1. A.k.a Indo-Islamic
2. Replaced Trabeate Style with Arcuate Style

• Special Features
  • Arch and dome
  • Presence of Minar
  • Mortar for cementing
  • Avoided human and animal figures
  • Used Calligraphy, ARABESQUE (decoration based on floral figures, geometric patterns)
  • Intricate Jali Work for lighting
  • Use of water in the form of courtyard pools for cooling, fountains for decoration, religious purpose like washing feets
  • Charbagh Style
  • Pietra dura technique – inlay of precious stones on the surface
  • Foresighting technique – inscription appears of the same size from any place

Classification of Medieval Architecture

1. Delhi Sultanate
   1. Imperial Style – Patronized by Rulers
   2. Provincial Style – Patronized by Local rulers and Chiefs
2. Mughal Period
   1. Mughal Architecture
   2. Sikh Architecture
   3. Rajput Architecure

Delhi Sultanate

Imperial Style

Slave Dynasty / Ilbari Dynasty

• Style developed by them is called Mamluk Style
• All belonged to Ilbari Tribe except Qutubuddin Aibak
• Converted existing temples into mosques
• E.g
  • Quwat-ul-Islam Mosque from Jain Temple
  • Alai din ka jhopra, Ajmer
  • Qutub Minar from demolishing 27 temples (named after Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki, a Sufi saint )

Khilji Dynasty

• Seljuk Style
• Used mortar, red sandstone and arch /dome method
• E.g
  • Alai Darwaja in Qutub Minar Complex by Alaudin Khilji
  • Siri Fort / Siri City founded by Alaudin Khilji

Tughlaq Dynasty

• Crisis period of Architecture
• Focused on strength over beauty
• So combined Arch + Lintel = Battar (Sloping wall)
• Established 3 Cities
  • Tughlakabad by Gyasuddin Tughlaq
  • Jahapanah by Md Bin Tughlaq
  • Feroz Shah Kotla / Ferozabad by Firozshah Tughlaq

Lodi Dynasty

• Again crisis period for Architecture
• Commissioned Tombs
• Introduced double dome(bcos focused on strength)
• No decorations
• E.g
  • Lodi Garden by Sikander Lodi
  • Sikander Lodi founded Agra city

Provincial Style

Bengal School of Architecture

• Bricks & black Marble were used
• No focus on decoration or strength but only Massiveness
• Usage of Mortar & Lime plaster was less
• Large windows for ventilation, artificial Water storage called Baulis
• Batter system
• Use of locally available materials
• E.g
  • Kadam Rasul Mosque, Gaur
  • Adina Mosque, Pandua

Malwa School of Architecture

• Absence of Minars in Mosques
• European Influence – Large Windows
• Use of Arch with pillars and Beams
• Well proportioned Staircase
• E.g
  • Hindola Mahal, Mandu
  • Rani Rupmati Pavilion, Mandu

Jaunpur School of Architecture

• Under Sharqui dynasty
• Absence of minars , like Malwa School
• Bold & forceful character painted on central and side bays of prayer hall
• E.g
  • Atala Mosque, Jaunpur

Bijapur / Deccan School of Architecture

• Under the patronage of Adil Shah of Bijapur
• Three arched facade
• Bulbous dome
• Cornices(chhjja)
• E.g
  • Gol Gumbaj (mausoleum of Muhammad Adil Shah) – Largest dome in the world
  • Charminar & Golconda Fort by Mohammed Quli Qutb Shah

Mughal Architecture

Babur

• Constant War, no time on Architecture
• Built only 2 mosques
  • Panipat
  • Rohilkhand

Humayun

• Constant struggle with Sher Shah, no time on Architecture
• Founded city of Dinpanah but could not complete

Akbar

• Keen interest in development of architecture
• Focus on both strength and gracefulness
• Influence of Hindu elements
• Extensive use of red sandstone and Tudor Arch (four-centered arch)
• E.g
  • Agra Fort
    • red sandstone
    • Charbagh Style
    • Most architecture inside Agra fort constructed by Shah Jahan
      • Moti Masjid(different from one in Red fort)
      • Diwan-e-aam (hall of public audience)
      • Diwan-e-khas (hall of private audience)
    • Jahangir Mahal – Aurangzeb house arrested Shah Jahan here
    • Harams – Place for women only – Akbar had 5000 women
  • Fatehpur Sikri
    • Capital City
    • Imp structures inside are
      • Buland Darwaza – commemorate triumph over Deccan
      • Jodhabahi’s Palace
      • Panch Mahal
      • Ibadat Khana – meeting house where various religious leaders discuss spiritual matters
      • Salim Chisti’s Tomb – best Jali work in India
    • Temple of Govid Dev in Vrindavan

Jahangir

• Focus on paintings than on architecture
• E.g
  • Akbar Tomb, Sikandara
  • His own Tomb – Only ruler to do it
  • Moti Masjid in Lahore (different from two Moti Masjid in India)
  • Shalimar Bagh, Kashmir
• Noor Jahan (wife of Jahangir) constructed tomb of her father
  • Itmad-ud-daula
  • 1st Mughal work completely of marble
  • Pietra Dura extensively used

Shahjahan

• Mughal Architecture reached its climax
• E.g
  • Taj Mahal – for Mumtaz Mahal (Arzum Bano Begum)
  • Red Fort, Delhi
  • Jama Masjid, Delhi
  • Shalimar Bagh, Lahore
  • Established city of Shahjahanabad
  • Peacock Throne
    • by Bebudal Khan
    • A couplet of Amir Khusro – ‘If there is heaven on earth, it is this, it is this, it is this‘

Aurangzeb

• Disliked architecture
• Bibi ka maqbara by his sons in the memory of their mother – a poor imitation of the taj mahal
• E.g
  • Moti Masjid, Red Fort (white marble)
  • Badshahi Mosque, Lahore

Sikh Architecture

• Golden Temple
  • Foundation laid by Ramdas
  • Completed by Arjun Deb
• Features
  • Had Mughal influence
  • Multiplicity of chhatris
  • The fluted dome covered with brass and copper gilt
  • Chhaja- Shallow Cornice

Rajput Architecture

• Introduced Hanging Balconies constructed in all shapes and sizes
• Arch shaped cornices
• Experimental work – combining Hindu and Islamic Architecture
  • Hava Mahal or Palace of Wind