North india

TOUR REPORT

KAVYA.D

AHMEDABAD

IIM- AHMEDABAD

HISTORY

TheIndian Institute of Management Ahmedabad(IIM

AhmedabadorIIM-A)isapublicbusinessschoollocatedinAhmedabad,
Gujarat,India.
ItwasthefirstIndianInstituteofManagement(IIM)tobeestablished,
beforeIIMCalcutta.
ItisrankedastheleadingbusinessschoolinIndiaandtheAsia-Pacific
region.
Establishedin1961,theinstituteoffersPostGraduateDiploma
ProgrammeinManagementandAgri-BusinessManagement,a
(Fellowship)ProgrammeandanumberofExecutiveTrainingProgrammes

Dr.VikramSarabhai,thefoundingdirectorofIIMAhmedabad.
TheIndianInstitutesofManagementwereestablishedinresponsetothegrowing
needthatwasfeltfornurturingprofessionalmanagerswhocouldefficiently
manageIndiasgrowingindustries.
Theywereestablishedwiththeobjectivesofprovidinghighqualitymanagement
educationandassistingtheindustrythroughresearchandconsultingservices.
IIMAhmedabadwasthesecondIIMtobesetupinthecountryafterIIMCalcutta.
Itwasestablishedon11December1961withtheactivesupportofthe
GovernmentofIndia,theGovernmentofGujaratandtheindustry.
EminentphysicistDr.VikramSarabhaiandbusinessmanKasturbhaiLalbhai,both
nativesofAhmedabad,playedapivotalroleinsettinguptheInstitute.
LateronhewentontoserveastheInstitutesHonoraryDirectorforthefirst3
yearsofitsexistence.
ProminentmanagementeducatorRaviJ.MatthaiandseveralotherAhmedabadbasedindustrialistsalsoplayedamajorroleinitscreation.

Architecture
Thebuildingisamajoriconofmodernismarchitecture,designedbyAmericanarchitect
LouisKahn.
TheNewCampus,anextensionstemmingfromgrowingneedsoftheinstitute,andan
underpassconnectingthetwocampuses,hasbeendesignedbyBimalPatel.

CAMPUS LAYOUT

Separateentriesforinstitutionalandresidentialcomplex.

Separateserviceentry.

Academicsandsocialactivitieshavebeenintegratedwithstudents
andstaffliving.

InstitutionalComplexistakenasFocalBuilding.

Auditoriumislocatednearmainentranceforeasyaccessforvisitors.

ResidentialareashavebeenplannedinHierarchicalpattern

SchoolbuildingIsplannedaroundacourt.

Schoolbuildingandstudentsdormhavebeenplaceddiagonallyto
takeadvantageofwindsfromsouthwest.

FIRST FLOOR PLAN OF LIBRARY

Thelibrarybuildingisfivestoryedstructurewithrectangularplan.

Itisapproachedbyabroad,imposingflightofstepsfromtheparkinglot.

Thedesignhasbeenconceivedtoentailmovementfromtheactivespaces
tomostprivateandquitecarrelsatthefarthestreaches.

RANI KI VAV

Theranikivav,astepwellinpatanisanexcellentexampleofsubterranean
architectureinGujaratandhasstepsthatleaddowntothewaterlevel.

Theentranceofthisvavissituatedintheeastandthewellinthewest.

Theexquisitelycarvedsidewalls,pillars,stepsandplatformsleadtotheelaborately
carvedwaterwell.

Although,thisvavisinabadcondition,butstillthesidewallsofthewellarestillina
perfectcondition,butstilltheentrance,sidewallofthesteppedcorridor,someofthe
mandapasandthebackwallofthewellarestillintheperfectcondition.

Theranikivavwasbuiltbyraniudayamtiofthesolankidynasty,probablyasa
memorialforherhusbandbhimdeva(1022-1063a.d.)

ThisvavrepresentsthefinestoftheIndiansculptureandarchitectureandformsthe
linkbetweenakundaandtheclassicalstep-well.

ThisvavrepresentsthefinestoftheIndiansculptureandarchitectureandformsthe
linkbetweenkundaandanclassicalstep-well.

Fivelateral,staggeredstaircasesattachedtothesidewallsconnectvariousstorey.

NoothervavinIndiaissoprofuselyadornedastheRanikivav.
Theentranceofthisvavissituatedintheeastandthewellinthewest.

Theexquisitelycarvedsidewalls,pillars,stepsandplatformsleadtotheelaborately
carvedwaterwell.

Although,thisvavisinabadcondition,butstillthesidewallsofthewellarestillina
perfectcondition,butstilltheentrance,sidewallofthesteppedcorridor,someofthe
mandapasandthebackwallofthewellarestillintheperfectcondition.

Sangath

An architects studio,
Ahmedabad.

By BV Doshi
AtSangath,thearchitectsdesignstudio,comprisingreceptionareas,adesign
studio,officespaces,workshop,library,conferenceroom,andotherancillaryspaces
hasbeendesignedtonaturallymanagetheforcesofnature.

Therearespatial,constructional,andlandscaperesponsestocombatthevagaries
ofnatureinthehotdryclimate.

InAhmedabad,thesummertemperaturereaches45Candtheheatisveryintense.
Naturalcomfortconditionscanbeachievedbyprotectingspacesfromtheheatand
glareofthesun.
Sandwiched construction of vault
Thevaultedroofisoflocally-madeclayfusesovertheconcreteslab,which
providesanon-conductinglayer.
ThetopfinishofChinamosaicglazedtilesfurtheraddstotheinsulation.
Beingwhiteandglossyitreflectssunwhilebeingmadefromclayitretards
theheattransmission.
Vaulted roof form
Theroofformcreatesanefficientsurface/volumeratiooptimizingmaterial
quantities.
Thehigherspacevolumethuscreatedprovidesforhotairpocketsdueto
convectivecurrentsthatkeeplowervolumesrelativelycool.
Indirect/diffused light
Sunlightbringsheatandhazewithit.
Tomaximizedaylight(intensityofillumination)andtodiffuseheatandglare,
thelightisreceivedinindirectmannerbydiffusingit.
Therearethreewaysbywhichnaturallightisdrawnwithin.

Microclimate through vegetation

Lawnsandvegetativecoverallaroundcreateafavourablemicroclimatebyabsorbingsolar
radiationandprovidingacoolerpassageofairthroughhumidity.
Water channels
Rainwaterandoverflowofpumpedwaterfromtherooftankareharnessedthroughroof
channelsthatrunthroughaseriesofcascadingtanksandwaterchannelstofinally
culminateinapondfromwhereitisrecycledbackorusedforirrigatingvegetation.
Watercascadesalsoprovideinterestingvisualexperiences.
Exposed natural finishes
Theconcreteofslabsandwallsurfacesarekeptbareun-plasteredasfinalvisualfinishes,
whichprovideanaturallookandsaveonfinishingmaterialquantity.
Use of secondary waste material
Pavingmaterialisastonechipwastewhiletheroofsurfaceisglazedtileswaste,both
availableaswastematerialfromfactoriesatnocost.Thesehavebeencreativelyhandcraftedandintegratedintothedesignbyfullyusingwastematerial.
Theapplicationisalsoskill-orientedandinvolvesaswellaspromotescraftsmenandour
traditionalheritage.

UDAIPUR

CITY PALACE, UDAIPUR

City Palace, Udaipur,isapalacecomplexinUdaipur,intheIndianstateRajasthan.
Itwasbuiltoveraperiodofnearly400yearsbeingcontributedbyseveralkingsofthe
dynasty,startingbytheMaharanaUdaiSinghIIasthecapitaloftheSisodiaRajput
clanin1559,afterhemovedfromChittor.
ItislocatedontheeastbankoftheLakePicholaandhasseveralpalacesbuiltwithin
itscomplex.
UdaipurwasthehistoriccapitaloftheformerkingdomofMewarintheRajputana
Agencyanditslastcapital.
TheCityPalaceinUdaipurwasbuiltinaflamboyantstyleandisconsideredthe
largestofitstypeinRajasthan,afusionoftheRajasthaniandMughal
architecturalstyles,andwasbuiltonahilltopthatgivesapanoramicviewofthe
cityanditssurrounding,includingseveralhistoricmonumentssuchasthe
LakePalaceinLakePichola,theJagMandironanotherislandinthelake,the
JagdishTempleclosetothepalace,theMonsoonPalaceontopofan
overlookinghillocknearbyandtheNeemachMatatemple.
ThesestructuresarelinkedtothefilmingoftheJamesBondmovieOctopussy,
whichfeaturestheLakePalaceandtheMonsoonPalace.
ThesubsequentpublicityhasresultedintheepithetofUdaipuras"Veniceof
theEast".
In2009,UdaipurwasratedthetopcityintheWorld'sBestAwardsby
Travel + Leisure
ThecityPalacewasbuiltconcurrentlywithestablishmentoftheUdaipurcity
byMaharanaUdaySingh,in1559andhissuccessorMaharanasoveraperiod
ofthenext300years.
ItisconsideredthelargestroyalcomplexinRajasthanandisrepletewith
history.
Foundingofthecityandbuildingofthepalacecomplexcannotbelookedin
isolationastheMaharanaslivedandadministeredtheirkingdomfromthis
palace.

LAKE PALACE
Lake Palace(formerlyknownasJag Niwas)isaluxuryhotel,whichhas83roomsand
suitesfeaturingwhitemarblewalls.
TheLakePalaceislocatedontheislandofJagNiwasinLakePichola,Udaipur,India,and
itsnaturalfoundationspans4acres(16,000m2).
Thehoteloperatesaspeedboatwhichtransportsgueststothehotelfromajettyatthe
CityPalace.
IthasbeenvotedasthemostromantichotelinIndiaandintheworld.
History
TheLakePalacewasbuiltbetween1743and1746underthedirectionoftheMaharana
Jagat Singh II (62nd successor to the royal dynasty of Mewar) of Udaipur, Rajasthanas
a winter palace.
It was initially calledJagniwasorJanNiwasafter its founder.
Thepalacewasconstructedfacingeast,allowingitsinhabitantstopraytoSurya,the
Hindusungod,atthecrackofdawn.
Thesuccessiverulersusedthispalaceastheirsummerresort,holdingtheirregal
durbarsinitscourtyardslinedwithcolumns,pillaredterraces,fountainsandgardens.

Theupperroomisaperfectcircleandisabout21feet(6.4m)indiameter.
Itsfloorisinlaidwithblackandwhitemarble,thewallsareornamentedwithnichesand
decoratedwitharabesquesofcoloredstones,thedomeisexquisitelybeautifulinform.
DuringthefamousIndianSepoyMutinyin1857severalEuropeanfamiliesfledfromNimach
andusedtheislandasanasylum,offeredtothembyMaharanaSwaroopSingh.
Toprotecthisguests,theRanadestroyedallthetownsboatssothattherebelscouldnot
reachtheisland

SAHELIYON KI BHADI
Saheliyon-ki-Bari(CourtyardoftheMaidens)isamajorgarden
andapopulartouristspaceinUdaipurinIndianstateofRajasthan.
Itliesinnorthernpartofthecityandhasfountainsandkiosks,a
lotuspoolandmarbleelephants.
ItwasbuiltbyRanasangramSingh.SaheliyonkiBarimeans
GardenoftheMaidens.
Thereisalsoasmallmuseumhere.
SahelionKiBari'waslaidforagroupofforty-eightyoung
womenattendantswhoaccompaniedaprincessto
Udaipuraspartofherdowry.
ThegardenssetbelowtheembankmentoftheFateh
SagarLakehavebeautifullotuspools,marblepavilions
andelephant-shapedfountains.
Thesefountainsarefedbythewaterofthelakegushing
throughductsmadeforthepurpose.
Eachwaterchannelhasitsdistinctsoundandthemingling
ofthesesoundscomplementtheambienceoftheplace
Neartosaheliyon-ki-bariisburhaninagarandburhani
masjid,vidhiyabhawanschoolandsevamandirmarg.
SaheliyonKiBariisoneofthemostbeautifulgardensand
amajortouristdestinationinUdaipur.
Thegardenisfamousforitslushgreenlawns,marbleart
andfountains.
EnglishtranslationofSaheliyonKiBarimeans"Gardenof
maids".
ThisrenownedgardenislocatedonthebanksofFateh
SagarLake,presentingagreenretreatinthedrylandsof
Rajasthan.
Gardenofmaidswasbuiltfrom1710to1734by
MaharanaSangramSinghfortheroyalladies.

JAIPUR

JAL MAHAL PALACE

Jal Mahal(meaning"WaterPalace")isapalacelocatedinthemiddleoftheMan
SagarLakeinJaipurcity,thecapitalofthestateofRajasthan,India.
Thepalaceandthelakearounditwererenovatedandenlargedinthe18thcentury
byMaharajaJaiSinghIIofAmber.
"TheJalMahalpalacehasgotaneye-poppingmakeover.
Traditionalboat-makersfromVrindavanhavecraftedtheRajputstylewooden
boats.
AgentlesplashingofoarsontheclearlakewaterstakesyoutoJalMahal.You
movepastdecoratedhallwaysandchambersonthefirstfloortoclimballtheway
uptothefragrantChameliBagh.
Acrossthelake,youcanviewtheAravallihills,dottedwithtemplesandancient
forts,andontheotherside,bustlingJaipur.
Themostremarkablechangeisinthelakeitself.
Thedrainswerediverted,twomilliontonnesoftoxicsiltweredredgedfromthe
bottom,increasingitsdepthbyoverametre,awatertreatmentsystemwas
developed,localvegetationandfishreintroduced,thesurroundingwetlands
regeneratedandfivenestingislandscreatedtoattractmigratorybirds.
Inthepast,atthelocationofthelake,therewasanaturaldepressionwherewater
usedtoaccumulate.
During1596AD,whentherewasaseverefamineinthisregiontherewas
consequentacuteshortageofwater.
ThethenrulerofAmerwas,therefore,motivatedtobuildadamtostorewaterto
overcometheseverehardshipscausedbythefaminetothepeopleinhabitingthe
region.
Adamwasconstructed,initiallyusingearthandquartzite,acrosstheeasternvalley
betweenAmerhillsandAmagarhhills.

 TheJalMahalpalaceisconsideredanarchitecturalbeautybuiltIntheRajputandMughal
stylesofarchitecture(commoninRajasthan)providingapicturesqueviewofthelake
(fromtheManSagarDamontheeasternsideofthelakethatactsasavantagepointfor
viewingthelakeandthevalley),andthesurroundingNahargarh(abodeofthetigers)hills.
Thepalace,builtinredsandstone,isafivestoriedbuildingoutofwhichfourfloorsremain
underwaterwhenthelakeisfullandthetopfloorisexposed.
TherectangularChhatriontheroofisoftheBengaltype.Thechhatrisonthefourcorners
areoctagonal.
Thepalacehadsufferedsubsidenceinthepastandalsoseepageduetowaterlogging,
whichhavebeenrepairedundertherestorationprojectundertakenbytheGovernmentof
Rajasthan.
Thehillssurroundingthelakearea,towardsthenortheastofJaipur,havequartziterock
formations(withathinlayerofsoilcover),whichispartofAravallihillsrange.
Rockexposuresonthesurfaceinsomepartsoftheprojectareahavealsobeenutilised
forconstructingbuildings.
Fromthenortheast,theKanakVrindavanvalley,whereatemplecomplexissituated,the
hillsslopegentlytowardsthelakeedge.
Withinthelakearea,thegroundareaismadeupofathickmantleofsoil,blownsandand
alluvium.
Forestdenudation,particularlyinthehillyareas,hascausedsoilerosion,compoundedby
windandwateraction.
Duetothis,siltbuiltupinthelakeresultinginaraisingofthebedlevelofthelake.
Ontheterraceofthepalace,agardenwasbuiltwitharchedpassages.

JANTAR MANTAR

TheJantar Mantarisanequinoctialsundial,consistingagigantictriangulargnomon
withthehypotenuseparalleltotheEarth'saxis.
Oneithersideofthegnomonisaquadrantofacircle,paralleltotheplaneofthe
equator.
Theinstrumentisintendedtomeasurethetimeofday,correcttohalfasecondand
declinationoftheSunandtheotherheavenlybodies.
TherearefourJantarMantarmonumentsinIndia,ofwhichthelargestisinJaipur
whichfeaturesmanyinstrumentsalongwiththeworld'slargeststonesundial.
Intheearly18thcentury,MaharajaJaiSinghIIofJaipurconstructedfiveJantar
Mantarsintotal,inNewDelhi,Jaipur,Ujjain,MathuraandVaranasi;theywere
completedbetween1724and1735.
ThejantarshaveevocativenameslikeSamratYantra,JaiPrakash,RamYantraand
NiyatiChakra;eachofwhichareusedtoforvariousastronomicalcalculations.
Theprimarypurposeoftheobservatorywastocompileastronomicaltables,andto
predictthetimesandmovementsofthesun,moonandplanets.
Thename"JantarMantar"isatleast200yearsold,findingamentioninan
accountfrom1803.
However,thearchivesofJaipurState,suchasaccountsfrom1735and1737
1738,donotusethisname,referringtoitsimplyasJantra,whichinthespoken
languageiscorruptedtoJantar.

KANCHAN KESARI VILLAGE

Kanchan Kesari Village Resort( so named after the owner's parents) is an ethnic
themebasedamusementresortwhichintendstocatertovisitorsofallgenerations.
TheVillageresortislocatedjust25minutesawayfromthecitycentreattheoutskirts
on the Jaipur-Ajmer national highway (NH-8) well connected by the various ring and
radialroads.
Apart from the 10 bighas of sprawling landscaped gardens, it boasts of 7 banquet
lawns, multi-cuisine restaurant, 20 rooms, swimming pool and indoor & outdoor
amusementfacilities.
Established in the year2000, it has become a darling of all classes and masses of
Jaipurpredominantlyduetoits"ValueforMoney"concept.

ManymaybesurprisedtonotethatitsratesarechangedonlyonceayearonApril1st
nomatterhowhardtheinflationhitstheeconomy.
KanchanKesariVillageResort,Jaipurislocatedamidstbreath-takingsurroundings.Its
hospitable approach and pleasing ambience ensures that guests have a great time.
Theresortisalsoanicerelaxingplaceforbusinesstravelers.

AMBER PALACE
Amer PalaceislocatedinAmer,atownwithanareaof4
squarekilometreslocated11kilometrefromJaipur,Rajasthan
state,India.
Locatedhighonahill,itistheprincipaltouristattractionsinthe
Jaipurarea.
ThetownofAmerwasoriginallybuiltbyMeenas,andlaterit
wasruledbyRajaManSingh.
AmerFortisknownforitsartisticHindustyleelements.Withits
largerampartsandseriesofgatesandcobbledpaths,thefort
overlooksMaotaLake.
ItisthemainsourceofwaterfortheAmerpalace.
Theaestheticambianceofthepalaceisseenwithinitswalls.
Constructedofredsandstoneandmarble,theattractive,
opulentpalaceislaidoutonfourlevels,eachwithacourtyard.
ItconsistsoftheDiwan-e-Aam,or"HallofPublicAudience",the
Diwan-e-Khas,or"HallofPrivateAudience",theSheeshMahal
(mirrorpalace),orJaiMandir,andtheSukhNiwaswhereacool
climateisartificiallycreatedbywindsthatblowoverawater
cascadewithinthepalace.
Hence,theAmerFortisalsopopularlyknownastheAmer
Palace.
ThepalacewastheresidenceoftheRajputMaharajasand
theirfamilies.
Attheentrancetothepalacenearthefort'sGaneshGate,
thereisatemplededicatedtoSilaDevi,agoddessofthe
Chaitanyacult,whichwasgiventoRajaManSinghwhenhe
defeatedtheRajaofJessore,Bengalin1604.
(JessoreisnowinBangladesh).

MASTER PLAN : LE CORBUSIER

Basicframeworkofthemasterplananditscomponents
-theCapitol,CityCentre,university,industrialarea,
andalinearparkland-asconceivedbyMayerand
NowickiwereretainedbyLeCorbusier.
Therestructuredmasterplanalmostcoveredthesame
siteandtheneighbourhoodunitwasretainedasthe
mainmoduleoftheplan.
TheSuperblockwasreplacedbynowwhatiscalledthe
Sectorcoveringanareaof91hectares,approximately
thatofthethree-blockneighbourhoodunitplannedby
Mayer.
TheCityCentre,therailwaystationandtheindustrial
areasbyandlargeretainedtheiroriginallocations.
However,theCapitol,thoughstillsitedattheprime
locationofthenorth-easterntipoftheplan,wasshifted
slightlytothenorthwest.

MASTER PLAN

Le Corbusier conceived the master plan of Chandigarh as analogous to human

body, with a clearly defined
Head (the Capitol Complex, Sector 1),
Heart (the City Centre Sector-17),
Lungs (the leisure valley, innumerable open spaces and sector greens),
Intellect (the cultural and educational institutions),
Circulatory system (the network of roads, the 7Vs) and
Viscera (the Industrial Area)

THE CAPITOL COMPLEX

Theareaofthegreatestsymbolic
significanceinChandigarhwasthecapitol
complex,whichinitsfinalformwasbased
onthedesignofagratecrossaxis
Themostimportantgroupofthebuildings
constitutingthecapitol-right,theparliament,
left,inthebackground,thesecretariat
Intheforeground,thepoolofthepalaceof
justice
Theartificialhillsinthefrontofthe
secretariathavenotbeencreatedandlaid
outinaccordancewithCorbusiers
conceptions
Althoughthesceneisharmoniousineffect,
therearestillmissingthebuildingsthat
belonghere,suchas,forinstance,the
towersofshadows
1.PARLIAMENT
2.SECRETARIAT
3.GOVERNORS
PALACE
4.HIGH COURT

5
1

7
4

6
3

5.TRUNCATED PYRAMID
6.MONUMENT FOR THE
VICTIMS
7.OPEN HAND

CAPITOL COMPLEX

THE SECRETARIAT

RAMP
ENCLOSURE
SQUARE

Thefirstdesignforthesecretariatpresentsthebuildingasatallthinslabcarryinga
WINDOWS
surfacebrisesoleildividedbyacentralhorizontalband
ROUGH CONCRETE
Thedesignwhichwasacceptedestablishedthebuildingformasalong,horizontal
FINISH
concreteslab
Thesecretariat,thelongestbuildinginChandigarh,254mlong,and42mhighforms
theadministrativecentre,withministerialofficesgroupedinthecentreandoffices
foremployeesarrangedoneitherside
Thebuildingwascompletedin1958
FREE
Thebuildingiscomposedofsix,eightstoreyblocksseparatedbyexpansionjoints
FACADE
Thecentralpavilion,block4,containstheofficesoftheministers
Theroughconcreteagaininterposesinthefenestrationofthetwomainfacades;
morethan2000unitsofuniquedesign
Approachtothebuildingisthroughroadwaysbelowgroundleveltoalargeparking
PROJECTED
areainfrontofthecentralblock,andafloorisleftopenatthisleveltoforman
PORTICOS
entrancehall
SMALL
Block1and2risesdirectlyfromtheground
Block3,4andpartof5faceontheexcavatedareaoftheparkinglotandhavetheENTRANCE\
BIG
lowerstoreyopenbetweenpilotis.
ENTRANC
Fortherestpartofblock5andwholeof6thelevelgoestillplazaheight,andlower E
portionoftheseblocksareleftopentoaheightoftwostories
Thetopofthebuildingisdevelopedasaroofgardencontainingtheserviceblocks
andcafeteriaforemployees
Theplasticemphasisisgiventothebuildingbyfreestandingexteriorramps
enclosedinroughconcretewalls

THE SECRETARIAT

THE ASSEMBLY HALL

Theassemblywasconceivedasarectilinearstructure.
Itissquareinplanwithamonumentalporticofacingthemainplaza.
Onthelateralfacadesboththeporticoandtheofficeblockwouldbedefinedby
solidendwalls.
Thelargechamberisinhyperbolicformofthecoolingtowerwithanaverage
thicknessof15cms.
Thesmallcouncilchamberareinrectilinearframe
Theupperportionofthetowerisextendingabovetheroofline.
Anassemblychamberis128ft.indiameteratitsbaseandrisesto124ft.atits
highestpoint.
Thistowerwasdesignedtoinsurethenaturallight,ventilationandproper
acoustics.
Ofallbuildingsofthecapitolcomplex,theassemblyisthemostintricateinplan.
Separatecirculationaccommodationofallgroupsisprovided
Employingasystemofindividualentrances,stairways,liftsandrampacomplete
segregationofmembersisprovided.
Therearetwoseparategalleriesformenandwomenincouncilchamber

DELHI

QUTUB MINAR
Qutub Minar,at74meters,isthesecondtallestminarinIndia
afterFatehBurjatMohali.
QutubMinar,alongwiththeancientandmedievalmonuments
surroundingit,formtheQutbComplex,whichisaUNESCO
WorldHeritageSite.
ThetowerislocatedintheMehrauliareaofDelhi,India.
Madeofredsandstoneandmarble,QutubMinarisa73meter
(240feet)talltaperingtowerwithadiametermeasuring14.32
meters(47feet)atthebaseand2.75meters(9feet)atthepeak.
Insidethetower,acircularstaircasewith379stepsleadstothe
top.
QutubMinarstationisthecloseststationontheDelhiMetro.
QutubMinarissurroundedbyseveralhistoricallysignificant
monuments,whicharehistoricallyconnectedwiththetowerand
arepartoftheQutbComplex.
TheseincludetheIronPillarofDelhi,Quwwat-ul-IslamMosque,
AlaiDarwaza,theTombofIltutmish,AlaiMinar,Ala-ud-din's
MadrasaandTomb,andtheTombofImamZamin.
OtherminormonumentsincludeMajorSmith'sCupolaand
Sanderson'sSundial.
TheMinarismadeofredsandstonecoveredwithintricate
carvingsandversesfromtheQur'an.
TheMinarcomprisesseveralsuperposedflangedand
cylindricalshafts,separatedbebalconiescarriedon
Muqarnascorbels.
Thefirstthreestoreysaremadeofredsandstone;the
fourthandfifthstoreysareofmarbleandsandstone.
AtthefootofthetoweristheQuwwat-ul-IslamMosque.

HUMAYUNS TOMB
Humayun's tombisthetomboftheMughalEmperorHumayuninDelhi,India.
ThetombwascommissionedbyHumayun'sfirstwifeBegaBegum(HajiBegum)*in156970,anddesignedbyMirakMirzaGhiyas,aPersianarchitectchosenbyBegaBegum.
Itwasthefirstgarden-tombontheIndiansubcontinent,andislocatedinNizamuddinEast,
Delhi,India,closetotheDina-panahcitadelalsoknownasPurana Qila(OldFort),that
Humayunfoundedin1533.
Itwasalsothefirststructuretouseredsandstoneatsuchascale.[10][11]Thetombwas
declaredaUNESCOWorldHeritageSitein1993,andsincethenhasundergone
extensiverestorationwork,whichiscomplete.
BesidesthemaintombenclosureofHumayun,severalsmallermonumentsdotthe
pathwayleadinguptoit,fromthemainentranceintheWest,includingonethatevenpredatesthemaintombitself,bytwentyyears;itisthetombcomplexofIsaKhanNiyazi,an
AfghannobleinSherShahSuri'scourtoftheSuridynasty,whofoughtagainstthe
Mughals,constructedin1547CE.
TurkishandMughalruleintheIndiansubcontinent,alsointroducedCentralAsianand
PersianstylesofIslamicarchitectureintheregion,andbythelate12thcenturyearly
monumentsinthisstylewereappearinginandaroundDelhi,thecapitalof
DelhiSultanate.
StartingwiththeTurkicSlavedynastywhichbuilttheQutbMinar(1192AD)andits
adjacentQuwwat-ul-Islammosque(1193CE).NorthIndiawassuccessiveruledforeign
dynastiesinthecomingcenturiesgivingrisetotheIndo-Islamicarchitecture.

LOTUS TEMPLE

TheLotus Temple,locatedinNewDelhi,India,isaBah'HouseofWorshipcompletedin1986.Notableforits
flowerlikeshape,itservesastheMotherTempleoftheIndiansubcontinentandhasbecomeaprominentattractionin
thecity.
TheLotusTemplehaswonnumerousarchitecturalawardsandbeenfeaturedinhundredsofnewspaperand
magazinearticles.
Inspiredbythelotusflower,thedesignfortheHouseofWorshipinNewDelhiiscomposedof27free-standing
marble-clad"petals"arrangedinclustersofthreetoformninesides.
TheninedoorsoftheLotusTempleopenontoacentralhallslightlymorethan40metrestall[6]thatiscapableof
holdingupto2,500people.
ThesurfaceoftheHouseofWorshipismadeofwhitemarblefromPentelimountaininGreece,theverysamefrom
whichmanyancientmonumentsandotherBah'HousesofWorshiparebuilt.
Alongwithitsninesurroundingpondsandthegardens,theLotusTemplepropertycomprises26acres(105,000
m;10.5ha).
ThesiteisinthevillageofBahapur,intheNationalCapitalTerritoryofDelhi.ThearchitectwasanIranian,whonowlives
inCanada,namedFariborzSahba.Hewasapproachedin1976todesignitandlateroversawitsconstruction.The
structuraldesignwasundertakenbytheUKfirmFlintandNeill.

TAJ MAHAL
TheTaj Mahal"crownofpalaces",pronouncedisa
whitemarblemausoleumlocatedonthesouthern
bankoftheYamunaRiverintheIndiancityofAgra.
Itwascommissionedin1632bytheMughalemperor
ShahJahan(reigned16281658)tohousethetomb
ofhisfavoritewifeofthree,MumtazMahal.
Constructionofthemausoleumwasessentially
completedin1643butworkcontinuedonother
phasesoftheprojectforanadditionaltenyears.
TheTajMahalcomplexisbelievedtohavebeen
completedinitsentiretyin1653atacostestimatedat
thetimetobearound32millionIndianrupees,which
in2015wouldbevaluedataround52.8billionIndian
rupees.

Tomb
ThetombisthecentralfocusoftheentirecomplexoftheTajMahal.Itisalarge,whitemarblestructurestandingona
squareplinthandconsistsofasymmetricalbuildingwithaniwan(anarch-shapeddoorway)toppedbyalargedome
andfinial.
LikemostMughaltombs,thebasicelementsarePersianinorigin.
Thebasestructureisalargemulti-chamberedcubewithchamferedcornersforminganunequaleight-sidedstructure
thatisapproximately55metres(180ft)oneachofthefourlongsides.
Eachsideoftheiwanisframedwithahugepishtaqorvaultedarchwaywithtwosimilarlyshapedarchedbalconies
stackedoneitherside.
Thismotifofstackedpishtaqsisreplicatedonthechamferedcornerareas,makingthedesigncompletelysymmetrical
onallsidesofthebuilding.
Fourminaretsframethetomb,oneateachcorneroftheplinthfacingthechamferedcorners.Themainchamber
housesthefalsesarcophagiofMumtazMahalandShahJahan;theactualgravesareatalowerlevel.
Themostspectacularfeatureisthemarbledomethatsurmountsthetomb.
Thedomeisnearly35metres(115ft)highwhichiscloseinmeasurementtothelengthofthebase,andaccentuatedby
thecylindrical"drum"itsitsonwhichisapproximately7metres(23ft)high.Becauseofitsshape,thedomeisoftencalled
anoniondomeoramrud(guavadome).Thetopisdecoratedwithalotusdesignwhichalsoservestoaccentuateits
height.

FATEHPUR SIKHRI LAYOUT

Fatehpur SikriisacityboardinAgradistrictinthestateofUttarPradesh,India.
Thecitywasfoundedin1569bytheMughalemperorAkbarandservedasthe
capitaloftheMughalEmpirefrom1571to1585.
AfterhismilitaryvictoriesoverChittorandRanthambore,Akbardecidedtoshift
hiscapitalfromAgratoanewlocation23miles(37km)W.S.WontheSikri
ridge,tohonourtheSufisaintSalimChishti.
Herehecommencedtheconstructionofaplannedwalledcitywhichtookthe
nextfifteenyearsinplanningandconstructionofaseriesofroyalpalaces,
harem,courts,amosque,privatequartersandotherutilitybuildings.
Henamedthecity,Fatehabad,withFateh,awordofArabicorigininPersian,
meaning"victorious."itwaslatercalledFatehpurSikri.
ItisatFatehpurSikrithatthelegendsofAkbarandhisfamedcourtiers,thenine
jewelsorNavaratnas,wereborn.
FatehpurSikriisoneofthebestpreservedcollectionsofIndian
MughalarchitectureinIndia.
Accordingtocontemporaryhistorians,Akbartookagreatinterestinthe
buildingofFatehpurSikriandprobablyalsodictateditsarchitecturalstyle.
SeekingtorevivethesplendoursofPersiancourtceremonialmadefamous
byhisancestorTimur,AkbarplannedthecomplexonPersianprinciples.
ButtheinfluencesofhisadoptedlandcamethroughinthetypicallyIndian
embellishments.
TheeasyavailabilityofsandstoneintheneighbouringareasofFatehpur
Sikri,alsomeantthatallthebuildingshereweremadeoftheredstone.
TheimperialPalacecomplexconsistsofanumberofindependentpavilions
arrangedinformalgeometryonapieceoflevelground,apatternderived
fromArabandcentralAsiantentencampments.
Initsentirety,themonumentsatFatehpurSikrithusreflectthegeniusof
Akbarinassimilatingdiverseregionalarchitecturalinfluenceswithinaholistic
stylethatwasuniquelyhisown.

 TheImperialcomplexwasabandonedin1585,shortlyafteritscompletion,duetopaucity
ofwateranditsproximitywiththeRajputanaareasintheNorth-West,whichwere
increasinglyinturmoil
ThusthecapitalwasshiftedtoLahoresothatAkbarcouldhaveabaseinthelessstable
partoftheempire,beforemovingbacktoAgrain1598,wherehehadbegunhisreignas
heshiftedhisfocustoDeccan.
Infact,heneverreturnedtothecityexceptforabriefperiodin1601.InlaterMughal
historyitwasoccupiedforashortwhilebyMughalemperor,MuhammadShah(r.1719
-1748)andhisregent,SayyidHussainAliKhanBarha,oneoftheSyedBrothers,was
murderedherein1720.
Todaymuchoftheimperialcomplexwhichspreadovernearlytwomilelongandone
milewideareaislargelyintactandresemblesaghosttown.
Itisstillsurroundedbyafivemilelongwallbuiltduringitsoriginalconstructiononthree
sides.
Howeverapartfromtheimperialbuildingscomplexfewotherbuildingsstandinthearea,
whichismostlybarren,exceptofruinsofthebazaarsoftheoldcityneartheNaubat
Khana,the'drum-house'entranceatAgraRoad.