Download Diwan - i

Year / Part: II / II
Lecture #5
History of Eastern Architecture / Islamic Architecture / 2005
Lecture No. 5
Early Mughal Architecture (Contd…)
The Period of Akbar
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Akbar was the king of builders – for his extensive building activities, for his
architectural vision through his half century of empire and city building

Akbar gave his artists from various parts of the country the opportunity to
exploit their ideas to the fullest and the freedom of expression, his builders
were not asked to adhere to “style representing the single religion”
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Akbar had no desire for promoting any particular regional style – a liberal
patronage - but he wanted to achieve a “central theme” in building
activities along with all-India empire

Architectural features of buildings of Akbar
 Trabeated structure and arcuated elevational development / decorative
arcading
 Decorative, many sided pillar shafts with bracketed capitals
 Carving and inlay works
 Interior paintings
 Use of red sand stone – minimal use of white marble
It is recorded that Akbar had built five hundreds buildings and pavilions within the
enclosure of Agra Fort. These structures from Akbar’s time were demolished
some sixty five years later by his grandson Shah Jahan to accommodate new
white marble buildings. Few of those surviving edifices are Jahangiri Mahal and
the rampart and the Delhi Gates.
Agra Fort, Agra (1565 – 74 AD)

A fortified palace in the form of irregular semi – circle laid on the banks of
river Yamuna

The massive red sand stone enclosure with high 70 ft. high rampart with
battlements – first application of dressed stone with iron dowels

Two gateways, one on the southern side for private entry and other on
west known as Delhi Gate was the main entrance
Course Teacher: Ar. Rajjan Man Chitrakar
Architecture Dept. - nec
1
Year / Part: II / II
Lecture #5
History of Eastern Architecture / Islamic Architecture / 2005
Delhi Gate in Agra fort:
 Octagonal towers joined by an archway
 Use of recesses with arches on the elevation
 Rich ornamentations along with white marble inlay works
 Use of bird motifs – contrary to the Quranic objection to the living
forms
 Back side has arcaded terrace with cupolas, kiosks and pinnacles
above
Jahangiri Mahal in Red Fort, Agra (1570 AD)

Of experimental nature – a state of transition from Hindu Palace to Muslim
one

Irregular grouping / asymmetrical arrangement of halls and rooms
dispersed around two courtyards aligned along a central axis

Interior works are much more Hindu as wooden derivatives are apparent in
brackets, struts, etc.

The two storey front façade of the building consists of central arched
opening and deep horizontal Chajjas over wall of blind arches with
octagonal turrets at the corners
Fatehpur Sikri – The Ceremonials Capital, Agra (1590 AD)
Sikri was a place of some significance to Akbar as his grandfather Babur had
waged a crucial war in the plains below and built a small mosque to celebrate his
victory. Akbar in 1570s was riding a crest of success with his triumphs in Gujarat
and Rajasthan thought that the Sikri hill would be an auspicious site for his new
capital, also considering its architectural potential. Within a decade the site was
transformed into a new capital city of the Mughals which had a population of
2,00,000. In Fatehpur Sikri, the buildings were of disparate nature schematically
put together into a unified dynamic complex. It was probably due to available at
site, the architects departed from conventional ideas of building isolated
structures linked up by streets. Instead the buildings were planted around and in
the middle of the courtyard forming a visual and spatial sequence.
Course Teacher: Ar. Rajjan Man Chitrakar
Architecture Dept. - nec
2
Year / Part: II / II

Lecture #5
History of Eastern Architecture / Islamic Architecture / 2005
The most ambitious architectural project of Akbar’s reign and also the
most notable building achievement after Taj Mahal

Located 26 miles west of Agra, the Sikri was the great complex of palatial,
residential, official and religious buildings

It holds the concept of unified India – as craftsmen and artists from various
parts of India were involved and allowed to express their designs freely
ensuring visual unity - consequently craftsmanship of various regions is
apparent in building details – “architectural expression of politics”

Built on as isolated rocky outcrop, rising considerably high over its
surrounding, the city rose considerably in short time period

It was a rectangular enclosure of two mile length and one mile width

The city had no streets but broad terraces and stately courtyards,
interconnecting numerous palaces, pavilions, mosques, tombs, stables
and courts to form as urban complex (however it is also said that in its
layout there is a little evidence of any systematic town planning having
been put into practice)

The whole complex was executed considering economy and natural
terrain – planned and matching with natural contours

The city runs from north east to south west and most of the buildings are
planned at an angle to get north south orientation to align them in harmony
with the religious structure of Jami Masjid

All the buildings on the south side, the Diwan – i – am, Jami Masjid were
accessible to people, the rest being disposed off

The whole complex can be divided into two parts: the religious complex
(oriented EW) and the secular complex (oriented NS)

Except for Jami Masjid of religious complex which is arcuated in
construction, most of the other structures are trabeated

It is said that the structures were built in present day concept of
prefabrication, the columns, slabs, chajjas being prepared in stone
quarries and brought to site for assembly

Use of rich red colored sand stone also bringing visual unity
Course Teacher: Ar. Rajjan Man Chitrakar
Architecture Dept. - nec
3
Lecture #5
History of Eastern Architecture / Islamic Architecture / 2005
Year / Part: II / II

The life of the city was short, the city was hardly used but abandoned as
soon as it was completed probably because of shortage of water and
remained empty ghost city for about three hundreds years
Buildings at Sikri
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Religious buildings / structures
 Jami Masjid
 Tomb of Salim Chisti
 Buland Darwaza

Secular buildings
 Palaces: Khwabgah
Jodha Bai’s Palace
Mariam’s Palace
Sultana’s Palace
Birbal’s House
 Administrative buildings:
Diwan – i – khas
Diwan – i – am
 The Paanch Mahal
Jami Masjid
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Largest and imposing structure
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Rectangular area measuring about 164.2 m X 132.7 m
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When first constructed, it was approached by the entrances at north, south
and east
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Western side contains the main sanctuary and three sides are cloisters
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Also contain tank of water in the middle of court
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There is a large dome in center of the sanctuary and smaller domes on
either sides of naïve
Tomb of Salim Chisti

Located with in cloistered quadrangle of Jami Masjid, the tomb stands out
as a jewel set in marble against red sand stone background of mosque
Course Teacher: Ar. Rajjan Man Chitrakar
Architecture Dept. - nec
4
Year / Part: II / II
Lecture #5
History of Eastern Architecture / Islamic Architecture / 2005

Later addition by Jahangir
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Seems to be aerial in weight and embroidered in delicate carving of
marble
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Serpentine brackets support the broad sloping eaves
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Whole structure is covered by low dome

The marble work and the delicate treatment of infill in arched openings
provide a delicate quality more benefiting a piece of jewelry than the
robust architecture of Islamic style

The whole complex is low, the scale is human and is in total contrast to
backdrop of Jami Masjid and the Buland Darwaza
Buland Darwaza
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A triumphal gateway placed at the southern part of mosque – a later
addition by Akbar

A grand archway made of red sand stone
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The huge 15.3 m wide and 30.5 m high arch is approached by grand flight
of steps of total height of 12.8 m from ground level, the steps spread out
as they descend – a lofty base
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The arch rises to total height of 40.8 m including steps exhibit massive
proportion and bold solidity with its gigantic size
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Entry arch is recessed with semi dome on half decagon
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Parapets with cupola kiosks provide wavy skyline
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Band for inscriptional ornamentation are present
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Towards the mosque, the great height is reduced to half with inside
elevational treatment to reduce solidity and massiveness
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The central framed arch is flanked by soaring thin minarets and chamfered
back broad surfaces
The Palace of Jodha Bai
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The most complete among all buildings of the complex
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Built in courtyard system with high and plain wall
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More developed than Jahangiri Mahal
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Inward looking plan with secluded courtyard
Course Teacher: Ar. Rajjan Man Chitrakar
Architecture Dept. - nec
5
Year / Part: II / II
Lecture #5
History of Eastern Architecture / Islamic Architecture / 2005
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Two self contained double storey flats
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Hindu décor and architectural treatments
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Roof exhibits cupolas at certain places
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Regional group of artisans were used (for speedy works)
Mariam's House
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Simple structure without a interior courtyard but with Persian mural
painting
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Two storey and smallest residence
Sultana's Palace
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Single storey pavilion with one apartment with pillared verandah
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Carved decoration - timber antecedents
Birbal's House
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Two storey house with four rooms on ground floor and two rooms and
terrace on first floor
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Verandah on ground floor giving Hindu look
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Porches with pyramidal roofs and rooms with domed roof
Diwan - i - khas
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House of special audience of simple square plan
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Notable feature is central mushroom pillar used to form circular platform
(36 brackets)
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Two storey building with flat roof, parapets and kiosks at each corner
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Single room interior with hanging corridor on first floor supported on
central column
Diwan - i - am
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A simple pavilion with colonnaded surrounding gallery, placed with in a
courtyard beyond which common people could not enter
Other structure: Girl's school, Anup Talao (recreational platform), storehouse,
stable, etc.
Course Teacher: Ar. Rajjan Man Chitrakar
Architecture Dept. - nec
6