Islamic

Architecture
Formation and development
Geographical condition – desert tribe – one faith – adopted different style – Arabia,Egypt,
Persia, Syria, Palestine, Spain, Pakistan and Northern India

Reason for Muslim conquest – wealth of nation and spread of Islam

1101 – 1127 Mohammad Ghouri – slave lieutenant Qutb-ud-din Aibak – governor of Delhi

Slave dynasty
Khilji
Tughlaq
Sayyid

Other factors that lead to the development of Islamic architecture (explanation in video)
Geological : availability of building materials
Climatic conditions
Religious conditions
Social conditions

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

Evolution of Indo Islamic architecture

In the 7th and 8th centuries CE, Islam spread towards Spain and India.
Islam came to India particularly with merchants, traders, holy men and conquerors over a passage of 600 years.

Although by the 8th century Muslims had begun to construct in Sindh, Gujarat, etc., it was only in the
13th century that large-scale building activity was begun by the Turkish state, established after the Turkish
conquest of the North India.

A noteworthy aspect of these migrations and conquests was that Muslims absorbed many features of local
culture and tradition and combined them with their own architectural features.

Thus, in the field of architecture, a mix of many structural techniques, stylized shapes, and surface decorations
came about through constant interventions of acceptance, rejections or modifications of architectural elements.

These architectural entities or categories showcasing multiple styles are known as Indo-Islamic Architecture.
By the 12th century, India was already familiar with monumental construction

Certain techniques and embellishments were prevalent and popular, such as trabeation (the use of beam rather
than arches or vaulting), brackets, and multiple pillars to support a flat roof or a small shallow dome.

The arches in early constructions were shaped in wood and stone, and were unable to bear the weight of the
domes/top structures.

Such arches needed to be constructed with voussoirs (series of interlocking blocks) and fitted with keystones.

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

Factors responsible for brilliant display of Islamic architecture in India

Late development - Before its introduction in India the style has passed through various
stages in other countries – structural difficulties has been overcome and parts of the
building was establishes according to the needs

Skilled indigenous craftsmen – knowledge and skilled Indian craftsmen particularly in the
art of working with stone – Perfection achieved through years of experience in building
temple

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

Types of structure
Mosque : Jama Masjid

Tombs : Taj Mahal

Fort : Red fort

Garden : Shalimar Garden

Gateways : Alai Darwaza

Waterscape : Hauz Khan

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

Mosque architecture
The mosque, masjid in Arabic, is the Muslim gathering place for prayer. Masjid simply means “place of
prostration.”

Though most of the five daily prayers prescribed in Islam can take place anywhere, all men are
required to gather together at the mosque for the Friday noon prayer.

Mosques are also used throughout the week for prayer, study, or simply as a place for rest and
reflection.
The main mosque of a city, used for the Friday communal prayer, is called a jami masjid, literally
meaning “Friday mosque,” but it is also sometimes called a congregational mosque in English.

The style, layout, and decoration of a mosque can tell us a lot about Islam in general, but also about the
period and region in which the mosque was constructed

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

Mosque architecture
The mosque, masjid in Arabic, is the Muslim gathering place for prayer. Masjid simply means “place of
prostration.”

Though most of the five daily prayers prescribed in Islam can take place anywhere, all men are
required to gather together at the mosque for the Friday noon prayer.

Mosques are also used throughout the week for prayer, study, or simply as a place for rest and
reflection.
The main mosque of a city, used for the Friday communal prayer, is called a jami masjid, literally
meaning “Friday mosque,” but it is also sometimes called a congregational mosque in English.

The style, layout, and decoration of a mosque can tell us a lot about Islam in general, but also about the
period and region in which the mosque was constructed

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

Mosque architecture

The home of the Prophet Muhammad

is considered the first mosque.

His house, in Medina in modern-day

Saudi Arabia, was a typical 7th-century
Arabian style house, with a large
courtyard surrounded by long rooms
supported by columns.

This style of mosque came to be

known as a hypostyle mosque,
meaning “many columns.”

Contrary to Hindu Architecture – temples

Islamic Architecture – 2 divisions

Religious – Mosque and Tombs Diagram reconstruction of the Prophet's House, Medina
Secular – Houses, Pavillions, Gateways

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

Mosque architecture
Features of mosque
Ibadat Khana
Iwan
Aiywan
Liwan
Mihrab
Minbar
Wuzu Khana
Sahn
Minaret

Structural elements
Arches Dome and Squinches

Decorative elements
Muqarana
Geometrical design – Arabesque - Calligraphy

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

•The walls in all buildings were extremely thick and were largely constructed of rubble masonry, which were easily available.
•These walls were then cased over with chunam or limestone plaster or dressed stone. An amazing ranges of stones were
utilized for construction such as quartzite, sandstone, buffs, marbles, etc.
•Polychrome tiles were used to great advantage to finish the walls.
•From the 17th century onwards, bricks were also used for construction and in this phase there was more reliance on local
materials.
History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad
Iwan

An iwan is a rectangular hall or space,

usually vaulted, walled on three sides,
with one end entirely open

The iwan developed in pre-Islamic Iran

where it was used in monumental and
imperial architecture.

Strongly associated with Persian

architecture

It is decorated beautifully with mosaic,

glazed tiles, calligraphy, etc

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

Sahn

This is a centarl space of the mosque

which is open to sky and surrounded
by cloisters/alcoves on north and
south side

It has prayer/sanctury hall on western

side

This area is used by the worshippers

during the congregational prayer
when large space is required

It can also contain an ablution area in

the centre

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

Wudu / Wuzu Khana / Ablution
space

Wudu is an important part of ritual

purity in Islam

Procedure for cleansing parts of the

body, a type of ritual purification, or
ablution

Wudu consists of washing the face,

arms, then wiping the head and finally
washing the feet with water

It can be either located in the

courtyard or in a different space called
as Wuzu Khana

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

Liwan (Cloistures)

The central courtyard is enclosed by

pillared corridors on three sides

One can go towards the sanctuary

through liwan

These cloistures are used as madrasa

(classrooms to teach Islam) or for the
worshippers to take shelters during
rain

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

Aiwan (Sanctuary Hall)

Corridor towards Mecca is expanded as

the main port with separate
compartment for ladies

Prayer hall is built which may be having

three or five arched openings.

This hall is called sanctuary with a wall

at the back containing recess called
Mihrab

Dome is provided on top of the

sanctuary

Sanctuary of Qiwat ul Islam mosque

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

Mihrab and Minbar

Mihrab : is a semicircular niche in the wall

of a mosque that indicates the qibla, that is,
the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca and
hence the direction that Muslims should
face when praying

In India, it is west and Egypt it is east

Usually decorated with ornamental detail

that can be geometric designs, linear
patterns, or calligraphy

Minbar - is the pulpit in a mosque, placed

next to the mihrab. It is the pulpit from
which the sermon (khutbah) is delivered. In
its simplest form the minbar is a platform
with three or more steps

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

Minaret

Minaret is a type of tower typically

built into or adjacent to mosques

While they provide a visual focal point,

they are generally used for the Muslim
call to prayer

The basic form of a minaret includes a

base, shaft, a cap and head

They are generally a tall spire with a

conical or onion-shaped crown

Minarets also work as air-conditioning

mechanism

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

Arch

Arch is an important element of

the building because it helps in
transferring the load of the wall
above it

There are different shape of the

arches adopted during different
times

Two centred arches – pointed

arches
Four centred arches – Tudor arch
Ogee arch

Task : drafting different types of

arches referring the geometrical
specifications from Google
History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad
History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad
Dome

a rounded vault forming the roof

of a building or structure,
typically with a circular base

Mostly in the case of Mosques,

domes are single but in tombs
there will be double dome

Built in brick and stone

Plastered surface
Intricate geometric decoration

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

Squinches

This is an architecture device and is

created by eliminating the upper
corners of a room for the
transitional phase of making dome
on the terrace

The erection of squinches serves

two purposes:
firstly it converts the uppers portion
of a square room into an octagonal
secondly it gives a beautiful look at
the corners gradually reducing
downward from the spherical soffit.

This is a typical persian element

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

Squinches

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

Stalactite or Muqarana design

In Arabic and Persian, stalactite is

known as muqarnas a honey comb
motif constituting a group of small
arched cells one on the other
reducing its position downward

In Greek stalactite means deposit of

calcium carbonate

This design is adopted to fill up the

space at squinches to give more
support to the upper portion

As per historical evidences, first time

in india this designed was created
below the balconies of the Qutab
minar

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

Geometrical design

The monuments especially of Mughal

period have been decorated with
geometrical designs (square, circle,
stars, etc) on the drum of dome,
façade, spandrels as well as on the
flooring

Arabesque

Is known as ‘tauriq’ in arab which

means foliage

This is a purely islamic from of

decoration which means interlacing
stems, lines. The lines are flat or
curved, pointed and smooth but
never isolated
History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad
Calligraphy

Islamic calligraphy is the artistic practice

of handwriting and calligraphy, based
upon the alphabet in the lands sharing a
common Islamic cultural heritage

The inscriptions are written in Arabic and

Persian language by using different script

Mosaic

Mosaic is a specialized art of decoration

where the pieces of different material
such as glass, glazed tiles, semi-precious
stone, etc, in different colors are fitted in
block or stab of stone/marble on the
sketched design with their face
downwards and then so that it could fill all
empty places
wall decoration; geometrical design for
this colored marble mosaic on the Taj
Mahal walls
History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad
Revival of Islamic features to present day contemporary architecture
Ibadat Khana – Prayer hall

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

Ibadat Khana – Prayer hall

Bait ur Rof mosque, Bangladesh

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

Mihrab – Empty arch indicating direction of Mecca

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

Mihrab – Empty arch or a niche indicating direction of Mecca

Al – Irsyad mosque, Indonesia

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

Minbar – Raised platform to give sermons

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

Minbar – Raised platform to give sermons

Al – Irsyad mosque, Indonesia

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad
Minbar – Raised platform to give sermons

Chanda gaon mosque, Bangladesh

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

Wuzu Khana – Ritual washing

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

Wuzu Khana – Ritual washing

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

Sahn– Courtyard with fountain and abolution area

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

Minaret– Tower attached to mosque – olden times to call for
prayer

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

Minaret– Tower attached to mosque – olden times to call for
prayer

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

Minaret– Tower attached to mosque – olden times to call for
prayer

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

Minaret– Tower attached to mosque – olden times to call for
prayer

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

Geometric pattern and calligraphy

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

Jama masjid, Ahmedabad Jama masjid, Gulbarga

Jama masjid, Delhi Jama masjid, Mandu

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad
Tomb architecture

Monumental structures over graves of rulers and royalty was a popular feature of medieval
India.

Some well known examples of such tombs are those of Ghyasuddin Tughlaq, Humayun,
Adur Rahim Khan-i-Khanan, Akbar

The idea behind the tomb was eternal paradise as a reward for the true believer on the Day
of Judgment. This leads to the paradisiacal imagery for tombs.

Beginning with the introduction of Quranic verses on the walls, the tomb was subsequently
placed with paradisiacal elements such as garden or near a water body or both, as in the
case of Taj Mahal.

They were not only intended to signify peace and happiness in the next world, but also to
showcase the majesty, grandeur and might of the person buried there.

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

In the course of time the tombs introduced itself
into the landscape.
The tomb (qabristan) consists of :

Huzrah, Estanah – single compartement k/aTomb

chamber

Cenotaph – located centre of the tomb. A raised

structure with no body buried inside

Maqbara – Mortuary chamber – in the groud

underneath the building resembling a crypt with
grave

Qabr – Grave

Mihrab – similar to mosque, a mihrab is located on

the west

Some of the larger mousoleum also had mosque

next to it and this whole set up is called as Rauza

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

Tomb of Shams-ud-din Altumush, Delhi Taj Mahal, Agra

Gol Gumbaz, Bijapur Itmad-ud-Daula Tomb, Agra

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

The architecture produced may be resolved into three main divisions

Imperial or Delhi Provincial Mughal

Slave Dynasty (in syllabus) Punjab Babur

Khilji Dynasty Bengal Humayan
Tughlaq Dynasty (in syllabus) Jaunpur Akbar
Sayyad Dynasty Gujarat Jahangir
Lodhi Dynasty (in syllabus) Malwa Shah Jahan
Bijapur
Golconda

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

Islamic architecture in India can be broadly classified into two phases: The Delhi Sultanate Phase (Pre-Mughal
Phase) and the Mughal Phase.

Due to the contrasting natures of the political setups of the two stages in Islamic history in India, two distinct
styles of architecture developed under the two phases.

The formative phase of Islamic architecture in India can be said to fall under the Delhi Sultanate phase. The
nature of this state, wherein the ruler in Delhi was loosely in control of a federal system of vassal states, often at
war with each other and even with the rulers in Delhi themselves meant that each area in India developed its
own distinct provincial style.

The Mughal Empire was much more centralized, and therefore, under the Mughals a more unified, national
architectural style developed. Also, due to the stability and wealth of the Mughal empire, Islamic architecture in
India reached its zenith during this period.

The various styles and their correlations can be understood from the following diagram

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

Political map of India during sultanate period

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

Slave Dynasty (1206 – 90)
The first dynasty k/a the slave kings of Delhi. This name has been given to its members who were not
born of royal blood but belonged to a system of slavery where no social stigma was attached to it

Mohammed Ghauri’s slave, Qutb-udin-Aibak was appointed as the governor of his possessions in India in
AD 1191, was the first ruler of this dynasty

He was eventually confined to being a purely Indian sovereign. He died in 1210 as a result of polo
accident and the crown was passed to his son in law Shams-Ud-Din Iltumish

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

The Qutb Complex
Lal Kot – Qila Rai Pithora

•The Qutb complex was built by

Qutb Ud-Din Aibak (1206 -
1211) who established the first
Islamic sultanate in the Indian
subcontinent in Delhi in 1192.

•It is located within the citadel

of Qal'a-e-Rai Pithora (Qila Rai
Pithora) city built by Prithviraj
Chauhan.

•It is also known as Quwwat ul

Islam, meaning the 'might of
Islam,' the Qutub complex was
created with the dismantling
and reassembling of the 27
existing Hindu and Jain temples
on the site.

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad
The Qutb Complex
•Qutub complex consists of a
mosque and two minarets
enclosed within a series of
cloistered precincts

•It was entered via four

monumental gates along the
north, east and south walls,
of which only the southern
gate (Alai Darwaza) remains.

•The mosque, known as the

Qutb or Quwwat ul Islam
Mosque, occupies the
southwest corner of the
complex.

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad
the carvings that relate to their former use: depictions of hanging bells, overflowing pots, the mask-
like kirtimukha or “face of fortune”, abundant foliage and even, in a few cases, figures of human form
History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad
Brahmanical motifs like Kalasa and Lotus on pillars

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

Depiction of hindu architectural motifs

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

Screen (Maqsura)
In 1199, a screen of an arched facade was added across the front of the sanctuary.
The screen is a wall of masonry 50' high at the centre, 108' wide and 81/2' thick.
The screen is pierced by 5 arches, the central arch 45' high and 22' in span and two smaller ones on each side, each
25' high.
Each smaller arch had a clerestory above it, mainly for decorative purposes as it did not serve in any way the
sanctuary behind it.
The facade is embroidered with carvings of floral devices and Quranic verses.
The arches are not true arches but built by corbelling, hence we know they were built by local workmen acting on
verbal instructions from a Muslim clerk of works.

Sanctuary
The western part of the cloister was the sanctuary.
The arrangement of the pillars was made more spacious and resolved into a series of bays with shallow domed roofs.

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

The idea seems to have been that inserting a row of pointed arches across the western
side, towards which the devout faced while at prayer, would make the whole thing look
less like a temple and more like a mosque. The arches are composed not of voussoirs
(wedge-shaped pieces arranged like a fan) but of horizontal layers of stone, carved into
shape.

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

The Iron Pillar
•The Iron Pillar dates back to the 4th century
BC.

• It bears inscriptions that dedicate it as a

flagstaff to honor the Hindu god Vishnu and
in memory of Gupta king Chandragupta II
(375- 413 AD).

• The pillar is a symbol of the progress of

metallurgy in ancient India.

• It is made of 98 percent wrought iron and

has survived 1,600 years without rusting.

•The pillar was cast in its present form not

forged.

•Length 7.5m of which 1m is underground.

• Garuda idol at top missing.

•The pillar stimulated the idea of a taller

minar
History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad
Qutb Minar
•Qutb Minar (Also called Qutub or Qutab, is
the tallest minar (73 metres) in India
originally an ancient Islamic Monument,
inscribed with Arabic inscriptions, and is
a UNESCO World Heritage site.

• Qutb Minar is made of red sandstone and

marble.
•The stairs of the tower has 379 steps,is 72.5
metres (237.8 ft) high, and has a base
diameter of 14 metres, which narrows to 3
metres at the top.

• Construction was started in 1192 by Qutb-

ud-din Aibak and was carried on by his
successor, Iltutmish.

• In 1368, Firoz Shah Tughlak constructed the

fifth and the last storey

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

•Storeys

•Each storey has a different pattern in

plan.
•First storey- Alternate wedge shaped
and round projections
Second storey- Circular projections
Third storey- Star shaped
Fourth storey- Round
Balconies

•Each storey has a balcony around it.

•The balustrade around the balcony
originally showed merlons called kanjuras.
•The balconies are supported by stalactite
vaulting, represented by clusters of
miniature arches with brackets in between,
influenced by
the tracery of temple ceilings.

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

Projected balconies with stone brackets

Depiction of Indian and Islamic aesthetics with intricate

floral pattern, undulating outlines and bells beautifully
with verses of Quran engraved

Entrance carvings
History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad
Alai Darwaza
•It is the southern gateway of the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque, and is a gem of Islamic
architecture in India.
• It was built by Alla-ud-din Khilji in 1311.
• It is 17.2m square and pierced by arched openings that echo the contours of the
covering dome.
• The arch to the north is semicircular while the others are of pointed horse shoe
shape.
•It has intricate carvings in red sandstone and marble.
• It has jali screens.

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

The arched entrances and jalis are decorated
by fringes of lotus buds.

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

Alai Minar
Ala-ud-Din wanted to build a second tower of victory twice as high as Qutab Minar but when he
died the tower had reached only 24.5 meters and later no one was willing to continue his over
ambitious project..
It stands to the north of the Qutab Minar and the mosque .
It was to have ramps instead of stairs.. Windows are at regular quadrant heights, for a gradual
ramp to be made

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

Imam Zamin’s Tomb
•This tomb was made in the
memory of Mohammad Ali,
imam zamin.

• Its on the east of alai

darwaza.
• Its 7.3m square.

• It is surmounted by a
sandstone dome rising from an
octagonal drum, the lodhi
style.

• It is decorated with double

row of kangooras and marble
panelling above the chajja.

• The tomb has no integral

connection with the Qutub
group. History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad
Tomb of Iltumish

•It is located in the complex Tomb,

northwest to the Iron Pillar.

• Iltutmish died in 1236, but had his

tomb built a year earlier in 1235.

• It is made of red sand stone,

situated northwest of the minaret.

• It is a landmark in Indo-Islamic
architecture. It is believed to have
had a dome which was later
damaged.

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

Tomb of Iltumish

A compact square structure of 42' side with entrances at three sides and western wall enclosed to
accommodate 3 mihrabs.

Exterior is relatively plain, but interior is richly decorated. A square hall of 30' side, its walls are relieved
with white marble insertions. Quranic verses in Kufri, Tugra and Nashtalik characters with geometrical
patterns interspersed.

Most of the roof has collapsed, but remains show it to have been a shallow dome composed of
concentric rings of masonry which collapsed due to excessive span.

The most interesting feature is the first appearance in India of the 'Squinch'. This consists of projecting a
small arch across the upper side of the corners of the square room, turning it into an octagon, then
repeating the process to turn it into a 16 sided base in which a dome can rest.

In this case, the squinch is a half-dome, though built on the corbelling principle. Thus, this is an
Indianized version of the squinch.

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

Tomb of Iltumish

•It is a simple square chamber,

covered originally by a circular
dome that was carried on a
form of squinch arch.

• Dome was constructed using

concentric rings, but Hindu
artisans couldn’t make it last
long.

• Inside is decorated and

elaborated with Quranic
verses.

• Marble is used in mehrab and

cenotaph.

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

Nasir-ud-din Mohammad’s Tomb (Sultan Ghiri)

Built by Shams-ud-Din Iltutmish as a tomb for his son

in A.D. 1231 near Delhi.

First example of a tomb building in India.

The structure is raised on a high plinth with a massive

portal on the east.

The cenotaph is an underground chamber, giving the

structure its name.

The structure is built in the manner of a walled

enclosure.

The enclosure is contained within a massive masonry

arcade.

The exterior is built of grey granite with circular

bastions projecting from each corner of the square.

Within the enclosure is a courtyard 66' square.

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

In the centre of the courtyard is an octagonal
platform which forms the roof of the tomb
chamber.

Two pillared arcades in white marble are built

on the eastern and western sides.

The western arcade resolves into a mosque

chamber for private prayers.

The mosque sanctuary has a central domed

nave with a foliated arch as mihrab and aisles
on either side.

The whole is fronted by a colonnade of marble

pillars with bracket capitals.

Apart from the mihrabs, the entire

composition is of Hindu extraction.

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

Alauddin’s Madrasa
•It is located in south west of
the mosque.
• It is built around a
quadrangular court entered on
the North through a triple
gateway.

Alauddin’s Tomb
•It is on the south side of the
court.
•It is a square structure with no
dome now.
•There are only remains of a
boldly projecting portico.
•It was combined to the
madrassa, probably a Saljuqian
tradition-being its first
appearance in India
History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad
Arhai din ka Jhompra
Built by Qutb-ud-din Aibak in 1200 A.D. at Ajmer.

Built on a levelled terrace probably used previously as a fair ground for a fair which lasted 21/2 days,
hence the name of the structure.

Built on the same lines as the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque, using materials from surrounding temples,
but twice the size of the Delhi mosque.

Three pillars from Hindu temples are placed one above the other to achieve the height of the cloisters
which is 20'.

Tall stairway in four flights reaching up to front portico with a minaret on each side.

A screen was added across the front of the sanctuary by Iltutmish. Above the main arch over the
parapet are two minarets. The arches are of the 4 centered type.

The smaller arches are of the multi-foil pointed style, inspired by Arab sources.

The screen is 200' wide, 56' high at the centre and 12' thick.

The rectangular panel is seen in the spandrel of each arch, a feature seen in ancient Arabian mosques

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

Arhai din ka Jhompra

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad
Architectural features

An improvisation of
columns, beams and
brackets recovered from
Hindu and Jain temples Ornately built screen
as like as Quwwat-ul- including trefoil, arches
Islam mosque in Delhi for the opening and
minarets over central
arch

Three pillars from

Hindu temples are
placed one above the
other to achieve the
height of the cloisters
which is 20'.

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

Capitals during Sultanate period
Qila Rai Pothora or Lal Kot

Siri – Alaudin Khilji’s Capital

Tughlaqabad (Ghiyazudin Tughlaq)

Jahanpana (Mohammed Shah Tughlaq)

Firoz Shah Kotla (Firoz Shah Tughlaq)

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad
Tughlaq Dynasty (1320-1413)
The Tughlaq dynasty was a Muslim dynasty of Turkic origin which established a Delhi sultanate in medieval India.

Its reign started in 1321 in Delhi when Ghazi Malik assumed the throne under the title of Ghiyazu Din Tughluq

The Tughlaqs built a massive fortified city six kilometers (3.5 miles) north of the Qutb Complex. Like the practice of
building royal tombs began by Iltutmish, successive Islamic rulers followed Tughlaq practice and build a new capital
after they came to power.

The remains of these city and their capital cities constructed by successive Tughlaq rulers are located around the
outskirts of the modern city of Delhi.

They were definitely the most prolific of builders, for within their tenure of seventy-seven years and ten rulers, they
built many civil structures, religious institutions, and infrastructure like roads, bridges, dams, canals and step-wells,
hospitals, and other amenities for travellers like caravan sarais (inns), gardens etc

Mohammed Tughlaq the son and successor of Ghiyas-ud-Din also played an important role in the development of
architectures during Tughlaq dynasty.

His major contributions were the fourth city of Delhi, fortified walls named JahanPanah

Feroz Shah Tughlaq was a great patron of architecture and during his reign architectural developments of the Tughlaq
dynasty reached the zenith.

His major creations were, Feroz shah Kotla, the fifth city of Delhi, Khirkee Masjid, Hauz Khan etc

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

Tughlaqabad fort
The massive fortifications of Tughlaqabad, with
immense circular bastions, were raised by
Ghiyas-ud-din to protect his subjects.

One of the primary concerns of Ghiyas-ud-din

was to build a capital that was strong enough
to repulse Mongol attacks and provide security
to its citizens.

Hence, in a short period of four years, the

massive Tughlaqabad Fort was constructed

The massive ramparts, battlements, and the

mammoth stonework of this fort speak highly
of the engineering skills of the workers who
constructed it.

The fort served the dual purpose of a

defensive structure as well as the imperial
capital of Ghiyasud-din Tughlaq

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

Tughlaqabad fort
This grand fort has a border of approximately 6.5
km and covers an area of about 1,902 acres/770
hectares.

It is the largest fort in Delhi. Even the walls of

Tughlaqabad Fort are thicker in comparison to any
of the forts in India

The barricade varies from 15 to 30 metres in

height from the base. The maximum height
including the plinth and the ridge towers upto 60
to 70 metres

The eastern part of the fort is accessible from the

Qutub-Badarpur road. This eastern section is
rectangular in shape and surrounded by high walls
and bastions.

The western side of the Tughlaqabad Fort is wider,

with palaces and private rooms.

This grand fort also had a reservoir that used to be

on the southern side of the fort.

A wide anthill on the south eastern-corner of the

fort leads to a small fortress, Adilabad
History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad
Tughlaqabad fort

Circular Bastion with Defensive

Barbican-like Parapet

the walls are thick, sloping and high, capable of

withstanding Mongol attacks. Rubble masonry
is used to make up the shape of the structure

Pointy Barbicans Surround the Tomb

Complex
History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad
Tughlaqabad is divided into
three parts :
1. a palace section
2. a citadel and
3. a residential city
History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad
Ruins of the Palace Complex

Arch within Palace Complex

an underground passageway with chambers
along the length linking to the palace area
History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad
Tomb of Ghiyas-ud-din
Known as a Fortress Tomb Tomb of
Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq is placed within a
fortress boundary.
The fortress boundary is located at southern
(main) entrance of Tughlaqabad Fort
The tomb is connected to the fortress by
a 228.6 m long causeway, that was
supported by 26 piers and arches and
crossed over the artificial lake
connecting his Tomb with his Fort, but
today lake or water reservoir is dry
scrubland

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

Distinctive 75 degree camber of its outer walls, (20 sq metres ) area of
tomb and Height of tomb is 24 metres

The interior diameter 10.41 metres while the exterior diameter

measures 13.41 metres and it is dressed with a pointed dome that rests
on the intersection of small arched corners

The remains of Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq, his wife , Begam Makhdima Jehan,

and his son and later Sultan, Muhammad bin Tughlaq.

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

Firoz Shah Tughlaq

Popularly known as Kushk-I-

Feroz (Feroz's palace) Erected
on the bank of the river
Yamuna because of
availability water.

Architectural Features Consist

of three rubble-built walled
rectangular enclosures an
irregular polygonal plan with
its eastern wall in one
alignment.

The eastern wall was built on

the bank of the River
Yamuna.

The central & largest

enclosure had an imposing
main gateway from the
western direction and
bastions on either side
flanked it. History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad
Structures within Kotla

Ashokan Pillar (Ashok Lat)

Made of sandstone, but
so polished that looks like
metal Called as Minar-i-
Zarin (gold or gloden) as
ornamented by Feroz
Shah In the afternoon on
a bright day it glitters like
gold

This monolith pillar is 13

metres high, with a
diameter of 65
centmetres at the top and
97 centimetres at the
bottom

Ashokan Pillar on top of Hawa Mahal at Firoz Shah Kotla

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

Structures within Kotla

A tired structure combined with

arched facades , influenced by of
Buddhist stupa

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

Structures within Kotla

Jami Masjid

Located just next to the

Ashokan Pillar

Built on a series of
underground cells and
made of quartzite stone,
covered with lime stone

Surrounded by a large
courtyard with cloisters
and a Prayer Hall

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

Structures within Kotla

Baoli (step well)

Located northwest of the

Ashokan pillar, just in the center
of the garden

It has subterranean apartments

served as a cool retreat in
summer and was used by persons
of royal lineage

A large underground drain for

the water towards its eastern side

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

Khirki Masjid
Built by Khan-i-Jahan Junan Shah

The word 'Khirki' prefixed to masjid is an Urdu

word that means "window" and hence is also
called "The Masjid of Windows"

The Masjid, which is in a quadrangular shape,

was built as a fortress with an unusual fusion of
Islamic and traditional Hindu architecture

The Layout

Instead of a one big open courtyard, the mosque

has four smaller square courtyards measuring 30
Ft x 30 Ft. Sunlight filters in through the lattices
on the upper floors

Interesting aspect of this mosque is its design of

the terrace. Partitioned into 25 squares of equal
size, each square has 9 domes on each side,
measuring 81 in all & these square blocks are
alternated by 12 flat roofs

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

Southern entrance corner tower

The southern gate, with imposing steps

at the main entrance

Arcade around the Roof view

courtyard
History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad
Hauz Khan
Hauz’: “water tank” (or lake) and
‘Khas’:“royal”- the “Royal tank

Originally built by Khiliji to supply

water to Siri. De silted by Tughlaq
later

the eastern and northern side of the

reservoir consisted of the Madrasa,
small Mosque, Main tomb, six domed
pavilions

madrasa complex measures 76

metres N-S by 138 metres along the
E-W

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

Tomb of Feroz Shah
Entry to the tomb is through a passage in the
south leading to the doorway

passage wall is raised on a plinth

Squinches and muqarnas are seen in the solid

interior walls. Supports the dome

square plan – 14.8 m. Dome – 8.8m dia

The tomb - local quartzite rubble with a surface

plaster finish. The door, pillars and lintels were
made of grey quartzites

red sandstone was used for carvings of the

battlements. Entrance – stone railings

four graves -Feruz Shah and two others are of

his son and grand son

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

Three Pavillion

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad

Tomb of Tilangini

This was the tomb of firoz’s shah Prime

Minister, Khan-E-Jahan Telangani, built in the
Nizam-ud-din Auliya area

The tughlaq builders decided that since the

inner space of a tomb served only the function
of accommodating a grave need, it need not
necessarily be square in plan but could be an
octagon

The entire composition is further appropriately

graded by the installation of small kiosks along
the base of the dome and over the veranda

Use of the typical Hindu chajja added a new

dimension

History of Eastern Architecture II Islamic architecture Style GSOA, Hyderabad