MUGHAL ARCHITECTURE

SHAHJAHAN

SUBMITTED BY- SUBMITTED TO-

AKANSHA AWASTHI PROF. DEVINA AGARWAL
ANURAG VERMA
HIMANSHU VERMA
MAHAK GUPTA
 MUGHAL ARCHITECTURE DURING SAHAJAHAN RULE (A.D. 1627-58)
• With the reign of the emperor Shahjahan the golden era of Mughal
domination was attained, a period which found expression in style of
architecture of exceptional splendour.
• In the sphere of the building art it was an age of marble, this material in its
most refined from taking the place of the sandstone hitherto largely
employed. so that architecture received a new impressiveness during this
regime.
• Marble, specially of the textural quality as that obtained from the quarries
of Markrana in Jodhpur State,
• The developments were the introduction, of pillars with tapering or
baluster shafts, voluted bracket capitals and foliated bases; added to
these were structural ornamental elements of a curvilinear order, the
alteration in the character of the arch, the curves of which were now often
foliated.

FAMOUS BUILDING OF SHAHJAHAN-

• JAMI MASJID, AGRA
• AGRA FORT INTERVENTIONS
• LAHORE FORT INTERVENTIONS
• RED FORT , DELHI
• JAMI MASJID, DELHI
• WAZIR KHAN MOSQUE, LAHORE
• TAJ MAHAL, AGRA
• SHAHJAHANABAD, DELHI
AGRA FORT JAMI MASJID, AGRA
• SALIMAR BAGH, LAHORE

LAHORE FORT RED FORT, DELHI JAMI MASJID, DELHI TAJ MAHAL, AGRA
 JAMI MASJID, AGRA (A.D. 1648)
• The Jami Masjid at Agra erected by ShahJahan in honour
of his daughter Jahanara Begum.
• It measures only 130 feet by 100 feet (less than half the
size of the mosque at Delhi).
• The red sandstone and white marbles are major materials
used in its construction.
• Its arches are of the simple "Tudor" type and not enriched
with foliations. And that its three domes lack height and
suavity of contour, while no tall minarets grace its facade
to carry it upwards and give it elevation.
• The qualities of this mosque are the pleasing distribution
of the arches forming its frontage with the wide intervals
between the slender pinnacles alternating with the kiosks
admirably disposed along its parapets.
• The shape and treatment of its courtyard and the central
fountain and basin in which the kiosks at the angles
repeat those above, such are the principal elements There is something in its well-balanced proportions which seems
which combine to make the Agra Jami Masjid an to enhance its scale thus adding to its distinctive appearance.
interesting and satisfying architectural production.
• All the bulbous domes have inverted
lotus and kalash finials on the top and
have narrow zigzag courses of white
marble alternated by broad bands of red
Kiosks along stone.
parapet • There is a fountain with four kiosks in its
corners in the centre of the courtyard.
Central • Courtyard surrounded by cloisters on
courtyard three of its sides and the prayer chamber
having central
fountain
on its western side. The cloisters have
engrailed arches supported on pillars.
•The Persian inscription in white marble
inlaid with black stone on the archway of
JAMI MASJID, AGRA the central portal is in praise of Jahanara
and Shah Jahan
 AGRA FORT INTERVENTIONS (A.D. 1627)
The main part of the Agra fort was built by Akbar in Red Sandstone, while Emperor Shah Jahan, erected most of the buildings inside the
fortress. The fort is built alongside the Yamuna River and stretches almost 2.5 km.

DIWAN-I-AM (A.D. 1627) -

• The huge assembly hall measuring 201' by 67' has flat roof and
two arched red sandstone gateways to the north and south.
• The façade has an arcade with nine bold arches and the hall is
divided into three aisles.

•Made in marble, this 'jharokha' with a

three-arched opening
•The marble dias below this chamber
was known as 'Baithak'. It used to serve
as the seat for Wazir, who presented
petitions to the emperor.
•The royal ladies could watch the
Three aisles divided by columns having Raised rectangular peacock throne from where ceremonials of the Diwan-i-Am through
arches. emperor addressed the people was ornamented. the marble windows screens.

DIWAN-I-KHAS (A.D. 1635) –

• Diwan-i-Khas had a flat wooden flat ceiling covered
with gold and silver leaves in relief to imitate the rays
of the sun.
• Open on three sides, one can enter it through five
arched openings supported on double columns.
• The Persian inscription inside the interior hall inlaid in
black stone and dated 1636-37 compares the room to
the highest heaven and the emperor to the sun.
• Unlike other architectural example of Shahjahan's Open on three sides, one can enter it through five Carved and inlaid decoration
time, it had no chhatris over the parapet. arched openings supported on double columns
Moti-Masjid (A.D. 1654)-
It stands on ground that slopes from east to west to the
north of Diwan-i-Am complex in Agra Fort.

The marble tank situated centrally in

the court

The sanctuary is roofed with three

domes built of light white marble and
stand on the red sandstone walls.

The courtyard of the Moti Masjid has

side arcades and arched recessions and
the main sanctuary facade beyond. There are a series of Hindu-style domed kiosks along the
parapet
seven bays divided into aisles
which are supported by piers The Moti Masjid boasts of extensive white marble facing, a typical stylistic feature of architecture.
and lobed arches.

Khas Mahal (A.D. 1631-1640) – Nagina Masjid (A.D.1631-1640) Shish Mahal (1630- 1640)

• The Khas Mahal has heavily adorned
ceilings and alcoves in the walls around.
• The interiors of the palace are adorned with
gold work, mural paintings, ornamental
designs and floral designs.
• The prayer chamber is of marble
and has three domes on its top.
• The mosque has a three-arched
façade and supported on slender
piers as its entrance.
•The bath comprises of two chambers, each
about 12m by 7m. The inner chamber has a
marble tank with a fountain and the second
chamber tank in the eastern wall.
• Originally the stucco reliefs were painted
artistically with mirror and gold.
 WAZIR KHAN MOSQUE, LAHORE (A.D. 1634)
• Planned on the usual lines, its various parts surrounding a paved courtyard, although it has
large gateway and four octagonal minarrets.
• The courtyard measures approximately 160 feet by 130 feet, and features high arched galleries
surrounding a central brick paved courtyard - a typical feature of imperial Persian mosques in
Iran.
• The mosque's prayer hall lies at the westernmost portion of the site, and is approximately 130
feet long and 42 feet wide. It is divided into five sections aligned into a single long aisle running
north to south
• The chief attraction of its structure, both inside and out, is enriched with a variegated scheme
of colour either by means of floral patterns painted in tempera, or panels of more conventional
design executed in lustrous glaze.
• So effectually do these modes of decoration, applied in such profusion, dominate the
architectural composition, that it becomes obvious one of the essential principles of the
building art has been ignored, for instead of the ornamentation being sub- ordinated to the
structure, it controls it.
• Everywhere the architect has been so to devise his construction that it may provide spaces or
receptacles for coloured embellishment, while all the wall surfaces are divided up into panels
to contain the same ornamentation.
• Particularly refer to the exterior of the building as here the art of the ti1e-maker was the first
consideration, and the architect worked out his scheme with such an object in view.
• Mouldings, string courses and similar methods of functional emphasis were either only
sparingly introduced or entirely omitted colour and more colour being the keynote of the
style. Wazir Khan Mosque

Bricks facing the mosque's exterior The mosque's courtyard contains a pool used The main prayer hall contains a square The arched niche at the mosque's
are richly embellished with Persian- for the Islamic ritual washing, wudu that pavilion over which the mosque's entrance facing Wazir Khan Chowk is
style tile work known as kashi-kari measures 35 feet by 35 feet. largest dome rests - a Persian form richly decorated with floral motifs.
known as Char Taq
JAMI MASJID, DELHI- 1650
• NEAR TO DELHI FORT BUT AT THE SAME TIME WITHIN THE PRECINCTS OF
THE CITY. THUS PROVIDING A PLACE FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP AND ALSO FOR LOCATION-
HIS OWN CEREMONIAL USE.
• CONGREGATIONAL MOSQUE ON A RAISED FOUNDATION HAS BEEN THE
MEANS OF GIVINGG A DEFINITELY IMPOSING APPEARANCE TO THIS CLASS
OF STRUCTURE.
• IT IS THE LARGEST MOSQUE IN INDIA,DESIGNED BY USTAD KHALIL AND TOOK
OVER SIX YEAR TO BUILT.
• HAS THREE MAIN ENTRANCE GATEWAYS ON EAST, NORTH AND SOUTH WHILE
EASTERN GATE BEING USED FOR ROYAL PEOPLE. EACH SIDE OF GATES HAS
ARCHED OPENINGS.

THE COURTYARD- W
• MEASURES 109.75MX 109.75M
CONTAINS AN ABLUTION TANK IN A
MIDDLE WHICH IS MADE OF MARBLE
AND MEASURES 30.71M X 10.96M. THE
TANK HAS FOUNTAIN IN MIDDLE AND
KIOSKS ON THE CORNERS.
• IN FRONT OF TANK IS A STONE
PLATFORM FOR MUAZZIN (A), SUNDIALS EASTERN GATEWAY SOUTHERN GATE EASTERN GATEWAY
ARE PRESENT IN THE COURTYARD.
• THE COURTYARD IS ENCLOSED BY EASTERN GATE
ARCADED CLOISTERS ON THREE SIDES
AND THE FOURTH SIDE IS THE IBADAT
KHANA OR MOSQUE. • EASTERN GATE IS OCTAGONAL IN PLAN AND SOFFIT OF THE
• WASTE WATER AFTER ABLUTIONS IS ROOF IS DECORATED WITH HONEYCOMB CARVING WITH
TRANSPORTED THROUGH CHANNELS. PARAPET HAVING 19 CUPOLAS. AT EACH CORNERS THERE
ARE OCTAGONAL MARBLE KIOSKS.
• AT THE FOUR CORNERS OF • INNER DIMENSIONS ARE 18.29MX 15.24M AND HEIGHT IS
CLOISTERS THERE ARE CUPOLAS
15.4M. IT HAS LARGE OPENING WITH THREE ARCHWAYS
AND BOTH SIDES OF THE
CLOISTERS HAVE CHAJJA ON THE SIDES. PROJECTED BALCONY ON OTHER SIDE OF
PROJECTED OUTSIDE. GATE IS OF BNGALI INFLUENCE.
• THE BASEMENT WALL IS 9.4 M • SOUTHERN AND NORTHERN GATE ARE ALIKE BUT SMALLER
HIGH AND IS ADORNED WITH IN SIZE AND THE BACK FACADES OF THESE GATES ARE
FALSE ARCHES TO GIVE A MORE SMALLER THAN FRONT FACADES.
STATELY APPEARANCE.
THE IBADATKHANA-
• AREAA OF MOSQUE I.E. 79.5M X 27.4M IS COMPARATIVELY LESS PROPORTIONATE TO THE WHOLE
BUILDING.
• CONSISTS OF 8 STEP HIGH MAQSURA SCREEN ON THE ENTRANCE. THERE ARE FIVE ARCHED
OPENINGS ON EITHER SIDE OF MAIN SANCTUARY.
• MAIN ENTRANCE TO THE SHRINE IS THROUGH AN ACHWAY. THE MAIN ARCH IS FLANKED BY
MINARETS SURMOUNTED BY OCTAGONAL CUPOLAS.
• ABOVE FIVE ARCHED OPENINGS ON EITHER SIDE OF SANCTUARY , PANELS OF WHITE MARBELS ARE
INLAIS IN BRICK SLATE WITH INSCRIPTIONS.
• THE MAIN SHRINE IS DEVIDED INTO TWO HALLS, ONE ADJOINING ITS MAIN ENTRANCE HALL AND
THE OTHER ITS INTERIOR PORTION. THESE ARE DEVIDED I NTO SEVEN BAYS OF ORNAMENTAL
PILLARS.
• ONE GREAT HALL DIVIDED INTO AISLES BY MASSIVE PIERS SUPPORTING ENGRAILED ARCHES, AND
THERE ARE ELEGANT ARCHED MIHRABS SUNK IN THE WEST WALL OF EACH BAY; THIS ARCHED
THE IBADATKHANA
EFFECT IS CONTINUED IN THE SURFACE DECORATION AS PANELS CONTAINING ORNAMENTAL
CUSPED AND FOLIATED ARCHES ARE THE LEADING MOTIF ON THE WALLS, PIERS AND PAVEMENT.
• THERE IS PULPIT NEAR CENTRAL MIHRAB AND CAN BE REACHED BY FOUR FLIGHT OF STEPS MADE
OUT OF ONE PIECE OF MARBLE.
• THE FLOOR OF MOSQUE IS DECORATED WITH WHITE MARBLES WITH BORDER OF BLACK MARBLES.
THE DOMES –
• OVER THE WHOLE MASS OF SANCTUARY RISE THREE LARGE BULBOUS
DOMES OF WHITE MARBLE.
• THE DOMES HAVE SUFFICIENT SPACE BETWEEN INNER AND OUTER
SURFACES. THIS SPACE KEEPS THE INTERIOR COOL AS WELL AS PROVIDES A
BETTER APPEARANCE. PULPIT NEAR CENTRAL
8 STEP HIGH MAQSURA SCREEN
• THE DOMES ARE FLUTED AND HAVE A COPPER GILT FINIAL ON MIHRAB
THEM.IT IS SUPPORTED BY SQUINCHES WHICH ALSO SERVES AS
DECORATIVE ELEMENT.
MATERIAL USED-
BUILT IN STONE MASONRY AND CLADDING IS DONE MOSTLY IN RED
• THE SQUARE MASS BELOW IS UNITED WITH THE CIRCULAR BASE OF TH
SANDSTONE.
DOME ABOVE.
DOORS ARE MADE OF WOOD AND ARE ORNAMENTED WITH COPPER.
FLUTED DOME WITH COPPER • THE DOME IS SUPPORTED BY SQUINCHES WHICH ALSO ACT AS
MARBLE IS USED FOR ORNAMENTATION OF MOSQUE.
FINIAL DECORATIVE ELEMENT.
THE MINRETS-
• THE MINARETS ARE 40M HIGH OCTAGONAL IN
PLAN AND CONSIST OF THREE STORIES. EACH
STOREY IS BISCTED BY A PROJECTING GALLERY
WITH BALUSTRADE PARAPET AROUND IT.
• WINDING STEP LEAD TO THE TOP OF THE
MINARETS. THERE IS A CUPOLA ON THE TOP OF
THE MINARETS AND SMALL OPENINGS ARE
DOME IS SUPPORTED BY CIRCULAR BASE OF THE MADE FOR ADMITTING LIGHT.
SQUINCHES STEPS OF MINARET MINARET THE LOTUS MOTIF
DOME
RED FORT, DELHI LOCATION
• THE RED FORT WAS THE RESIDENCE OF THE MUGHAL EMPEROR FOR NEARLY 200 YEARS, UNTIL 1857. IT IS LOCATED IN THE CENTER OF
DELHI. IN ADDITION TO ACCOMMODATING THE EMPERORS AND THEIR HOUSEHOLDS, IT WAS THE CEREMONIAL AND POLITICAL
CENTRE OF MUGHAL GOVERNMENT
• CONSTRUCTED IN 1648 BY THE FIFTH MUGHAL EMPEROR SHAH JAHAN AS THE PALACE OF HIS FORTIFIED CAPITAL SHAHJAHANABAD,
THE RED FORT IS NAMED FOR ITS MASSIVE ENCLOSING WALLS OF RED SANDSTONE AND IS ADJACENT TO THE OLDER SALIMGARH
FORT, BUILT BY ISLAM SHAH SURI IN 1546. THE IMPERIAL APARTMENTS CONSIST OF A ROW OF PAVILIONS, CONNECTED BY A WATER
CHANNEL KNOWN AS THE STREAM OF PARADISE (NAHR-I-BIHISHT).

PLAN-
• THE FORT OF DELHI IN PLAN APPROXIMATES AN OBLONG 3100 FEET LONG AND 165O FEET IN WIDTH AND IS ALIGNED FROM
NORTH TO SOUTH
• THIS PARALLELOGRAM AT DELHI IS ENCLOSED WITHIN A HIGH AND STRONGLY FORTIFIED WALL IN WHICH THERE ARE TWO MAIN
GATEWAYS, ONE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LONG SIDE ON THE WEST AND ANOTHER ON THE SOUTH SIDE, THE FORMER BEING THE
PRINCIPAL AND CEREMONIAL ENTRANCE, WHILE THE LATTER IS FOR MORE PRIVATE USE.
• FROM THESE GATEWAYS TWO THOROUGHFARES INTO THE FORT INTERIOR, INTERSECTING ONE ANOTHER AT RIGHT ANGLES
TOWARDS THE CENTER OF THE COMPOSITION.
• THE MAIN APPROACH FROM THE WESTERN ENTRANCE, OR LAHORE GATE, TAKING THE FORM OF A BROAD VAULTED ARCADE, A
MOST IMPOSING INTRODUCTION TO THE INNER PRECINCTS.

A- LAHORE GATE
B- DELHI GATE
C- NAKAR KHANA
D- DIWAN- I- AAM
E- DIWAN-I- KHAS
F- HAMMAM
G- MOTI MASJID
H- RANG MAHAL
I- MEHTAB BAGH

• THE PALACE ENCLOSURE WHICH IS NEARLY SYMMETRICAL IN ITS ARRANGEMENTS

RESOLVES ITSELF INTO FOUR PARTS, (I) A LARGE CENTRAL QUADRANGLE CONTAINING
THE DIWANI-AM OR HALL OF PUBLIC AUDIENCE; ON EACH SIDE OF THIS ARE (2) AND (3)
CONSISTING OF TWO SQUARE OPEN SPACES DESIGNED IN THE FORM OF ORNAMENTAL
GARDENS AND COURTYARDS, WHILE (4) IS THE RANGE OF MARBLE PALACES, ONE SIDE
FACING THE GARDENS AND THE OTHER COMMANDING AN OPEN VIEW OF THE RIVER.
• THE RED FORT COVERS A TOTAL AREA OF ABOUT 254.6 ACRES ENCLOSED WITHIN 2.4KM OF
DEFENCE WALLS.THESE WALLS ARE PUNCTURED BY TURRETS AND BASTIONS.THE FORT IS
SHAPED LIKE AN OCTAGON WITH NORTH - SOUTH AXIS LONGER THAN EAST-WEST AXIS.
• THE LAHORE GATE AND DELHI GATE WAS FOR GENERAL PUBLIC WHEREAS THE KHIZRABAD
GATE WAS FOR EMPERORS PERSONAL USE. THE LAHORE GATE IS THE MAIN GATE TO
ENTRANCE TO RED FORT AND IS NAMED AFTER ITS ORIENTATIO N TO LAHORE.

PLAN OF AGRA FORT

DIWAN- I- AAM-
• KNOWN AS DIWAN-I-AAM OR THE HALL OF PUBLIC AUDIENCE WITH EMPEROR’S SEAT IN A
CANOPIED ALCOVE.THE HALL WASS ORNAMENTED WITH STUCCO WORK AND FEATURED A
SERIES OF GOLD COLUMNS.
• WITH AN IMPRESSIVE FAÇADE OF NINE ENGRAVED ARCH OPENINGS, THE HALL WAS
ORNAMENTED WITH GILDED AND WHITE SHELL LIME CHUNAM PLASTER WORK. ITS
CEILING AND COLUMNS WERE PAINTED WITH GOLD.
• THE INNER MAIN COURT CONSISTS OF A FRONT HALL, OPEN ON THREE SIDES AND BACKED
BY A SET OF ROOMS FACED IN RED SANDSTONE. THE HALL IS 100 FT X 60 FT AND DIVIDED
INTO 27 SQUARE BAYS ON A SYSTEM OF COLUMNS WHICH SUPPORT THE ARCHES. THE
ROOF IS SPANNED BY SANDSTONE BEAMS ENGRAVED ARCH OPENINGS EMPEROR’S SEAT
• IN THE CENTRE OF THE EASTERN WALL STANDS A MARBLE CANOPY (JHAROKHA) COVERED THE EMPEROR WAS SEPARATED FROM THE COURTIERS BY A GOLD-PLATED RAILING, WHILE A SILVER
BY A "BENGAL" ROOF. A MARBLE DAIS BELOW THE THRONE, INLAID WITH SEMI-PRECIOUS RAILING RAN AROUND THE REMAINING THREE SIDES OF THE HALL. THE AUDIENCE CEREMONY IS KNOWN
STONES, WAS USED BY THE PRIME MINISTER (WAZIR) TO RECEIVE PETITIONS. AS JHAROKHA DARSHAN.
THE DIWAN-I-KHAS, OR HALL OF PRIVATE AUDIENCES- BEHIND THE CANOPY, THE WALL IS DECORATED WITH PANELS INLAID WITH MULTI-COLOURED PIETRA
DURA STONES.
• THE PLACE WHERE THE MUGHAL EMPEROR RECEIVED COURTIERS AND STATE GUESTS. IT WAS RANGMAHAL-
ALSO KNOWN AS THE SHAH MAHAL.
• THE LARGE HALL 90 FEET BY 67 FEET AND ITS FACADE CONSISTS OF AN ARCADE OF FIVE • IN PLAN THE DIMENSIONS OF THE RANG MAHALL ARE 153 FEET BY 6G FEET AND IT CONSISTS OF A
EQUAL ARCHES WITH OTHERS OF VARYING SIZES SKILFULLY DISPOSED ON ITS SHORTER SIDES, MAIN CENTRAL HALL WITH SMALLER COMPARTMENTS AT EACH END.
THUS PROVIDING A COOL AND AIRY INTERIOR. • THIS CENTRAL HALL IS DIVIDED UP INTO FIFTEEN BAYS EACH TWENTY FEET SQUARE BY MEANS OF
• ORIGINALLY THERE WERE TWO ENCLOSURES ON THE WEST OF THE HALL, ONE FOR THE ORNAMENTAL PIERS, THE GENERAL EFFECT BEING THAT OF A PAVILION OR LOGGIA OF ELEGANT
NOBLES AND THE OTHER FOR THOSE OF A LOWER RANK. THESE ARCADED COURTS WERE PROPORTIONS WITH ALL ITS PARTS ADMIRABLY SPACED.
DESTROYED AFTER THE INDIAN REBELLION OF 1857. • THIS PALACE WAS ORIGINALLY PAINTED ON THE INTERIOR IT HAS TINY PIECES OF MIRRORS EMBEDDED
• IT MEASURES 90 X 67 FEET AND CONSISTS OF A RECTANGULAR CENTRAL CHAMBER, INTO ITS WALL AND CEILING CREATING A PICTURESQUE EFFECT HENCE, THESE APARTMENTS WERE ALSO
SURROUNDED BY A SERIES OF ARCHES RISING FROM MARBLE PIERS. THE LOWER PARTS OF KNOWN AS SHEESH MAHAL (HOUSE OF MIRRORS) ITS CEILING WAS OVERLAID WITH GOLD AND SILVER
THE PIERS ARE INLAID WITH FLORAL DESIGNS, WHILE THE UPPER PORTIONS ARE PAINTED WHICH USED TO REFLECT IN THE CENTRAL POOL
AND GILDED. THE FOUR CORNERS OF THE ROOF ARE SURMOUNTED BY PILLARED CHHATRI. • ORIGINALLY ITS EXTERIOR ARCHES APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN FILLED IN WITH PERFORATED MARBLE
SCREENS. AND THERE WERE TRIPLE ARCHES OF LATTICE WORK PLACED ACROSS THE CENTRE OF EACH
SIDE, SO THAT ITS PRIVACY WAS COMPLETE.
PILLARED CHHATRI • IT CONSISTS 0F A SHALLOW MARBLE BASIN SUNK IN THE PAVEMENT AND OCCUPYING THE ENTIRE
• THE CEILING, WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY MIDDLE, BAY OF TWENTY SQUARE FEET SIDE, THE PERFUMED WATER BUBBLING UP OUT OF A SILVER
INLAID WITH SILVER AND GOLD AND LOTUS FLOWER ON A SLENDER STEM RISING FROM THE CENTRE.
PEACOCK THRONE ONCE STOOD IN THIS • THE DESIGN OF THE BASIN ALSO REPRESENTS A LARGE LOTUS-FORM OF DELICATELY MODELLED
HALL, TOWARDS THE EAST SIDE. THROUGH PETALS CONTAINED WITHIN A SQUARE BORDERED FRAME.
THE CENTRE OF THE HALL FLOWED THE
STREAM OF PARADISE (NAHR-I-BIHISHT).
• THE SIDE WHICH USED TO FACE RIVER
YAMUNA IS ENGRAILED WITH ELEGANTLY
THE SHAH MAHAL CARVED JALIS (LATTICEWORK) THAT HELPED
IN VENTILATION. A RED CLOTH WAS USED
TO COVER THE WHOLE PLACE WHEN THE
PRIVATE MEETINGS WERE HELD.
• THE FOUR CORNERS OF ITS ROOF ARE
SURROUNDED BY PILLARED CHHATRIS.
OVER THE CORNER ARCHES OF THE
NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN WALLS BELOW
THE CORNICE IS INSCRIBED THE FAMOUS
VERSE OF AMIR KHUSRAW EXCLAIMING ‘IF
THERE BE A PARADISE ON THE EARTH, IT IS
THIS, IT IS THIS, IT IS THIS’.
DIWAN E KHAS INTERIOR
SHAHJAHANABAD-
• IN 1636 A.D. SHAHJAHAN DECIDED TO SHIFT HIS CAPITAL FROM AGRA TO DELHI AND FOUNDED THE CITY
OF SHAHJAHANABAD ON THE BANK OF YAMUNA.
• THE RED FORT, JAMA MASJID, CHANDNI CHOWK ARE ALL PARTS OF SHAHJAHANABAD OR OLD DELHI.
• THE CITY WAS SURROUNDED BY ENCLOSING WALL OF APPROXIMATELY 1500 ACRES AND HAD SEVERAL
GATES LIKE:
1. NIGAMBODH GATE
2. KASHMIRI GATE
3. MORI GATE
4. KABULI GATE
5. LAHORI GATE
6. AJMERI GATE
7. TURKMAN GATE
8. DELHI GATE
• THE CITY WAS PLANNED ACCORDING TO HINDU PLANNING PRINCIPLES OF VASTU SHASTRA.
• THE SITE WAS PLACED ON HIGH LAND AND WAS KARMUKHA OR BOW SHAPED TO ENSURE PROSPERITY.
THE ARM OF ARCHER WAS CHANDNI CHOWK.
• THE JUNCTION OF THE AXES WAS AT THE RED FORT AND THERE WAS INFLUENCE OF PERSIAN
ARCHITECTURE IN TOWN PLANNING, LARGELY ACCOUNTING FOR THE FORMALISM AND SYMMETRY OF
PALACES AND GARDENS. PLAN OF SHAHJAHANABAD

BOW SHAPED CITY BUILDINGS ON JUNCTION OF MAJOR ROUTES

• THE DESIGNED STRUCTURE OF SHAHJAHANABAD COMPRISED THE RED FORT, JAMA MASJID, BAZAARS
AROUND JAMA MASJID, THE SYSTEM OF WATER CHANNELS, TWO BOULEVARDS, MAJOR GARDENS
AND CITY WALL.
• FROM LAHORE GATE RAN A BROAD AVENUE WITH A COVERED ARCADE DESIGNED AND PAID FOR BY
JAHAN ARA- THAT HOUSED OVER 1500 SHOPS PRESENTLY KNOWN AS CHATTA BAZAR.
• THE MAJOR STREETS WERE DESIGNED WIDE AND STRAIGHT. THE EAST WEST STREET CALLED
CHANDNI CHOWK CONNECTED THE LAHORI DARWAZA OF RED FORT TO LAHORI DARWAZA OF CITY
WALL.
• IT RAN IN A STRAIGHT LINE FORMING A WIDE BOULEVARD WITH BROAD VISTA. THE FORT WAS
VISIBLE FROM ANY PLACE OF THE STREET.
• CHANDNI CHOWK IS 14KM IN LENGTH AND JOGGED RIGHT AT THE FATEHPURI BEGUM MOSQUE. IT
WAS BUILT AS THE CENTRAL AXIS OF THE CITY
• ANOTHER MAJOR STREET WAS THE FAIZ BAZAAR . IT HAD NORTH SOUTH AXIS AND CONNECTED
DELHI GATE OF FORT TO THE DELHI GATE OF CITY WALL.
• THESE MAJOR STREETS DEVELOPED AS PROCESSIONAL ROUTES, AS WELL AS COMMERCIAL ROUTES.
THE STREETS ALSO ASSUMED IMPORTANCE FOR RITUALS AND OTHER EVENTS.
AREIAL VIEW OF SHAHJAHANABAD
• THE URBAN COMMUNITY AND THE MUGHAL CAPITAL WAS FORMED BY
DISTRICTS KNOWN AS MAHALLAS AND KATRAS.
• THESE UNITS DEFINED THE CULTURAL AS WELL AS SOCIO- ECONOMIC
ACTIVITIES. THERE WERE 36 MAHALLAS IN SHAHJAHANABAD AND EACH
HAD AN ENCLOSED SPACE CREATED BETWEEN RESIDENTIAL AND
COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS HAVING ENTRANCE TO THE MAHALLA.
• THESE COURTYARDS ACTED AS MAIN VENTILATION SHAFTS IN THE HOT AND
ARID CLIMATE. THE PLANNING OF RESIDENTIAL AREAS WERE NOT DONE
KEEPING IN MIND THE SOCIAL UNITS.
THANK YOU