ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE

Style of Islamic architecture in INDIA

1.

Delhi / Imperial Style

2.

Provincial Style

3.

Mughal

Delhi / Imperial Style

Slave Dynasty

- 1191-1246

Khalji / Khilji Dynasty - 1200-1320

Tuglaq Dynasty

- 1320-1413

Sayyid Dynasty

- 1414-1444

Lodi Dynasty

- 1451-1557

Provincial Style 11th-15th century

Punjab
Bengal
Jaunpur
Gujarat
Malwa
The Deccan Gulbarga, Bidar & Golconda
Bijapur
Khandesh and
kashmir.

Slave Dynasty

Islamic Architecture Destructive Phase

Ruler - Qutb-ud din
Need dictated the design/construction.
A place for worship was necessary. Less
time to understand the materials available
and also to teach the Indian craftsman the
technique of construction
Existing Temples (both Hindu and Jain)
totally 27 of them were demolished and the
plinth was extended and column were used
to construct the first mosque.

Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque.

Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque.

Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque, Delhi

Might of Islam Mosque
Finely cut stone assembled without mortar
from the 27 temples have been ripped apart
and used construction.
Islam prohibits human forms so parts of the
sculptures were cut to make them
unrecognisable.
Mosque of size 217 ft X 150 ft.
Wherever extra height was required, 2
pillars were stacked one above the other.

Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque, Delhi (contd.)

Indian craftsmen who were used to the
trabeated system constructed false domes
and arches to complete the design.

Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque, Delhi (contd.)

Addition of Screen
Erection of screen wall in front of the
sanctuary - a way to emphasis.
108 long, 53 high (smaller ones are abt.
25) and almost 8 thk. Span of the central
arch is 22.
Corbel transferred into an Arch.
Beautiful carvings of the sand stone Vs
Glazed tiles on brick masonry.

Qutub Minar , Delhi

Ruler- Aibek & Illtumish
Purpose of a Minar To indicate a mosque,
To call for prayers.
Base Diameter 47 and @ the top 9.
Central spiral staircase with 360 steps.
Overhanging balconies broke the
monotonous spire into 5 segments.
Each floor has a different fluting pattern.
The brackets & Balconies Stalactite
Final 2 floors during Mogul Period
Later slight modifications by British

Arhai-Din- ka - Jhonpra, Ajmer

Started by Qutb-ud-din and finished by
Illtumish.
Improvised columns and beams from
surrounding Hindu and Jain temples.
Plinth on a leveled hilly site.
To increase the height of the sanctuary 3
columns were superimposed.
Corbelled domes over prayer hall
Screen of Trefoil" arches was added
later in front of the liwan.

Expansion of Qutb Complex

Illtumish expanded the Quwaat-ul-Islam
mosque
1. To cater to the growing Muslim
population in the capital city.
2. Qutb was overshadowing the
mosque
Expansion symmetrical to the central
axis.

Tomb of Illtumish
By llltumish NW corner of the Qutb
complex.
Dome over a square plan of 12.5m by
slowly transferring the square into a
polygonal base to a circular base.
Right angled corners decorated with
highly intricate arches.
30 dia dome collapsed twice.
Islamic arabesques in sand & marble
panels.

Assignment 2:
Tomb of Nasir-ud-din Shah

KHALJI DYNASTY

Khalji Dynasty
Balban and other ineffective kings ruled
delhi for few years. After balbans death,
Jalaludin Khilji ascended the throne.
Shifted the capital to siri
Alaud-din khilji killed him and became the
ruler.
Ventured into bigger projects like
expansion of qutb complex, Hauz Kaus ,
Alai Minar and remaining of his city Siri.

Alai darwaza

Alai Darwaza
17.22m cube 1m thk wall, with 3 outer
sides treated with sand stone and marble
as faciing material
Inscriptions and carvings both shallow
and deep. Jambs have slender pilasters.
One and only Keel arch( pointed horse
shoe) with spear headed fringes.
Two storey building with Blind windows
for the upper floor.
Star and hexagonal jollies for lighting and
ventilation.

Alai darwaza

Other Building during Khilji

Alai darwaza is the only notable building
during this period.
Only ruins of his city Siri remains.
Haus kauz stands as it was rebuilt by
tuglaqs.
Jamad Khana mosque with uninterruped
liwan and large spanned true arches.
Alai minar , an attempt to construct a
superior minar (to that of qutb) failed.

Tomb of Alladin khilji

Haus Khas

Jamat Khana Masjid

House of reward & peace

Alai Minar

TUGLAQ DYNASTY

Tuglaq Dynasty
Khusru shah killed the royal off springs and
became the ruler for a very short period.
Ghazi Malik defeated Khusrus armies and
ascended the throne as Giaz-ud-din Tuglaq.
Showed interest in architecture ,
construction of fortresses and military
establishments, tombs and mosques.
Tomb of Rukh-i-alam, City of
Tuglaqabad,Tomb of Giaz.,Dauladabad,city
of firoz shah kotla,Kalan Masjid,Khirkhi
Masjid, Beghampuri mosque.

Amla kalasa

Spear headed

Tomb of Ghiaz-ud-din Tuglaq

View of tomb inside the fort

Archway with spear
Heads.

Tomb of Ghiaz-ud-din Tuglaq

In the middle of an artificial lake.
61 square tomb with sloping walls crowned
by parapets.
Inscribed Red sand stone panels with white
marble borders.
Each archway is decorated with lattice work
Dome is white marble a striking contrast
against the walls.
Graves of makh Dumai Khan, Mahmud khan

Firoz Shah Kotla,

Fortress of Firoz sha Tuglaq.

Khirki Mosaque
-Firoz Shah tuglaq
52X52 m square
3m plinth supported
on arches and is
called Takhana

Roof divided into 25 squares out of which, 9

grids having 9 domes each and alternated
with flat roof.

Khirkhi Masjid
4 courtyards as prayer
spaces.
4 corners with towers
and protruding arched
entrances on 3 sides .
Turrets flanking the
southern and northern
gates are circular and
imposing.
Above the vaulted first
floor cell are the famous
khirki windows.

View of Exterior & soffit of dome

View of Exterior
1.Exterior wall
2. Domes & the flat roof
3. Elevated plinth &
corner towers.

Begampuri Mosque -Firoz Shah tuglaq

Kalan Mosque
Firoz Shah tuglaq

SAYYID & LODI

DYNASTIES

INTRODUCTION
Khirji Khan (Governor of Multan, appointed by
Timurs) founded the sayyid dynasty.
Sayyids ruled the Delhi sultanate for 37 years.
Different from gloomy Tuglaq tombs.
Butresses at the corner not only strengthen the
structure but also gives a very massive
appearance to the entire structure.
Lack of money no huge projects like cities
and fortresses.

INTRODUCTION
Two types of tombs,
Type 1 : Octagonal with colonnaded verandah,
projecting eaves (chajja) , I storey high.16
sided drum. Decorated with chatris,
crenellations
Type 2: Square Plan, No verandah, 2-3 Storey
high, dome supported by 12 columns .
Decorated in the same way as type 1.
Type 3: square tombs on square platform, more
solid due to blind arches.

Tomb of Mubarak
sha sayyid
Octagonal tomb with
projecting eaves.
Chatris on all 8 sides &
on top of the dome.
Corners of all 8 sides slope while the sides
themselves are made straight.
3 archways on every side. Entire structure is
sandstone.

Lotus topped
dome

eaves

Kiosks/chatris

20 approx
pilaster
Tomb of Mohammed Shah Sayyid

Tomb of Mhd. Shah Sayyid

Octagonal with colonnaded verandah,
projecting eaves , I storey high.
Triple arch openings on all 8 sides.
8 elegant chatris at the angle of the octagon
Lotus topped dome beautifully proportioned
The dome has been raised on a drum and also
the kiosk to achieve increase in height.
Soffit of the dome is decorated in vibrant colors.
The corner of the tomb alone are sloped.

LODI DYNASTY

Introduction
Followed the architectural style of SAYYIDS
Unique double domes to increase the height
(exterior) but to retain the interior height.
High walled enclosures.
Introduced square tombs , double domes and
3/5 arched single aisled mosques.

Tomb of Sikandar Lodi

Tomb of Sikkandar Lodi.

Located inside a high walled enclosure.
Surrounded by water fed from yamuna to
recreate the image of paradise.
Entire structure and the double dome are
constructed with stone and plastered at areas.
No chatris, but base of the dome is decorated.

Bada Gumbad-

Bada Gumbad
Also known as jami masjid of Sikander Lodi
Small ornate mosque with 3 domes.
The height of all the arches are the same but
span varies.
Soffits of domes, niches and arhces are
covered with quranic inscriptions.
Other than the double dome these types of
single aisled mosques with 3 or 5 arches were
also introduced by lodis
Red sand stone.

Blue glazed tile

Sheesh Gumbad- square mosque

Dadi- poti ka Gumbad