style (Delhi, Agra, and Lahore) Deccani Style (Bijapur, Golconda)

Architectural Influences 

The architecture of Jaunpur and Bengal is distinct.

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Gujarat had more local influence than other styles. Example: toranas (gateways) from local temple traditions, carvings of bell and chain motifs, lintels in mihrabs, and carved panels depicting trees. Example of provincial style: Dargah of Shaikh Ahmad Khattu of Sarkhej (in white marble; 15th century).

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Decorative Forms 

Designing on plaster through incision or stucco.

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Designs were either left plain or filled with colours. Motifs of varieties of flowers (both Indian and foreign) were painted or carved.

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In the 14th, 15th, and 16th centuries, tiles were used to surface the walls and domes. Blue, green, yellow, and turquoise were the popular colours.

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In the wall panels, the surface decoration was done by the techniques of tessellation (mosaic designs) and pietra dura (a decorative art that is an inlay technique of using cut and fitted, highly polished coloured stones to create images).

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Other decorative forms: arabesque, calligraphy, high and low relief carving, and profuse use of jalis.

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The roof was generally a mix of the central dome and other smaller domes, chatris, and tiny minarets.

 There was generally an inverted lotus flower motif and a metal or stone pinnacle atop the central dome. Construction materials 

The walls were quite thick and made of rubble masonry.

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They were then coated with chunam or limestone plaster or dressed stone.

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Stones used: sandstone, quartzite, buff, marble, etc. Polychrome tiles were also used.

 Forts

Bricks were used from the 17th century.

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Forts symbolise the seat of power of a ruler. Many large forts with embattlements were built in the medieval times. When a fort was captured, it meant the ruler who owned the fort had to surrender.

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E.g.: Chittor, Gwalior, and Daulatabad

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Chittorgarh is the largest fort in Asia. Forts were constructed using great heights so that they were impregnable to enemy forces. Inside there were places for offices and residences. Many complex features were added in the structure and design so as to make breaching the walls of the forts challenging.

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Golconda Fort (Hyderabad) had concentric circles of outer walls. Daulatabad Fort had staggered entrances so that even elephants could not be used to open the gates.

Minars 

Minar was a form of stambha or tower.

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Examples of medieval minars: Qutub Minar in Delhi, Chand Minar at Daulatabad Fort. Everyday use of the minar: azaan (call to prayer).

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Qutub Minar

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13th century

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Construction started by Qutub-ud-din Aibak (Delhi Sultanate ruler) and completed by his successor Iltutmish.

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UNESCO World Heritage Site 234 feet high

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The tower is divided into five storeys The mix of polygonal and circular shapes

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Material: red and buff sandstone with some marble in the upper storeys Highly decorated balconies

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There are inscriptions intertwined with foliated designs

 It came to be associated with Khwaja Qutubuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki, a revered saint of Delhi  Chand Minar, Daulatabad  

15th century 210 feet high

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The tapering tower has four storeys Work of architects from Delhi and Iran

Tombs 

Tombs are monumental structures over the graves of rulers and royalty.

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They were a common medieval feature in India. Examples: tombs of Ghyasuddin Tughlaq, Humayun, Akbar, Abdur Rahim Khan-i-Khanan, Itmaduddaula.

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The idea behind the tomb according to Anthony Welch was “eternal paradise as a reward for the true believer on the Day of Judgement.”

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Walls had Quranic verses. Tombs were generally placed within paradisiacal elements like a garden or a water body or both (as in the Taj Mahal).

Sarais  

Sarais was built on a simple rectangular or square plan around cities. They were meant to provide temporary accommodation to travellers, traders, pilgrims, etc.

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They were public spaces and a hub of cross-cultural interaction.

Structures for Common People 

Buildings such as those for domestic usage, temples, mosques, dargahs, khanqahs, pavilions in the buildings and gardens, bazaars, commemorative gateways, etc.

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Here also, mixing of styles, techniques, and decorative patterns were seen. This was a feature of the medieval period.

Jama Masjid 

Large mosques sprang up during the medieval times in India.

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Congregational prayers were held every Friday afternoon. A quorum of 40 Muslim male adults was required for this to take place.

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At the time of the prayers, a khutba was read out in the name of the ruler along with his laws for the realm. Generally, a city had one Jama Masjid and this place became the centre of the town for religious, commercial, and political activities.

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Generally, Jama Masjids were large with open courtyards.

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They were surrounded on three sides by cloisters with the Qibla Liwan to the west. The mihrab and the mimbar for the Imam were located here. The mihrab indicated the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca and so people faced the mihrab while offering prayers.

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Indo-Islamic Architecture – Part II:-Download PDF Here

Architecture in Mandu, Madhya Pradesh 

Mandu is located 60 miles from Indore in Madhya Pradesh.

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The city is at an elevation of 2000 feet overlooking the Malwa Plateau to the north and the Narmada Valley to the south.

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It was constantly occupied by the Parmara Rajputs, Afghans and Mughals because of its natural defence. It was the capital of the Ghauri Dynasty (1401 – 1561) founded by Hoshang Shah.

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Great example of the medieval provincial style of art and architecture. It has many official and residential pleasure palaces, mosques, artificial reservoirs, pavilions, baolis, embattlements, etc. Most structures have arched pavilions, and are light and airy, so that they do not retain heat.

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Local stone and marble were used. Great example of architectural adaptation to the environment.

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Royal Enclave: Set of romantic buildings built around 2 artificial lakes. Hindola Mahal  

Audience hall of the Sultan Resembles a railway viaduct bridge with its large buttresses to support the walls

 Batter was used to give the impression of swinging (hindola) walls  Jahaaz Mahal  

Two-storeyed ship-palace Built between 2 reservoirs

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Has open pavilions, balconies and a terrace

 Built by Sultan Ghiyasuddin Khilji possibly for using as his harem  Had a terrace swimming pool  Rani Rupamati’s double pavilion  Baz Bahadur’s palace  Asharfi Mahal – a madrassa  Hoshang Shah’s tomb  

Example of the robustness of Afghan structures Majestic structure with a beautiful dome

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Has marble jail work, courts, porticos and towers Also has lattice work, toranas and carved brackets

 Jama Masjid  Has a grand gateway and a squat dome  

Building is faced with red sandstone Mihrab has a lotus bud fringe

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Qibla Liwan is supported on carved brackets

Taj Mahal

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Built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Built from 1632 and took almost 20 years to complete.

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Built by 20000 specialised workers. It is a mausoleum.

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It has a simple plan and elevation. One of the most famous architectural marvels of India worldwide.

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The structure is breathtakingly symmetrical.

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Made of white marble brought from the Makrana Mines, Rajasthan. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Its monumental gateway is made of red sandstone. The tomb is set in a Chahar Bagh, criss-crossed with paths and water courses, along with pools and fountains. The tomb is on a floor terrace. On the four sides of the terrace, there are four tall minarets which are 132 feet high each. The main building has a drum and a dome with four cupolas.

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Towards the west of the structure is a mosque made of red sandstone. Towards the east is a similar structure to maintain the balance.

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Interior arrangements of the mausoleum: crypt below, vaulted, octagonal tomb chamber above; there is a room at each angle which are all connected via corridors.

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Light comes into every corner of the building through perforated and carved jalis that are set in the arched recesses of the interior. A double dome helps create a void that makes the ceiling as high as the façade.

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Four types of embellishments:

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Stone carvings in high and low relief on the walls

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Marble carving onto the jalis and volutes

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Creation of arabesques with pietra dura on walls and tombstones, and geometric designs with tessellation Calligraphy – used in the inlay of jasper in white marble to write verses from the Quran

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Gol Gumbad

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Location: Bijapur, Karnataka. Mausoleum of Muhammad Adil Shah (1626–1656), Adil Shahi Dynasty of Bijapur (1489–1686).

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Built by Muhammad Adil Shah himself. Tomb is a complex consisting of a gateway, a mosque, a Naqqar Khana, and a sarai within a big-walled garden. The building is a huge square one with a circular drum. Above the drum is a majestic dome.

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Material: dark gray basalt with decorated plasterwork. The whole building is over 200 feet high.

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The tomb has a square chamber. The dome is the largest in the world with a diameter of 125 feet and an uninterrupted floor space of 18337 square feet. Pendentives helped build the hemispherical masonry dome over the square base.

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The building has an impressive acoustic system with a whispering gallery where sounds get magnified and echoed multiple times.

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At the four corners of the building there are seven-storeyed octagonal spires or minarets. This structure is a mix of many styles including local, Timurid and Persian styles....