Medieval & Regional Architecture

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  • With advent of Islam, a new fusion of Indian and Islamic style architecture emerged - Indo-Islamic / Indo-Saracenic architecture

Major features
  • Arcuade style (use of arches and domes) replacing the traditional Trabeat style (use of Lintels and shikaras)
  • Use of Minars around mosques and mausoleums
  • Avoided use of human and animal figures
  • Mortar is used as cementing agent
  • High reliance on principles of geometry - decorative patterns and symmetry in them
  • Use of Arabesque method
  • Use of calligraphy for decoration
  • Introduced spaciousness and massiveness
  • Use of intricate Jaali works for accommodating light
  • Use of water in form of courtyard pools and fountains
  • Charbagh style of gardening (four adjacent identical gardens)
  • Pietra-dura technique for inlay of precious stones and gems into the stone walls
  • Use of foresighting techniques for making inscriptions to appear as same size from any place

Delhi Sultanate Period
  • Timeline: 1206 - 1526 AD
  • It can be broadly categorised into two categories:
a. Imperial style
1. Slave Dynasty
  • Timeline: 1206 AD to 1290 AD
  • Mameluke style of architecture came into picture
  • Most constructions were remodellings of the existing Hindu structures and
  • erection of monuments
  • Example: 5 storied Qutub Minar (Ground floor by Qutb-ud-din Aibak, Next 3 storeys by Iltutmish and 5th storey by Feroze shah tughlaq)
2. Khilji Dynasty
  • Timeline: 1290 AD to 1320 AD
  • Sejluk style of architecture came into picture
  • Principle building material: Red sandstone
  • Major features: Emergence of Arcade style and Usage of mortar
  • Example: Alai Darwaza by Alad-ud-din Khilji, Siri fort
3. Tughlaq Dynasty
  • Crisis period for architecture. No major developments
  • Principle building material: Grey Sandstone
  • Major feature: Battar style of construction - Using sloping walls for strengthening the building
  • Other feature: Using both Arcuade and Trabeat style for entrance design
4. Lodhi Dynasty
  • Crisis period continues
  • Only no frills, octagonal shaped tombs with sloping verandahs were commissioned.
  • Major feature: Introduction of double domes (Hollow dome inside the top dome).
  • They gave strength to the structure and reduced inner height of the dome
  • Example: Lodi Gardens
b. Provincial style
1. Bengal School:
  • Major feature: Usage of Bangla roofs
  • Principle building material: Bricks and Black Marble
  • Examples: Qadam Rasul mosque and Adina mosque
2. Malwa School aka Pathan School:
  • Prominent seats: Cities of Dhar and Mandu
  • Major features: Environmental Adaptation - Large windows because of European influence, Slightly arched pavilions for better ventilation, Artificial water storage reservoirs called Baulis, Usage of battar system and locally available materials
  • Other features: No minars are built
  • Example: Rani Roopmati pavilion, Jahaz Mahal, Ashrafri Mahal
3. Jaunpur School
  • Birth of Sharqi style, as patronised by sharqi rulers
  • Unique feature: Use of bold and forceful characters painted on huge screens in the centre and side bays of the prayer hall
  • Other feature: Avoided the usage of Minars
  • Example: Atala Mosque
4. Bijapur School
  • Birth of Deccan style of architecture under the patronage of Adil Shah
  • Unique features: Usage of 3-arched facade and bulbous domes; Use of cornices
  • Other special features: Treatment of ceilings, Use of Iron clamps and strong plasters of mortar to strengthen the building
  • Walls are richly decorated
  • Example: Gol Gumbaj
Mughal Period
1. Babur:
  • Undertook construction of mosques in Panipat and Rohilkhand by 1526 AD
2. Humayun:
  • Persian style of architecture
  • Laid the foundation of city named Dinapanah
3. Sher shah:
  • Undertook the construction of Qila-e-Quanah mosque, Grand trunk road and his tomb at Sasaram
4. Akbar
  • Golden period of Mughal architecture began
  • Principle building material: Red Sandstone
  • Unique feature: Tudor Arch (4 centred arch)
  • Started the construction of Agra fort and implemented the charbagh style of gardening
  • Created the new capital city at Fatehpur sikri (blend of Hindu and persian styles). Some of finest structures here are Buland Darwaza, Panch Mahalm Jodha Bai’s palace, Salim chisti’s Tomb (Known for jali works) and Ibadat Khana (multi religious congregation place)
  • Built a temple of Govind Dev in Vrindavan
5. Jahangir:
  • Architecture took a back seat and replaced by paintings and other art forms
  • Major monuments built: Akbar’s tomb, His own tomb at Lahore, Moti Masjid at Lahore, Shalimar Bagh gardens in Kashmir
  • Principle building material: White Marble
  • His wife Noor Jahan undertook construction of the Tomb of Itmad-ud-daulah. First mughal work which is made completely of White Marble
6. Shah Jahan:
  • Mughal Architecture reached Climax
  • Finished most of structures at Agra fort like Moti Masjid, Diwan-i-aam and Diwan-i-khas
  • Built Taj Mahal in the memory of his wife, Mumtaz. The special features of it are Use of Calligraphy, Charbagh style, pietra dura works, foresightening technique, use of water for decoration, beautiful Jali works and low relief carvings on the marble
  • Built Peacock throne
  • Other major constructions: Red Fort in Delhi, Jama Masjid in Delhi, Shalimar Bagh in Lahore and City of Shahjahanabad
7. Aurangzeb
  • Decline of Mughal Architecture
  • Did Not pursue Art and Architecture
8. Bahadur Shah Zafar
  • Built Biwi-ka-Maqbara at Aurangabad (poor man’s Taj Mahal) in memory of his mother, Begum Rabia Durani
  • Built Zinat Mahal in the memory of his wife
Regional styles have high Mughal architecture influence
Sikh Style
  • Developed in modern day punjab
  • Major features:
    • Use of Multiple chhatris or kiosks on top
    • Use of multiple cornices
    • Use of fluted domes, covered by brass and copper guilds for decoration
    • Use of numerous foliations to decorate the arches
  • Example: Harminder Sahib or Golden temple at Amritsar
Rajput Style
  • Imposing structures - forts and palaces
  • Major features
    • Introduction of concept of hanging balcony
    • Cornices are built in the shape of arches

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