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Tent Architecture of the Mughals

Research April 2016
DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.4242.9844

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Nisar Khan
Jamia Millia Islamia
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Tent Architecture of Mughals

Architect Nisar Khan
Asstt. Professor
Faculty of Architecture & Ekistics,
JamiaMilliaIslamia
New Delhi 110025

Etymology and Genealogy

In Arabic and Persian, Mughal means the Mongol or Mongolian. The
Mughal dynasty ruled India from 1525 A.D. to 1857 A.D. The rule of the
Mughals covered vast region from the present day Afghanistan to almost entire
Indian subcontinent.
Babur, the founder of the Mughal dynasty came from a small region in the
Central Asia called Ferghana.1 He descended from Chinghiz Khan on his
mothers side, while his parental descent was from Timurs side.2

(Gascoigne 1987)

2(Koch 2002)

Mughals introduced the aspects of

Central Asian culture to India. In
fact until about 1600 A.D. the
Mongolian traditions were visible
in the form of tartarian features in
the portraits painted during that
period. Also, the Chaghatay Turki
remained as the spoken language of
the family for the duration. 3
However, the synthesis with the
indigenous traditions gradually
resulted in the disappearance of the
tartaric features and Persian
language replacing the Turki.
Among other aspects of the Mughal
rule, the military warfare, political
structure and urban form carry
strong imprint of the Central Asian
traditions.4
The expeditions of the Mughal
rulers were an integral component
of their military technology.
Figure 2 Babur (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Moving large volume of soldiers,
Babur)
animals, artillery and other warfare
equipments required a highly efficient mechanism which enabled them to
conduct military expeditions in a successful manner. Even during the peaceful
time, the expeditions for the purpose of hunting, leisure and touring were
regularly conducted by the Mughal emperors. The following writeup discusses
the architectural aspects of the encampments used during Mughal expeditions.
Tent Capitals of Mughals:
The Mughal emperors were great travellers. They travelled for military and
leisure expeditions.5 In fact, from the year 1556 A.D. to 1739 A.D. Mughal
emperors spent nearly forty percent of their time in the camps while on tours.
The duration of such tours often lasting a year or longer.6
3(Koch 2002)
4(SINOPOLI 1994)
5(Farooque 1977)
6(BLAKE 1987)

During a period of two hundred years, six Mughal emperors shifted their
respective capitals for the five times from Agra to Delhi to Agra to Fatehpur
Sikri to Lahore to Agra and back to Delhi. Similarly, four among them
Humayun, Akbar, Jahangir and Aurangzeb held mobile capitals.7
Mobile capitals allowed the Emperors to carry out military campaigns and to
cull any uprising in the entire dominion while performing all the functions of
the Capital City. Akbar ruled from Agra for 36 years and was away from the
capital for 22 years. Similarly, Jahangir while ruling from Agra for 22 years was
away for 14 years.8
The scale, layout, architecture, functions and the entire apparatus of installing
the tent capital cities is very remarkable aspects of the Mughals rule. The
architecture of the tent apparatus that was used in these expeditions is no less of
grandeur than the cities of the great empire itself. Edward Terry who was
travelling with the Jahangir to Mandu described the royal camp as ambulans
respublica translating as a walking republic9
Scale:
The scale of the Tent Cities used to be grand, supporting all the functions of a
royal capital. As described by Terry, it used to take about 12 hours for the entire
procession to pass one place. Also, he mentions that at night halt it covered an
area of 20 mile in circumference and might equall almost any towne in Europe
for greatness10
Originating as the small and highly mobile military camps of Babur, the
imperial camp established by Akbar became elaborate in the late sixteenth
century. It was Akbars model of imperial camp that was used by all subsequent
Mughal rulers.
There were two main categories of camps, small ones used on short journeys or
for hunting parties and large camps constructed for royal tours and military
expeditions.11 By the late seventeenth century, the large camps grew in scale to
contain up to 300,000 individuals.12 The scale of the camps provided all the

7(SINOPOLI 1994)
8(SINOPOLI 1994)
9(Terry 1777)
10(Gascoigne 1987)
11(Fazal 1978 )
12(BLAKE 1987)

facilities and comfort for the emperor and his administrators to conduct the
essential business of governing the vast empire.13
Layout:
The imperial camp, also known as
the exalted or victorious camp was
constructed according to a formal
layout, based on a mobile version
of Akbar's capital of Fatehpur
Sikri.14 The layout of the imperial
camp was organised like a town,
with regular streets; where each
noble and merchant had his area
allotted to pitch their tent. This
system was derived from Timur;
resulting in the identical layout at
each halt, allowing inhabitants to
easily find their way around.15
A large wall of cloth screens
enclosed the royal camp, forming
an east-west oriented rectangle
nearly 1400 m long.
Main gateway was flanked by two
tents each holding nine saddled
horses (See 1 and 2 in the adjoining
map). In front of the gateway was a
raised platform for drummers and
musicians (See 3 in the adjoining
map). In the middle of the camp
there stood always a high mast, on
which a flaming torch was put to
guide the travellers during night
(See 12 in the adjoining map).16
The emperor's tent and royal reception areas were consistently placed in the
centre of the eastern end of the royal enclosure. This was the only two-storied
13(SINOPOLI 1994)
14(SINOPOLI 1994)
15(Gascoigne 1987)
16(Farooque 1977)

tent in the imperial camp (See 5 in the adjoining map). The emperors tent was
enclosed with the walls of scarlet cloth to make it distinct and warn
trespassers.17
Royal harem (See 6 in the adjoining map) was located adjacent to the emperors
tent within a screened area and on the other side enormous awnings were
pitched for the public and private royal audiences (See 4 and 7 in the adjoining
map). Tents for nobles were aligned in carefully specified locations that
spatially expressed their relations with the ruler (See 8 in the adjoining map).
Beyond the royal enclosure were the tents of lesser nobles and the military (See
14 in the adjoining map), as well as the administrative facilities, stables,
arsenals, workshops of attached specialists, and kitchens (See 9 in the adjoining
map).18 Along the streets of the massive city bazaar areas were marked for the
merchants and moneylenders (See 11 in the adjoining map).
Architecture:
The emperors tent in the centre of the encampment was alike a small fort of
painted wood and canvas. During Akbars reign the area of emperors tent used
to be at least a square of 100 yd a side which increased to 300 yd during
Jahangirs reign. The outer wall consisted of wooden screens which were
painted or covered in the scarlet cloth and held together with the leather straps.
The emperors tent was secured by imposing gates used fitted with the locks.
All the components of the royal palace used to be present inside the royal tent
like hall of public audience, hall of private audience etc. The interiors of
pavilions were profoundly luxurious, ornate with rich carpets, bright canvas and
miniatures. A travelling mosque (See 10 in the adjoining map) beautifully
ornate in timber also used to accompany the camp. Similar to the royal palace,
there was also a jharokha window (See 15 in the adjoining map) on the outer
wall for the emperor to make his public appearances. A large cart drawn by an
elephant contained several bathrooms during Akbars camp.19
Functions:
The imperial camp was the de facto capital, and a significant portion of the
resident population of the constructed capital cities appears to have
accompanied the emperor in his travels.20 The imperial tent capital used to
17(SINOPOLI 1994)
18(Fazal 1978 )
19(Gascoigne 1987)
20(SINOPOLI 1994)

perform all the normal activities of the court life.21 The administrative activities
like holding court and issuing judgements together with mercantile and
commerce activities were performed on routine basis. While the emperor was
residing in his camp, the bulk of the imperial administrative activities were
conducted and important decisions were made.
The most important component of the tent capital was the mint (See 13 in the
adjoining map). Imperial coinage was issued from the camp mint. During
Akbar's reign, low value copper coins used to mention the name of the town
located nearest to the imperial camp. Inscriptions on gold and silver coins were
explicitly linked with the camp itself, first containing the phrase "Struck at the
Camping Grounds of Good Fortune," thus imparting administrative significance
to the encampment.22
The procession of royal camp also provided employment opportunities to the
native people. Also, infrastructure and public utilities like sarais, roads etc.
were also constructed during the procession of the camp.23
Apparatus:
It was a very precise job to transfer hundreds of thousand people and animals
along with supplies and imperials valuables from one camp site to another.
Akbar, on an ordinary hunting party used to be accompanied by at least 100
elephants, 500 camels, 400 carts, 100 bearers, about 1000 farrash, 100 watercarriers, 50 carpenters, tent makers and torch bearers, 30 workers in leather, at
least 150 sweepers and 500 pioneers.24
It was due to its large scale that the camp seldom travelled more than 16 km per
day.25Advance party was sent consisting of royal agents, scouts, and labourers,
to prepare roads and bridges, selected campsites, arranged the purchase of
foodstuffs and fuel, and assured the cooperation of local rulers.
The camps were constructed by more than 2000 soldiers and labourers sent
prior to the main imperial party. This system required two complete identical
sets of all tents and other facilities. Local merchants and farmers were
encouraged to bring their produce to the markets at the camps. While food may
also have been obtained from imperial stores in towns near the camp sites.

21(Gascoigne 1987)
22(SINOPOLI 1994)
23(Farooque 1977)
24(Farooque 1977)
25(SINOPOLI 1994)

Conclusion:
Although the technology involved in the construction and moving of the camps
was highly evolved, it is seldom discussed as a subject in research. The limited
descriptions available in the historical sources illustrates the grandeur of the
encampments no less than the cities and monuments of the Mughals. This is due
to the temporary nature of the encampments that they have not survived the
course of time to permit better understanding today. A reconstructive research
may be conducted in the collaboration of the Central Asian countries, where it is
possible to find more information on the encampments.
References
BLAKE, S. P. Cityscape of an Imperial Capital: Shahjahanabad in 1739, in
Delhi Through the Ages: Essays. Delhi: Oxford University Press, 1987.
Farooque, Abul Khair Muhammad. Roads and Communications in Mughal
India. Delhi: Idarah-i-Adabiyat-i Delli, 1977.
Fazal, Abu al. A 'in-i Akbari, trans. H. Blochman. New Delhi: Oriental Books
Reprint., 1978 .
Gascoigne, Bamber. The Great Mughals. New Delhi: Time books International,
1987.
Koch, Ebba. Mughal Architecture. New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2002.
SINOPOLI, CARLA M. "Monumentality and Mobility in Mughal Capitals."
Asian Perspectives, Vol. 33, no. 2, (University of Hawai'i Press.), 1994
by: 293-308.
Terry, Edward. A voyage to East India. London, 1777.