After the initial phase of monumental and innovative Islamic architecture under the Mamluks, north India went

through a somewhat uninspired phase under the Tughlaks and the Afghans. In the early 16th century, Sher Shah Sur refined upon the Tughlak style, the Qalah-e Kuhnah Masjid and his tomb at Sasaram being the finest of a series of distinguished works that were created during his reign. The recovery of the Mughal dynasty under Akbar marked the beginning of a striking resurgence of the arts, music, and architecture in Islamic northern India. In all these cultural pursuits, Persian, Indian, and the various provincial styles were successfully fused to produce works of unusual refinement and quality. While it is clear that Mughal architecture derived from Persia and from earlier Indo-Islamic structures such as Iltutmish's tomb, successive Mughal rulers and architects refined these components to produce a unique and consistent style exemplified in later Mughal buildings like the Taj Mahal and Itmad-ud-daula's tomb in Agra. The tomb of Humayun, begun by Akbar in the mid-16th century, inaugurates the new style. Built entirely of red sandstone and marble, it shows considerable Persian influence. The great fort at Agra (late 16th century) and the city of Fatehpur Sikri (mid-16th century) also represent the building activities of the emperor Akbar. The Jami Masjid at Fatehpur Sikri, with the colossal gateway known as the Buland Darwaza, for example, is one of the finest mosques of the Mughal period. Other notable buildings include the palace of Jodha Bai, which has a strongly indigenous aspect, the exquisitely carved Turkish Sultana's house, the Panch Mahal, the Divan-e Amm, and the hall of private audience. The patrons interest in Hindu architecture is clear, as most of the buildings are of post and lintel construction, arches being used very sparingly. Architectural undertakings during the reign of Akbar's son Jahangir were not very ambitious, but some fine buildings were built by Jahangir within the Lahore fort. The tomb of Akbar at Sikandra near Agra, also completed by Jahangir, is of an unusual and somewhat confused design with five terraces, four of red sandstone and the uppermost of white marble. The tomb of Nur Jahan's father Itimad-udDawla, at Agra, is the accomplishment of this reign. This small tomb of exquisite workmanship is built entirely of delicately inlaid marble. The next Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan was the most prolific builder. His interest in architecture developed at an early age and he commissioned several buildings, particularly at Lahore, even before he became emperor. Once emperor, he built a new citadel at Delhi within the great Red Fort, with its dazzling hall of public audience, the flat roof of which rests on rows of columns and pointed, or cusped, arches, and the Jami Masjid which is among the largest and finest mosques in India. Through the course of his reign, Shah Jahan's architectural projects became both more ambitious and more elegant as well, and it is the Taj Mahal built in the late 17th century as a tomb for Queen Mumtaz Mahal, that is the greatest masterpiece of his reign. Other notable buildings of the reign of Shah Jahan include the Moti Masjid and the Jami Masjid at Agra.

Architectural monuments of the reign of Aurangzeb are usually considered to represent a distinct decline in architectural achievement. This emperor spent considerable energy in the battlefield both before and after he ascended the throne leaving little time for artistic pursuits. The tomb of his wife Rabiah Begam at Aurangabad is often cited as a poor copy of the Taj Mahal, although the building is impressive on its own. That the Mughal architects still had the calibre to produce beautiful monuments is proved by the royal mosque at Lahore which retains the grandeur and dignity of earlier work, and the Moti Masjid at Delhi which is a small marble building that possesses much of the early refinement and delicacy. The tomb of Safdar Jang at Delhi built in the mid-18th century was among the last important works to be produced under the Mughal dynasty. While this and other sub-imperial buildings such as those at Dhaka in were excellent monuments on their own, the coherence and balance characteristic of mature Mughal architecture was lost. Hindu kingdoms, in particular the Rajput dynasties of Rajasthan, managed to retain varying degrees of independence during the long period of Islamic supremacy in North India. They commanded significant resources and so were able to produce lavish secular works in a style that was primarily Islamic but incorporated many elements of traditional Indian architecture. Among the Hindu structures of this period are the extensive series of palaces, all in ruin, built by Rana Kumbha in the 15th century at Chitor, and the superb Man Mandir palace at Gwalior (late 15th century), a rich and magnificent work that influenced the development of Mughal architecture at Fatehpur Sikri.

Mughal architecture, an amalgam of Islamic, Persian,[1][2] Turkish and Indian architecture, is the distinctive style developed by the Mughals in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries in what is now India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. It is symmetrical and decorative in style. The Mughal dynasty was established after the victory of Babur at Panipat in 1526 (the Battle of Panipat) . During his five-year reign, Babur took considerable interest in erecting buildings, though few have survived.[3] The influence of Mughal Architecture lives on in Afghan, Pakistani and Indian architecture today, but yes a few like chahar bagh or four gardens still exists.

Akbar
Main article: Akbari Architecture

Humayun's Tomb, Delhi built during the reign of Akbar.

The emperor Akbar (15561605) built largely, and the style developed vigorously during his reign. As in the Gujarat and other styles, there is a combination of Muslim and Hindu features in his works. Akbar constructed the royal city ofFatehpur Sikri, located 26 miles (42 km) west of Agra, in the late 16th century. The numerous structures at Fatehpur Sikri best illustrate the style of his works - the southern gateway of the mosque, which is known as Buland Darwaza, is the largest of its kind in India. The Mughals also built tombs, which include the tomb of Akbar's father Humayun, and theTomb of Akbar the Great at Sikandra, near Agra.

Tomb of Itimad-ud-Daula, Agra

[edit]Jahangir Under Jahangir (16051627) the Hindu features vanished from the style; his great mosque at Lahore is in the Persian style, covered with enameled tiles. At Agra, the tomb of Itmad-udDaula, which was completed in 1628, was built entirely of white marble and covered in pietra dura mosaic. Jahangir also built the Shalimar Gardens and its accompanying pavilions on the shore of Dal Lake in Kashmir. He also built a monument to his pet deer, Hiran Minarin Sheikhupura, Pakistan and due to his great love for his wife, after his death she went on to build his mausoleum in Lahore.

Architectural Panel, Mughal dynasty, late 17th century, India. This panel either hung in the doorway of a palace or lined a noblemans tent.

[edit]Shah

Jahan

Jama Masjid, Delhi.

The force and originality of the style gave way under Shah Jahan (16271658) to a delicate elegance and refinement of detail, illustrated in the palaces erected in his reign at Agra and Delhi. Some examples include the Taj Mahal at Agra and the tomb of Mumtaz Mahal, the wife of Jahan. The Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque) in the Agra Fort and The Jama Masjid at Delhi are imposing buildings, and their position and architecture have been carefully considered so as to produce a pleasing effect and feeling of spacious elegance and well-balanced proportion of parts. Jahan also built the Tomb of Jahangir and sections of the Lahore Fort that include the Moti Masjid, Sheesh Mahal, andNaulakha pavilion which are all enclosed in the fort. He also built a mosque named after himself in Thattacalled Shahjahan Mosque. Another mosque was built during his tenure in Lahore

called Wazir Khan Mosque, by Shaikh Ilm-ud-din Ansari who was the court physician to the emperor. [edit]Taj

Mahal

Main article: Taj Mahal The Taj Mahal, the "teardrop on the cheek of eternity" (Rabindranath Tagore), was completed in 1648 by the emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wifeMumtaz Mahal. Its longest plane of symmetry runs through the entire complex except for the sarcophagus of Shah Jahan, which is placed off centre in the crypt room below the main floor. This symmetry extended to the building of an entire mirror mosque in red sandstone, to complement the Mecca-facing mosque place to the west of the main structure. The Taj Mahal (16301648) in Agra, India and the Shalimar Garden (16411642) in Lahore, Pakistan, are two sites which are on the world heritage list ofUNESCO. The Taj is considered[by whom?] to be one of the most beautiful monuments of the world and was included in the New Seven Wonders of the World list. [edit]Aurangzeb

and later Mughal architecture

A view of a pavilion in Shalimar Garden, Lahore, Pakistan

In Aurangzeb's reign (16581707) squared stone and marble was replaced by brick or rubble with stucco ornament. Srirangapatna and Lucknowhave examples of later IndoMuslim architecture. He made additions to the Lahore Fort and also built one of the thirteen gates which was later named after him (Alamgir). Aurangzeb also built the Badshahi Mosque which was constructed in 1674 under the supervision of Fida'i Koka. This mosque is adjacent to the Lahore Fort and is the last in the series of congregational mosques in red sandstone and is closely modeled on the oneShah Jahan built at Shahjahanabad. The red sandstone of the walls contrasts with the white marble of the domes and the subtle intarsia decoration. Additional monuments from this period are associated with women from Aurangzeb's imperial family. The construction of the elegant Zinat al-Masjid in Daryaganij was overseen by Aurangzeb's second daughter Zinat al-Nisa. Aurangzeb's sister Roshan-Ara who died in 1671. The tomb ofRoshanara Begum and the garden surrounding it were neglected for a

long time and are now in an advanced state of decay. Bibi Ka Maqbara was a mausoleum built by Prince Azam Shah, son of Emperor Aurangzeb, in the late 17th century as a loving tribute to his mother, Dilras Bano Begam in Aurangabad, Maharashtra. The Alamgiri Gate, built in 1673 A.D., is the main entrance to the Lahore Fort in present day Lahore. It was constructed to face west towards the Badshahi Mosque in the days of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. Another construction of Mughal era is the Lalbagh Fort (also known as "Fort Aurangabad"), a Mughal palace fortress at the Buriganga River in the southwestern part of Dhaka, Bangladesh, whose construction started in 1678 during the reign of Aurangzeb.[4] [edit]Mughal

gardens

Main article: Mughal Gardens

Palace of Nawab Asaf-Ud-Dowlah.

Mughal gardens are a group of gardens built by the Mughals in the Islamic style of architecture. This style was influenced by Persian gardens and Timurid gardens. Significant use of rectilinear layouts are made within the walled enclosures. Some of the typical features include pools, fountains and canals inside the gardens. The famous gardens are the Char Bagh gardens at Taj Mahal, Shalimar Gardens of Lahore, Delhi and Kashmir as well as PinjoreGarden in Haryana. [edit]Mughal

Bridges

The Mughal dynasty was established with the crushing victory of Babur at Panipat
in 1526. During his short five-year reign, Babur took considerable interest in erecting buildings, though few have survived. Babur's son Humayun was dissolute and wayward in his early years and the Mughal empire fell to the Suris in 1540. The tomb of Sher Shah Suri is an architectural masterpiece that was to have a profound impact on the evolution of Indo-Islamic funerary architecture. Humayun reestablished the Mughal empire in 1555. His tomb at Delhi represents an outstanding landmark in the development and refinement of the Mughal style. It was designed in 1564, eight years after his death, as a mark of devotion by his widow, Haji Begum.

Architecture flourished during the reign of Humayun's son Akbar. One of the first
major building projects was the construction of a huge fort at Agra. The massive sandstone ramparts of the Red Fort are another impressive achievement. The most ambitious architectural exercise of Akbar, and one of the most glorious examples of Indo-Islamic architecture, was the creation of an entirely new capital city at Fatehpur Sikri.

After the death of Akbar in 1605, his son, Prince Salim, ascended the throne and
assumed the title of Jahangir, "Seizer of the World". He was assisted in his artistic attempts by his able wife, Nur Jahan. The Mausoleum of Akbar at Sikandra, outside Agra, represents a major turning point in Mughal history, as the sandstone compositions of Akbar were adapted by his successors into opulent marble masterpieces. Jahangir is the central figure in the development of the Mughal garden. The most famous of his gardens is the Shalimar Bagh on the banks of Lake Dal in Kashmir.

Jahangir's son Prince Khurram ascended the throne in 1628 as Emperor Shah
Jahan. His reign is characterized by monumental architectural achievements as much as anything else. The single most important architectural change was the use of marble instead of sandstone. He demolished the austere sandstone structures of Akbar in the Red Fort and replaced them with marble buildings such as the DiwanI-Am (hall of public audience) , the Diwan-i-Khas (hall of private audience), and the Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque). In 1638 he began to lay out the city of Shahjahanabad beside the Jamuna river. The Red Fort at Delhi represents the pinnacle of centuries of experience in the construction of palace-forts. Outside the fort, he built the Jami Masjid, the largest mosque in India. However, it is for the Taj Mahal, which he built as a memorial to his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, that he is most often remembered.

Shah Jahan's extravagant architectural indulgence had a heavy price. The peasants
had been impoverished by heavy taxes and by the time his son Aurangzeb ascended the throne, the empire was in a state of insolvency. As a result, opportunities for grand architectural projects were severely limited. This is most easily seen at the Bibi-ki-Maqbara, the tomb of Aurangzeb's wife, built in 1678. Though the design was inspired by the Taj Mahal, it is half its size, the proportions compressed and the detail clumsily executed. After the death of Aurangzeb, the Mughal empire rapidly declined under a rapid succession of ephemeral rulers: various successor states gradually took its place.

The remarkable flowering of art and architecture under the Mughals is due to
several factors. The empire itself provided a secure framework within which artistic genius could flourish, and it commanded wealth and resources unparalleled in Indian history. The Mughal rulers themselves were extraordinary patrons of art,

whose intellectual calibre and cultural outlook was expressed in the most refined taste. Sources Davies, Philip. The Penguin guide to the monuments of India, Vol II. London: Viking, 1989. Tadgell, Christopher. The History of Architecture in India. London: Phaidon Press, 1990.

After the death of Akbar, architect of the Mughal empire and active patron of the arts, his son Jahangir (r. 160527) ascended to the throne. As a prince, Jahangir had established his own atelier in Allahabad and had strong artistic tastes, preferring a single painter to work on an image rather than the collaborative method of Akbars time. He also encouraged careful plant and animal studies, and prized realistic portraiture and Europeanized subjects. The books Jahangir commissioned ranged from literary works such as the Razmnama (a Persian translation of the Hindu epic, the Mahabharata) to historical texts, including an illustrated version of the memoirs of his reign, the Tuzuk-i Jahangiri. But more common from his era are lavishly finished albums containing paintings and calligraphy samples mounted onto pages with decorative borders and then bound with covers of stamped and gilded or painted and lacquered leather. If he could not obtain a work he wanted, he had it copied, and at one time dispatched an artist to Iran to paint a likeness of Shah Abbas.
c

Jahangir's claim that he could instantly recognize any painter's work is a reflection of the rise of the individual artist.
Related
Cited Works of Art or Images (2)

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Index Terms (33) Share

Jahangirs claim that he could instantly recognize any painters work is a reflection of the rise of the individual artist. Many signatures are preserved on works from this period, with such masters as Bishan Das, Manohar, Abul-Hasan, Govardhan, and Daulat emerging as recognizable artistic personalities. Jahangirs successor Shah Jahan (r. 162858) is most celebrated for his architectural achievements, the Taj Mahal being his (and perhaps the countrys) best known monument. He commissioned this tomb for his wife after her death in 1631 and it took sixteen years to complete. The building is set on the bank of the Jumna River in Agra with a formal eightfold garden and reflecting pools in front, its elevation of inlaid white marble striking against the red sandstone of the other buildings in the complex. After moving the capital from Agra to Delhi in 1648, Shah Jahan built a new city there, called Shahjahanabad, and a congregational mosque (165056), the largest in all of India. Paintings from his reign were characterized by formal portraits and courtly scenes, replacing the more wide-ranging and personal subject matter under Jahangir. The major commission of his reign was a history called the Padshahnama, illustrated through the 1640s. Shah Jahans rule was forcibly terminated by his son in 1658. Aurangzeb (r. 16581707) held increasingly orthodox Sunni beliefs, and his reign saw the decline of Mughal patronage of the arts. Early portraits of him do exist, and he commissioned some notable architectural projects such as the Pearl Mosque (in the Red Fort at Delhi), but in 1680 he banned music and painting from his court. The emperors who followed him were too weak and the state too poor to support the production of sumptuous paintings and books as before; under Bahadur Shah (r. 170712) and Muhammad Shah (r. 171948), there was a slight resurgence in the arts, but the 1739 raid of Delhi by Nadir Shah caused much of the citys population to flee and the artistic community to be permanently dispersed. By the 1800s, the Mughals were nominally still emperors of India, but under the protection of the British. The reduction of artists in the Mughal painting workshops by Jahangir, Shah Jahan, and Aurangzeb meant that a number of artists had to find new work, and many regional courts benefited greatly from the influx of former imperial employees. Painting at the Hindu Rajasthani courts such as Bikaner, Bundi, and Kota, and at the provincial Muslim courts of Lucknow, Murshidabad, Faizabad, and Farrukhabad, were all transformed as Mughal artists provided fresh inspiration. Among the important subimperial patrons of the early period was Abd al-Rahim Muhammad Khan-i Khanan (15611626/7), commanderin-chief of the Mughal armies under both Akbar and Jahangir. A copy of the epicRamayana (15971605)with 130 illustrations (2008.359.23)and six other manuscripts can be attributed to his atelier.
c

The late Mughal era was also a fruitful period for the provincial and regional patronage of architecture (2009.376a,b). The maharaja Jai Singh founded the city of Jaipur, known for

its palaces and astronomical observatory built in 1734, and Safdarjang, the nawab of Oudh, erected a tomb in Delhi based on that of Humayun (17534)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indo-Saracenic_Revival_architecture#The_Mughal_Style he Mughal style was conceived by Akbar the Great, the third mughal emperor and also the architect of the Mughal empire. This 'Akbari' Style was an amalgam of earlier Timurid, Persian and indigenous Indian styles. This style was further consolidated by his grandson and fellow architecture enthusiast, Shah Jahan. Some of the significant architectural legacies of the Mughals are Humayun's Tomb, the Taj Mahal, the Forts of Agra andLahore, the city of Fatehpur Sikri, Akbar's Tomb. [edit]Decline

and Revival

Shah Jahan was succeeded by his puritanical son, Aurangzeb, who had no soft spot for art and architecture.[2]As a result, Mughal architecture suffered, with all artisans migrating to work under the patronage of local rulers. With no major architectural projects undertaken, the Mughal style rapidly declined. This decline was evident in buildings such as Bibi Ka Maqbara, built by Azam Shah, son of Aurangzeb. However, local rulers embraced the style, as they had emulated it during the respective reigns of Jahangir and Shah Jahan.[3] The last architectural marvel produced during this waning period of Mughal rule was Safdarjung's Tomb, mausoleum to the second Nawab of Awadh. By the early 19th century, the British had made themselves the virtual masters of the Indian Subcontinent. In 1803, their control was further strenghthened with the defeat of the Marathas under Mahadaji Scindia. They legitimized their rule by taking the then weak Mughal Emperor, Shah Alam II under their protection, and ruling through him. However, their power was yet again challenged when in 1857, the Indian soldiers in their employ, together with rebellious princes lashed out in open revolt (which came to be known as the Revolt of 1857). However, this uprising was doomed from the start, and was crushed by the British with ferocity, marking the end of the Mughal Empire.[4] Soon after, they embarked on deliberate vandalism, by demolishing significant amount of buildings in the Red Fort (the residence of the recently extinct Mughal Empire) and replacing them with towering and unimpressive barracks. It was the first attempt towards erasing the architectural legacy of the Mughals.[5] However, to usher in a new era, the British 'Raj', a new architectural tradition had to be founded. Hence they contemplated a marriage between the existing styles of India with imported styles from the West such as Gothic (with its sub styles of French/Irish Gothic, Venetian-Moorish etc.), Neoclassical and Art-Deco, Gothic even more so because their design philosophy was inclined towards grand scale (as is evidenced by buildings such as the Taj hotel). By doing this they kept elements of British and European architecture, while adding Indian characteristics; this, coupled with the British allowing some regional Indian princes to stay in power, made their presence more 'palatable' for the Indians.

The British tried to encapsulate South Asia's past within their own buildings and so represent Britains Raj as legitimate, while at the same time constructing a modern network of railways, colleges, and law courts.

Indus Valley

Buddhist

Jain

Rajpu Rajput Civil Architecture t

Rajasthan Paintings

Orissa

Pallav Chaluky Rashtrakut Hoysal Pandy Vijayanaga Naya Musli Decca Mugha Chola a a a a a r k m n l

BACK MUGHAL ARCHITECTURE

Humayun Tomb Red Fort

All the early Mughal Rulers except Aurangzeb were great bui1ders. With the coming of the Mughals, Indian architecture was greatly influenced by Persian styles. The Mughals constructed excellent mausoleums, mosques, forts, gardens and cities. The Mughal buildings show a uniform pattern both in structure and character.
The main characteristic features of Mughal architecture are the bulbous domes, the slender minarets with cupolas at the four corners, large halls, massive vaulted gateways and delicate ornamentation. The few mosques and palaces built by Babar and Humayun are not of much architectural significance

Sher Shah of the Sur Dynasty who ruled over the Kingdom of the Mughals after driving Humayun out of the country was not only a great administrator but a lover of art also. He built several forts, tombs and mosques. The monuments of Sher Shah are a continuation of the Lodi style. The mausoleums are octagonal in plan and have verandahs around them, surmounted by huge domes. The verandahs have three smaller domes on each side.

Purana Quila (Old Fort), Delhi

Sher Shah built the Purana Quila in Delhi. Started by him, it was completed by Humayun. Built of red and buff sand-stone, it is ornamented with black and white marble and coloured tiles. A beautiful mosque inside the Quila with ornamental arches, decorative panels, geometrical designs and inscriptions is an example of the development of architecture and ornamentation during Sher Shah's reign.

Sher Shah's tomb, Sasaram

Sher Shah's tomb at Sasaram in Bihar built in 1549 is in the centre of a large square tank and rises al 46 metres high. It is a two storey construction on a terraced platform. The upper terrace has pillared domes and the two storeys above have a pillared kiosk at the four corners. The base of the large central dome has thirty two sides. The tomb is decorated with coloured tiles, very few of which remain now. Entrance to the tomb is through a domed structure.
Mughal architecture begins with Akbar who showed his passion for building by planning and constructing splendid edifices. During his reign Mughal architecture took on new forms. Akbar made free use of both Hindu and Persian styles. The use of red sandstone inlaid with white marble and painted designs on walls and ceiling are the salient features of Akbar's buildings.

Akbar constructed numerous forts, towers, palaces, mosques, mausoleums and gateways. A structure of note built during his reign is Humayun's Tomb in Delhi.

Humayun's Tomb

Humayuns tomb was built by his widow Haji Begum in 1565 A.D. in Delhi in 1569A.D., fourteen years after his death. The mausoleum stands in the centre of a square enclosed garden. The garden is divided and sub-divided into squares, typical of Mughal gardens. The lofty double storeyed structure is built on a huge high platform terrace which has a row of calls with arched openings. The central chamber is octagonal in shape and contains the tomb. Each side of the mausoleum has a large arched alcove in the centre with smaller ones on either side. It has a high marble double dome in the centre and pillared kiosks with cupolas surrounding it. Built of red sandstone with an inlay of black, white and yellow marble it presents an imposing picture. Planned by a Persian architect and constructed by Indian workers, it is a combination of both Persian and Indian styles of architecture. Entrance to the mausoleum is through two double storeyed gateways.

Humayun's Tomb (Picture courtesy Archaeological Survey of India)

Humayun Tomb in World Heritage Monuments of India Images of Humayun's Tomb

Agra Fort A greater part of the fort at Agra was constructed by Akbar starting in 1565 AD and completed it in 1574 A.D. Situated on the bank of the river Jamuna, it is a massive and grand structure. The special feature of this fort is the 2.5 kms. long and 21 metres high circuitous wall of solid red sand stone. The stones are linked with iron rings so close that not even a hair can pass through. The entrance to the fort is through two gateways. The main entrance known as Delhi Gate was the ceremonial entrance to the fort. The other smaller gateway is called the Hathi Pol or Elephant Gate because of the two huge elephants on either side of the gate and was meant for private use.
The Delhi Gate entrance archway is flanked by two double storeyed octagonal bastions crowned by octagonal domed kiosks. A balcony separates the two storeys. The structure above the balcony has arched recesses. The gateway is decorated with beautiful panels of coloured tiles and marble inlay work. The fort is surrounded by a deep moat. The fort formerly contained numerous buildings of red sand stone but these were later demolished in the reign of Shah Jehan who constructed marble pavilions instead. Some of the important buildings inside the fort are the Jahangiri Mahal built for Jahangir and his family, the Moti Masjid, and Mena Bazaars. The Jehangiri Mahal is an impressive structure and has a courtyard surrounded by double-storeyed halls and rooms. The corbel brackets, doorways and the chajja above them are profusely carved.

The elaborate architecture of the brackets seems to be an imitation of wood work. The planning and construction of the fort show that Rajput architectural styles were freely adopted.

Agra Fort (Picture courtesy Archaeological Survey of India)

Fatehpur Sikri Akbars greatest architectural achievement was the construction of Fatehpur Sikri, his Capital City near Agra. The construction pf the walled city was started in 1569 A.D. and completed in 1574 A.D. contained some of the most beautiful buildings both religious and secular which testify to the Emperors aim of achieving social, political and religious integration. The religious edifices worth mentioning are the Jami Masjid and Salim Chistis Tomb. The tomb built in 1571 A.D. in the corner of the mosque compound is a square marble chamber with a verandah. The cenotaph has an exquisitely designed lattice screen around it.

Jami Masjid, Fatehpur Sikri (Picture courtesy Archaeological Survey of India)

Tomb of Sheikh Salim Chisti, Fatehpur Sikri (Picture courtesy Archaeological Survey of India)

The secular ones include Jodh Bais palace, the Panch Mahal, the Diwan-i-khas and the Buland Darwaza. Jodha Bai's palace is a large building consisting of rooms on all four sides of a courtyard. The centre part and four corners of the building are doubled storeyed. A small chapel attached has niches in the wakks for idols. The panch Mahal is a five stored structure, each storey smaller in size as they go up, the last one being only a kiosk.

Panch Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri (Picture courtesy Archaeological Survey of India)

The Diwani Khas, an outstanding structure was meant for the Emperor to sit in audience with his ministers and listen to disputes and discussions. A novel structure, it is a large hall with a giant monolithic pillars in the centre with a circular railed platform on top like a cup which is supported by a circular array of beautifully carved brackets. From the Central platform branch out four diagonal railed galleries symbolizing Akbars supremacy over his dominions. The gallery is continued on all four sides of the hall. The audience sat in the galleries and in the hall below giving it the effect of a two-storey building. Sitting in the centre, Akbar heard discourses and discussions on religions.

Diwani Khas (Picture courtesy Great Mirror)

Buland Darwaza A magnificent gateway was added later in 1571-72 to commemorate his conquest of Gujarat. Built of red sand stone and marble it is said to be the most perfect architectural achievement in the whole of India". A flight of steps lead to the gateway which is about 53 metres in height and 39 metres in width. Entrance is through a huge arched domed recess. A broad rectangular strip bordering the archway has calligraphic inscriptions on it. At the corners are slender turrets. The beautiful perforated parapet and the row of kiosks with cupolas add to the dignity of the monument. An inscription on the gateway testifies to Akbars religious toleration.

Buland Darwaza, Fatehour Sikri, Agra (Picture courtesy Archaeological Survey of India)

Jehangir though a lover of art was fond of natural beauty and so devoted his time to the laying of beautiful gardens such as the Shalimar and Nishat Bagh in Srinagar, Kashmir and to miniature paintings. Out of the few of his constructions of note are Akbar's tomb at Sikandra and the tomb of his father-in-law Itmad-udDaula both near Agra

Akbar's Tomb, Sikandra

The Mausoleum of Akbar at Sikandra near Agra was started by Akbar and completed by his son Jahangir in 1612 A.D. who changed the original design of his father. Designed on the model of a Buddhist Vihara, it is set in the centre of a square garden. The enclosure wall on each side has a gateway. The main gateway has four white marble minarets in the four corners. The Mausoleum has five terraces, rising from the basement, one above the other, diminishing in size as they ascend. The red sand-stone entrance gateway is the largest and is richly decorated with inlaid coloured stone work. With its charming proportions, it is by itself a work of art.

Akbar's Tomb, Sikandra (Picture courtesy Archaeological Survey of India)

Itmad-Ud-Daulas Tomb: The Mausoleum of Itmad-ud-Daula, the revenue minister of Jahangir and Nur Jehans father was built in Agra on the banks of the Jumuna. Started by Jahangir it was completed by Nur Jehan in 1628 A.D. A small rectangular structure in white

marble, inlaid with semi-precious stones and coloured glass, it is a delicate and beautiful piece of architecture. It is the first pure marble monument and differs from the typical massive, red sand-stone structures of earlier Mughals. Situated in a garden amidst fountains, it has a square lower storey with four minarets in the four corners. A traceried pavilion forms the second storey. A central chamber inside contains the tombs and is surrounded by an enclosed verandah. A jewel in marble-there is no other building like it in the entire range of Mughal Architecture.

Itmad-Ud-Daulas Tomb, Agra (Picture courtesy Archaeological Survey of India)

Shah Jehan, the most famous of the Mughal builders had a passion for building. His reign marks the construction of numerous palaces, forts, mosques and gardens. His buildings are marked by the quality feminity, grace and elegance. They do not show the masculinity of Akbar's solid red sand-stone constructions. Mughal architecture reached the peaks of excellence during this reign. The main characteristics of his buildings are - the use of delicately carved white marble richly decorated with pietra dura or inlay of coloured stones and calligraphy in

black marble. Some of his outstanding works are the Moti Masjid or Pearl Mosque in Agra Fort and the Taj Mahal, the Red fort in Delhi with the Diwan-i-Am and Diwan-i-Khas, the Jami Masjid in Delhi and the mausoleum of Jehangir in Shahdara, Lahore (in Pakistan).

Jama Masjid, Delhi The Jama Masjid in Delhi is the largest mosque in India and was built between 1650-1656A.D. It is constructed on a high platform and approached by a flight of steps on three sides. The main entrance is a double storeyed gateway and leads to a vast square courtyard which is enclosed by pillared corridors. The prayer hall, rectangular in plan has a facade of eleven arches. The high central arch is flanked by tall slender minarets with cupolas. White marble panels with inscriptions frame the arches. Three domes with alternate black and white marble stripes surmount the prayer hall. On the eastern corners, stand two tapering four storeyed minarets.

Red Fort Soon after laying the foundation or his new Capital city of Shahjehanabad Shah Jchan started construction of the red sandstone Red Fort or Lal Quila in 1638 A.D. on the banks of the river Jumuna. The fort took nearly nine years to complete. Within the walled city, the fortress is in the shape of a rectangle 900 metres by 550 metres. The rampart walls are about 34 metres high. A moat surrounds the rampart. Two of the five gateways of the fort are three storeyed structures flanked by octagonal towers. These are the Lahori Gate and the Delhi Gate. Figures of two huge elephants flank the Delhi Gate. The main entrance to the fort is through the Lahori Gate. A covered passage with shops on either side leads to the palaces inside the fort. Barracks for soldiers, audience halls, horse and elephant stables, and ornamental gardens are other features of the fort.
Some of the beautiful buildings are the Diwan-i-Am, Diwan-i-Khas, Moti Mahal, Hira Mahal and Rang Mahal, the latter three, all halls decorated with pietro dura and patterns in gold and colour and floors paved with marble slabs. The Moti Masjid was added later in 1654 A.D. and is an excellent specimen of the balance and rhythm maintained in Mughal constructions. The Diwan-i-Am (Hall of Public Audience) is an arched pillared durbar hall. A white marble throne, embellished with coloured inlay work stands under a marble canopy. Below the throne is a marble dais inlaid with semi-precious stones. Behind the throne, the wall has beautiful panels of flowers and birds in coloured inlay work.

The Diwan-i-Khas (Hall of Private Audience) is a rectangular central hall with aisles of arches and painted pillars. The four corners of the roof have pillars with chhatris on them. The walls have the famous verses of Amir Khusro which says that If there is paradise on earth it is here

Red Fort, Delhi

Red Fort in World Heritage Monuments of India Images of Red Fort Tomb

Taj Mahal The Taj Mahal in Agra, a dream in white marble was built by Shah Jehan as a memorial to his beloved wife Mumtaz Begum. Built on the banks of the river Jumna, it was started in 1632 A.D. and took 22 years to complete. Marble from Makrana and precious stones from different parts of the world were used in its construction. Planned by Isa, a Persian architect it is a masterpiece of architecture. The Taj is situated in the centre of a high marble terrace. A marble minaret of four storeys stands on each of the four corners of the terrace. The minarets are crowned with domes. The main structure is a square. A huge, vaulted recess with smaller arched recesses in two storeys on either side make up the facade of the building on all sides. An octagonal hall with an exquisite perforated marble screen contains the cenotaphs of Mumtaz and Shah Jehan. The vaulted ceiling is crowned in the centre by a large bulbous dome which tapers off into a foliated crest. Around the dome are four cupolas. The surface of the walls exterior and interior and the cenotaphs are beautifully decorated with

pietra dura, floral and geometrical designs. Borders of inscriptions decorate the main archways. A Mosque on the west and a corresponding structure on the east in red sandstone complete the effect of symmetry. Situated in a large enclosed rectangular garden with fountains, ornamental pools and water-courses, entrance to the Taj is by a majestic gateway.

Taj Mahal, Agra (Picture courtesy Archaeological Survey of India)

Bibi Ka Maqbara Aurangzeb being a puritan did not encourage art in any form. Architecture and fine Arts declined during his reign never to come up again during Mughal rule. One of the very few buildings of this period worth mentioning is the mausoleum

of his wife, Rabia-Ud-Daurani erected in 1679 A.D. in Aurangabad (Deccan) by her son. A poor replica of the Taj Mahal and half its size, it shows the extent to which art had declined. Its noteworthy features are the latticed octagonal white marble screen, which encloses the tombs and the beaten brass doors with floral panels and borders.

Sikh Temples In 1579, Guru Ramdas, the fourth Guru of the Sikhs founded the city of Amritsar in the Punjab. He first constructed a pool and named it Amrit Sar or 'Pool of Nectar' on a stretch of land gifted to him by Akbar. His successor, Guru Arjun Dev built a temple in the middle of the pool to enshrine the Guru Granth Sahib, the sacred book of the Sikhs. In 1803, Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the Ruler of Punjab improved the temple. The lower half of the temple was covered with marble and the upper half with copper over which a pure gold leaf of 400 Kgs was covered. Since then this Hari Mandir is called the Golden Temple. It has four entrances in the four cardinal directions. A marble causeway across the water connects the entrance gateway to the main shrine. Floral patterns of coloured semi-precious stone inlay work , glass work and beautiful fresco paintings decorate the inner walls and ceiling of the temple. The architecture is a combination of Hindu and Muslim styles and lays stress on calmness and serenity. A marble paved square construction adjacent to the Golden Temple is the Akal Takht or Immortal Throne the seat of Sikh religion. The weapons used by the Sikh Gurus are also kept here. The temple with its beautiful domes throwing its reflection in the pool is a piece of grace and beauty. Other important places of worship in Punjab for the Sikhs are the Gurudwara at Taran Taran Sahib designed in Mughal style, the Fatehgarh Sahib at Sirhind where the young sons of Guru Gobind Singh were buried alive by Aurangjeb and the Gurudwara at Anandpur sahib where Guru Gobind Singh initiated the Khalsa. BACK

http://www.preservearticles.com/201104215616/art-and-architecture-of-india-duringmedieval-period.html

The Mughal Architecture: The process of synthesis was completed under the Mughals. Babur and Humayun erected a number of buildings with the help of Persian architects but those were not very impressive. The Mughal architecture began in the reign of Akbar. The first important building of Akbar's reign is Humayun's tomb at Delhi. The two significant features of the Mughal architecture are the large gateways and the placements of the building in the midst of a large park are evident here. Akbar also built forts at Agra and Lahore. The crowning achievement of the reign of Akbar was the building of his new capital at Fatehpur Sikri. The buildings at Fatehpur Sikri have been built in a variety of styles. The arch of the Buland Darwaza is about 41 metres high and is perhaps the most imposing gateway in the world. The tomb of Salim Chishti is built in white marble. The palace of Jodha Bai was built in the style of ancient Indian architecture. During he reign of Jahangir, the mausoleum of Akbar was constructed at Sikandara which was inspired by the Buddhist viharas. After a long time, the minor became architecturally significant here. Shah Jahan was the greatest of the Mughal builders. His reign marks the highest development of Mughal architecture. Some of the finest monuments of our country were built during his time. The list of Shah Jahan's buildings is very large. The most magnificent of Shah Jahan's buildings is the Taj Mahal built in memory of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The only notable buildings of the reign of Aurangzeb are the Badshahi mosque at Lahore and the Moti Masjid at Delhi. The new style of architecture had a significant influence on the construction of Hindu temples and the secular buildings of the Rajputs during this period.

http://www.culturalindia.net/indian-history/shah-jahan.html
Construction of Taj Mahal One of the most significant incidents in the life of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan was the construction of Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. His wife Mumtaz Mahal died while giving birth to their fourteenth child. Shah Jahan decided to build world's most beautiful monument in the memory of his beloved wife. The monument, which is known as the 'Taj Mahal', contains the tombs of both Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan. Taj Mahal, also known as the Epitome of Love, is exceptionally beautiful and has become one of the most visited tourist destinations of India. People from different parts of the world come to India to see this amazing edifice in white. Other Structures Constructed by Shah The following monuments were also constructed by Shah Jahan during his rule: Jahan

Red For Agra Fort (Partly) Jama Masjid (Delhi) Moti Masjid or Pearl Mosque (Lahore) Shalimar Gardens (Lahore) Sections of the Lahore Fort (Lahore) Jahangir Mausoleum Takht-e-Taus Shahjahan Mosque (Thatta) t or Lal Quila (Delh

From great-great grandfather to father, the Mughals had supported the arts, setting the precedent for Shah Jahan. He was fascinated by painting and jewelry,as his father Jahangir had been, and the fine arts flourished under Shah Jahan as they had in no previous reign. According to art historian Milo Beach, "He was well known as a connoisseur of jewels. He had time to dabble in the arts, and was maybe even a jewel carver himself. But clearly his real engagement was with architecture." Like his grandfather, Akbar the Great, Shah Jahan was passionate about architecture. Not content with the hand-me-down buildings in Akbar's Red Fort, he replaced them with resplendent palaces of pure white marble. As soon as the Agra Fort was completed, he moved the Mughal capital from Agra back to the ancient site of Delhi where he built a magnificent new city, owing nothing to his ancestors, yet keeping the long-established legacy of the Delhi throne. (The palaces of Shahjahanabad, now Old Delhi, are also faced entirely in white marble. Consequently, the reign of Shah Jahan is sometimes referred to as the "reign of marble.")

Heir to an empire that spanned the sub-continent and beyond, Shah Jahan was also passionate about dynastic pride and his own celebrity. "Much of his life was spent demonstrating his power," says Beach. "And because jewels were the basis for calculating wealth, for confirming that in fact the Mughals were healthy economically, his power was displayed by means of a very gaudy display of jewelry." To further enhance his image as a preeminent ruler, Shah Jahan set aside the six thrones bequeathed to him by his forebears and commissioned another encrusted with hundreds of diamonds, emeralds, pearls and rubies the famous Peacock throne where he held court surrounded by exquisite silk carpets and cushions under arches of silver inscribed in gold. According to Beach, "In the paintings of Shah Jahan, he's depicted with the coldness of an icon. European accounts of him at the time talk about him, even as a young prince, as being very cold, very disdainful and extremely haughty. He's presented as a symbol of royalty rather than a human being, which separates him enormously from his father and grandfather, who really delighted in a personal revelation of their characters. Shah Jahan absolutely didn't want that. He wanted himself to be seen as the symbol of perfection the perfection of a jewel so carefully crafted and so flawless that there could be no question at all of the vagaries of a human personality." Shah Jahan spent incalculable wealth on his preoccupations: a life of ease, pageantry and pleasure, expeditions to expand his dominion and the creation of his celebrated edifices. Unlike the buildings of Akbar which show such eclectic delight in diversity, Shah Jahan's constructions demonstrate cool confidence in a new order. In his structures, the Hindu and Islamic traditions are not simply mixed but synthesized in a resolved form the balance of inlaid ornamentation and unadorned spaces; the cusped arch, neither Islamic nor Hindu; the simplified columns and brackets created without the rich carvings; the kiosks with Islamic domes typical of the nobility, grace and genius that characterize the constructions of Shah Jahan. For all the beauty of the embellishments used in the Taj Mahal and his other buildings, it is the stylistic unity and harmony of design that is Shah Jahan's greatest accomplishment, providing the finishing touch in the Mughal style of architecture.

Mughal architecture,

building style that flourished in northern and

central India under the patronage of the Mughal emperors from the mid-16th to the late 17th century. The Mughal period marked a striking revival of Islmic architecture in northern India. Under the patronage of the Mughal emperors, Persian, Indian, and various provincial styles were fused to produce works of unusual quality and refinement.

The tomb of the emperor Humyn (begun 1564) at Delhi inaugurated the new style, though it shows strong Persian influences. The first great period of building activity occurred under the emperor Akbar (reigned 15561605) at gra and at the new capital city of Fatehpur Skri, which was founded in 1569. The latter citys Great Mosque (1571; Jmi Masjid), with its monumental Victory Gate (Buland Darzwa), is one of the finest mosques of the Mughal period. The great fort at gra (156574) and the tomb of Akbar at Sikandar, near gra, are other notable structures dating from his reign. Most of these early Mughal buildings use arches only sparingly, relying instead on post and lintel construction. They are built of red sandstone or white marble.

Mughal architecture reached its zenith during the reign of emperor Shh Jahn(162858), its crowning achievement being the magnificent Tj Mahal. This period is marked by a fresh emergence in India of Persian features that had been seen earlier in the tomb of Humyn. The use of the double dome, a recessed archway inside a rectangular fronton, and parklike surroundings are all typical of Shh Jahn period buildings. Symmetry and balance between the parts of a building were always stressed, while the delicacy of detail in Shh Jahn decorative work has seldom been surpassed. White marble was a favoured building material. After the Tj Mahal, the second major undertaking of Shh Jahns reign was the palace-fortress at Delhi, begun in 1638. Among its notable buildings are the red-sandstone-pillared Dvn-e mm (Hall of Public Audience) and the so-called Dvn-e Kh (Hall of Private Audience), which housed the famous Peacock Throne. Outside the citadel is the Great Mosque (165056; Jmi Masjid). The impressive mosque sits on a raised foundation and is approached by a majestic flight of steps, with an immense courtyard in front. The architectural monuments of Shh Jahns successor, Aurangzeb (reigned 1658 1707), represent a distinct decline, though some notable mosques were built before the

beginning of the 18th century. Subsequent works lost the balance and coherence characteristic of mature Mughal architecture.

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