Mughal Architecture –
Mughal architecture is a fusion of Indian, Islamic and Persian architecture, a distinctive style that the Mughals brought to India in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. The pinnacle of Mughal architecture is the Taj Mahal. The development of Mughal architecture is a karmic development. The period of Shah Jahan is called the golden age of Mughal architecture.
Mughal Architecture – Features –
• It was built in a mixture of Indian, Persian and Turkish architectural styles.
• It consisted of a variety of structures, including impressive gates (gateways), forts, tombs, palaces, mosques, saris, etc.
• The most common building materials were red sandstone and white marble.
• Characteristic – Charbagh gardens with noticeable bulbous domes, slender turrets at the corners, large gateways, splendid calligraphy, arabesques and geometric patterns on the pillars and walls and the royal hall supported on pillars.
• The arch, chhatri and other types of domes were extremely popular in Indo-Islamic architecture, which was further developed by the Mughals.
Early Mughal Architecture –
The Mughal dynasty began with Emperor Babur in 1526. Babur built a mosque at Panipat to commemorate his victory over Ibrahim Lodi. Another mosque is called Babri Masjid.
Some of the primary and most characteristic examples that remain of early Mughal architecture date from the short reign of Emperor Sher Shah Suri (1540–1545); who was not a Mughal. These include a mosque, Qila-e-Kunha (1541) near Delhi, the strategic architecture of the Red Fort in Delhi, and Rohtas Fort, on the banks of the Jhelum, in present-day Pakistan. His mausoleum, which is octagonal, built on a base in the middle of a tank, is at Sasaram, which was built by his son and successor, Islam Shah Suri (1545–1553).
• Babar -
Babur built mosques at Panipat and Rohilkhand, both of which were completed in 1526 AD. However, his reign was too brief to inspire any new style or approach.
• Sher Shah –
In Delhi, he built the Qila-i-Kuhuna (Old Fort Mosque). To commemorate his rule, he built the famous Rohtas Fort in Pakistan and the Sher Shah Suri Mosque in Patna, both in Afghan architecture. His reign marks a change from the Lodi to the Mughal architectural style. He also reconstructed and expanded an existing Mauryan roadway, named the Sadak-i-Azam, which later came to be known as the Grand Trunk Road. He made sure that there were enough inns and trees for the travellers. The tomb of Sher Shah Suri was built in Sasaram, where he was born. It is made of red sandstone and is situated in the middle of a lake. Sher Shah's works follow the traditions of the Delhi Sultanate period.
• Akbar -
Emperor Akbar (1556-1605) got a lot of construction done, and this style developed a lot during his time. In Gujarat and other styles, Muslim and Hindu features are visible in their construction. Akbar established the royal city of Fatehpur Sikri in 1569, 26 miles (42 km) west of Agra. The excessive construction of Fatehpur Sikri reflects his working style the most. The large mosque there best reflects his working style, which is difficult to find any other addition. The south gate here is very famous, and it has no match in the whole of India. This is the highest gate in the world, which is called Buland Darwaza. The Mughals built impressive tombs, including Akbar's father Humayun's tomb in Delhi, and Akbar's tomb in Sikandra, near Agra. Both of these are unique in themselves.
• Jahangir –
Hindu features disappeared from the style under Jahangir (1605–1627); His great mosque at Lahore is in the Persian style, covered with Meenakari tiles. At Agra, Itmad-ud-Daulah's mausoleum was completed in 1628, built entirely of white marble and covered entirely with pietra dura mosaics, the most splendid of that class of ornamentation to be found anywhere. is one of the examples. Jahangir also built the Shalimar Gardens and its accompanying pavilions on the banks of the Dal Lake in Kashmir. He also built a monument for his pet antelope, Hiran Minar, in Sheikhupura, Pakistan and because of his great love.
• Shah Jahan –
The best of the Agrawal Bharatpur, it is built in the Taj Mahal and the originality of the style gave way to a delicate elegance and sophistication of detail under Shah Jahan (1627–1658), the sumptuous palaces built under his reign at Agra and Delhi was featured in. The latter is the most exquisitely beautiful in India. The most spectacular of the Mughal mausoleums, and the most famous building in India, is the Taj Mahal in Agra, the mausoleum of Mumtaz Mahal, wife of Shah Jahan. The Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque) in Agra Fort and the Jama Masjid in Delhi are impressive buildings, and their position and architecture are carefully considered so as to create a pleasing impression and a sense of monumental elegance and a balanced proportion of the parts. In his writings, Shah Jahan presents himself as the most illustrious builder of Indian rulers.
He also built mausoleums and sections of the massive Lahore Fort including the impressive Moti Masjid, Sheesh Mahal and Naulakha Mandap all enclosed in the fort. He also built a mosque after him at Thatta which is called the Shah Jahan Mosque. Another mosque called the Wazir Khan Mosque was built during his tenure in Lahore by Shaikh Ilm-ud-Din Ansari, who was the emperor's court physician.
• Taj Mahal -
The Taj Mahal, "Teardrops on Eternity", was completed in 1648 by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died giving birth to their 14th child. The extensive use of precious and semi-precious stones as inlay and the need for vast quantities of white marble nearly bankrupted the empire. The Taj Mahal is completely symmetrical except for Shah Jahan's coffin, which is placed off-centre in the crypt room under the main floor. This symmetry extends to the construction of an entire mirror mosque in red sandstone, to complement the Mecca-facing mosque space to the west of the main structure.
The Taj Mahal (1630–1653) in Agra, India, and the Shalimar Gardens (1641–1642) in Lahore, Pakistan, are two sites that are on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The architectural similarities and love for water can be seen in many of the Mughals' buildings.
The Taj is considered one of the most beautiful monuments of love and is one of the seven wonders of the world when it comes to tourism.
• Aurangzeb and the last Mughal architecture –
In Aurangzeb's reign (1658–1707) ashlar and marble replaced brick or rubble with stucco ornamentation. There are examples of later Indo-Muslim architecture at Srirangapatna and Lucknow. He also left his mark on the Lahore Fort and built one of the largest mosques in the city, called the Badshahi Masjid. He also got one of the thirteen gates built, and it was later named Alamgir after him.
Characteristic components of Mughal architecture –
• Jharokha –
A transparent hole made in a ventilation or window wall or door is called. Windows are often covered with glass or some other transparent material. Sometimes windows can be opened allowing outside air and sound to enter.
• Umbrella -
Umbrella is used to avoid sun and rain. Artificial umbrella made of wood was used in ancient times. In this modern era, we are available in the market with rod steel umbrellas.
• Visor –
The part of the roof that protrudes outside the wall is called Chajja. It is always supported by pillars on the first floor or above.
• Bouquet -
A creative arrangement of flowers is called a flower bouquet. It can be arranged for the decoration of homes or public buildings or can be taken in hand. Handheld flower vases are manufactured in many different popular sizes and styles. Often, bouquets are presented to people on special occasions like birthdays or anniversaries. They are also used extensively in weddings.
By Chanchal Sailani | December 29, 2022, | Editor at Gurugrah_Blogs.
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