GATEWAY COLLEGE OF

ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN

PROVINCIAL
ARCHITECTURE
BIJAPUR MANDU JAUNPUR

Submitted To: Prof. Vaishali Pandey

Submitted By: Vidhi Jain
 Content
Acknowledgement
Introduction
Bijapur
1. Architectural Development
2. Architectural Features
3. Important Structures
Jami Masjid
Gol Gumbaz
Mandu
1. Architectural Development
2. Architectural Features
3. Important Structures
Hindola Mahal
Jaunpur
1.Architectural Features
2.Important Structures
Atala Masjid
Fort of Firoz Shah
 Introduction
The Provincial Style of architecture
encompasses the trends and developments
noticed in different provincial capitals in India,
but specifically in:
Punjab (1150-1325 A.D.),
Bengal (1203-1573 A.D.),
Gujarat (1300-1572 A.D.),
Jaunpur (1376-1479 A.D.),
Malwa (1405-1569 A.D.),
Deccan (1347-1617 A.D.),
Bijapur (1490-1656 A.D.)

We will learn about Bijapur, Mandu and Jaunpur

ahead.
BIJAPUR
Vijayapura, also called
Bijapur, city, northern
Karnataka state,
southern India. It is
situated in the northern
part of the Karnataka
Plateau, about 5 miles (8
km) northwest of the Don
River (a tributary of the
Krishna River).

Vijayapura (“City of Victory”) was a

major site of Islamic architecture
from the early Muslim period in
India. It was an important
community under the Yadava
dynasty for more than a century
until 1294, when it became a
provincial capital of the Bahmanī
sultanate. In 1489—with the advent
of Yūsuf ʿĀdil Shah, the first ʿĀdil
Shāhī sultan—its dominions grew to
include Goa, where a navy was
maintained. Although it was
defeated in 1686 by the Mughal
emperor Aurangzeb, the ʿĀdil Shāhī
dynasty left a legacy of outstanding
Islamic buildings, aesthetically the
most satisfactory of the Deccan
styles, including the domed tomb of
Gol Gumbaz and the mausoleum of
Ibrahim Rawza.
 Architectural Development
Adil Sahi dynasty started
their construction to the
Bijapur city during the first
half of the sixteenth century.
They constructed the citadel,
a fortress containing a
palace, imperial buildings,
and two small mosques. As
the power of the Adil Shahi
increased, a city developed
around the citadel, and
gradually they enclosed the
city within strongly fortified
walls. These walls were
extended over six miles in
circumference, and from the
citadel in the centre roads
had six city gates.

However, they had no direct alignment and systematic planning for

the city. At the beginning of the seventeenth century, expansion of
the city became necessary for the Adil Sahi dynasty and so the
suburbs of Shahapur on the north and Ainapur on the east arose.
Their architectural constructions were influenced from the regional
culture and thus became the amalgamation of Turkish culture (as
they belong from the Turkish origin) with that of Indian culture.
Architectural Features
The main features of the building art of Bijapur were the dome,
which, in buildings of average proportions.
They were almost spherical in shape, and rises out of a band of
conventional petals at its base.
These forms were repeated to the turrets to provide an
ornamental finishing, surmounted the principal angles of the
minarets.
This specific Bijapur arch was fuller in its curve and had four-
center.
In the Islamic architecture of Bijapur province, they used
cornice, a characteristic architectural ornament in most of the
buildings which were famous for their remarkable size and
projection.
 Important Structures
Jami Masjid
The first building constructed in the beginning of the Adil Shah's regime was
the Jami Masjid, built by Ali Shah I (1558-80). It is constructed in the
southeast part of Bijapur city and is the finest example of Indo Islamic
architecture of that province.

Construction of the mosque

began in the city's eastern
quarter. in 1576 under Ali Adil
Shah
It is the largest mosque of bijapur
covering an ara of 54,250 sqaure
feet
The main entrance gate is from
the east, thriugh the north gate is
used more frequently.
The ground plan is a large
rectangular structure with a
square courtyard
a passage from the eastern gate
leads into the courtyard. which
has fountains and a large
reservoir in the center.
the perimeter walss are
articulated on the exterior by two
orders of superi,mposed arches.
The structure was never
completed as it lacks the two
minarets which were supposed to
flank the exterior of the eastern
entrance, the whole part being
left unfinished.
The structure covers a rectangle
450' X 225'.
The lower ones are
ornamental while the
upper ones form a
continuous open gallery
that runs along three
sides of the mosque and
courtyard.
The arches of the gallery
facing the courtyard have
the proportions and
simple lines.
there are also several
windows of pierced
stone-work carved in a
variety of pattern
the prayer hall on the
west side has a facade of
seven bays, each bay
having an arched
opening.
the arches are equal in
size, while the central
arch is delineated
through delicate
arabesque patterns in
stucco.
the prayer hall is crowned
by an elegant, well-
proportioned dome. it
has a diameter of 57 feet
and rises to 12 feet from
the ground.
 Gol Gumbaz
Gumbad is situated in Bijapur in the Bijapur District of
Karnataka. It is the mausoleum of Muhammad Adil Shah
(1626–1656), the seventh Sultan of the Adil Shahi Dynasty of
Bijapur (1489–1686). Built by the ruler himself.

Gol Gumbaz is one of the

biggest single chamber
structures in the world.
The central dome is the second
largest in the world which
stands unsupported by pillars
measuring at 38 metres in
diameter and covering an area
of 1700 sq.m with 51 metres in
height.
the walls are 3m thick and
30.5m in height. the
measurement from the interior
is 41m on each side.
In the section, we can clearly
observe that 'Eight intersecting
arches created by two rotated
squares that create
interlocking pendentives'
support the dome.
There are six openings at its
base. The low drum below the
dome os encircled by a foliated
band.
 very strong foundation was
discovered in the basement
that resembled the circular
opening of the dome above.
but this foundation supports
only a platform and a light
wooden paviliion.
the south dorr is the main
entrance to the tomb.
The use of groined
comaprtments or pendentives,
which counteract the outer
thrust of the dome.
The interior of the dome
converges with the edge of the
circle by about 4m so that part
of the weight falls on the
intersecting arches that bear
and neutralize any other
exterior forces.
The base of the monumental dome is carved with beautiful
petals that cover the drum.
The cornice and parapet of the building is the most
characteristic of the facade.

There are numerous other buildings constructed during the

Adil Sahi dynasty. Some of them are Shah Karim's tomb, the
tomb of Shah Nawaz, a group of mosques in the Shahpur
suburb, the Anda masjjd, Malika Jahan Begum's mosque, and
Ali Shahid Pir's masjid.
 Summary

The Indo-Islamic architecture of the Bijapur province

indicates their achievements by the superb quality of their
workmanship in the medieval period. Their productions, as a
whole, their masonry construction was excellent in India, as
well as their stonework was also superb, almost equal to that
of the Romans. Their brickwork, as shown in the
implementation of their domes proves that they were fully
aware about the preparation and their application of their
materials. The presence of the architecture of intersecting
arches was unique and famous construction of Adil Sahi
dynasty which were accepted and developed by several other
Muslim rulers for a long period in all branches of the building
art in that province.
 Mandu
The city of Mandu is located in Madhya Pradesh, at
an elevation of over 2000 feet and overlooks the
Malwa Plateau to the north and the Narmada valley
to the south. Mandu’s natural defence encouraged
consistent habitation by Parmana Rajputs, Afghans,
and Mughals.
As the capital city of the Ghauri Dynasty (1401-1561)
founded by Hoshang Shah, it acquired a lot of fame.
Mandu was associated with the romance of Sultan
Baz Bahadur and Rani Rupamati. The Mughals
resorted to it for pleasure during the monsoon
season.

 Architectural development
Mandu is a typical respresentation of the medieval provincial
style of art and architecture. It was a complex mix of official
and residential-cum-pleasure palace, pavilions, mosques,
artificial reservoirs, baolis, embattlements, etc. In spite of the
size or monumentality, the structures were very close to
nature, designed in the style of arched pavilions, light and
airy, so that these buildings did not retain heat. Local stone
and marble were used to great advantage. Mandu is a fine
example of architectural adaptation to the environment.
The Royal Enclave located in the city comprised the most
complete and romantic set of buildings, a cluster of palaces
and attendant structures, official and residential, built around
two artificial lakes.
Architectural features
The architecture of Mandu is described as Indian
functionalism.
It generally lacks the expression and decoration.
The mosques at Mandu are of Arabian type, lacking even a
minaret, and their hypostyle worship rooms and cloisters
surrounding a courtyard are built continuously and
homogeneously.
Battered walls
pointed arches with spear head fringe
combination of arch. lintel and bracket
boat keel domes
most artistic combination of arches with pillar and beam
buildings are raised on high plinths, accessed by long and
stately flight of steps
prominent use of color in decoration.
Use of different colored marble.
semi-precious stones and glazed tiles.
The artisans possessed a secret formula for creating
Turquoise blue color
 Important Structures
HINDOLA MAHAL
Built by Hushang Shah, probably around A.D. 1425 as a Darbar
Hall.
It looks like a railway viaduct bridge with its disproportionately
large buttresses supporting the walls. This was the audience hall
of the Sultan and the place where he showed himself to his
subjects. Batter was used very effectively to give an impression of
swinging (Hindola) walls.
The exterior of the
building is extremely
simple except for a band
or two of carved
mouldings. The
ornamentation has been
reduced to a minimum,
even the commonly used
coloured tiles in other
buildings of Mandu, are
discarded here.
The walls are inordinately thick and slope like those of a castle.
The slope pf over 77 degrees gives a swinging appearance to
the building, hence the name.
The plan is 'T' shaped. the upright stem being the main hall
(which was built first), and the cross bar is a transverse portion
added later.
The structure was probably supposed to have the zenana
place as another storey above the main hall, which would
explain the bulk and strength of the walls.
The flat roof rested on timber beams whose sockets are still
visible\, though the timber portions themselves have
disappeared.
 Jahaz Mahal
Built by Mahumad Khilji early in the last half of the 1400's.
it was a departure from the previously stolid and somber
style at Mandu. The most striking thing about this
monument is its location between two water bodies, the
Kaphur Talao and the Munja Talao, which gives the
building the appearance of floating on water, hence its
name, literally the 'Ship Palace'.

Architecturally, the
building consists of
a series of
compartments and
corridors over the
Munja Talao, with
terraces, kiosks and
numerous open-air
baths conforming to
the lifestyle at
Mandu, which was
slowly sliding into
decadence.

The palace is a double storeyed structure, 360 long and 50

wide, extending along the edge of lakes
The roof has a series of open pavilions, kiosks and
overhanging balconies.
The interior consists of pillared compartments, cool
corridors and sumptuous bathing halls.
Friezes of brightly coloured glazing on its surface
 SUMMARY
The city is built on a hill that rises 633 metres above sea
level and is surrounded by beautiful natural landscape
that is best observed during the rainy season. This is most
likely why the city, encased within its fortifications, was
dubbed ‘The City of Joy’ by the Muslim rulers Shadibad
during its heyday.
Provincial style architecture of Mandu is regarded as too
close to the
structures of Imperial Delhi to make a bold statement of
local traditions.
Nevertheless, the so-called robust, austere Pathan
architecture of Mandu
with its surface embellishments of jalis, carved brackets,
etc., and the
lightness of the structures was an important intervention
in the narrative
of the Indo-Islamic architectural experience.
 Jaunpur
The Jaunpur Sultanate was an unconventional Islamic state in
northern India from 1394 to 1479. Its rulers reigned from
Jaunpur in the present day state of Uttar Pradesh. The Jaunpur
Sultanate was overpowered by the Sharqi dynasty

.The Khwajah-i-Jahan Malik

Sarwar, the first ruler of the
dynasty was a wazir under
Sultan Nasiruddin
Muhammad Shah IV Tughluq
from the year 1390 to 1394.
In the year 1394, in the
middle of the breaking down
of the Delhi Sultanate, he
established himself as an
independent ruler of
Jaunpur and expanded his
reign over Awadh and a large
part of the Ganges-Yamuna
Doab and replaced much of
the Delhi Sultanate. The
dynasty which was
discovered by him was
named so because of his title
Mālik-us-Śarq, meaning the
ruler of the East. Ibrahim
Shah was known to be the
most prominent ruler of the
dynasty.

 Architectural Features
The surviving architecture of Jaunpur consists
exclusively of mosques.
All the surviving buildings produced under the
Sharqis are located in the capital of city Jaunpur.
Sharqi architecture of Jaunpur carries a distinct
impact of the Tughluq style, prominent features:
1. The battering effect of its bastions and minarets
2. the use of arch-and beam combination in the
openings.
Design of the facade of the mosques:
1. Lofty proplyons with sloping sides raised in the
centre of the sanctuary screen.
2. The propylons consist of a huge recessed arch
framed by tapering square minars.
 Important structures
ATALA MASJID
The Atala Masjid lies about 366 m
north of the Akbari Bridge. Built
by Sultan Ibrahim Sharqi on the
site of the old Hindu temple at
Atala Devi, the mosque
incorporates a great deal of
temple masonry. It comprises a
square courtyard, with three
cloistered ranges, the fourth side
being the sanctuary. The cloisters
are with five aisles rising to two
storeys, two aisles of the lower
storey forming cells with a
pillared verandah facing the
street.
These provided external
accommodation for travellers or
merchants. In the centre of each range
is a gateway. However, the most
impressive clement is the sanctuary on
the western side. It has an elegant,
original facade, dominated by a central
pylon with a huge arched marble
mihrab or recess containing the
entrance to the nave and arcaded
window openings. On either side are
smaller structures, providing a
symmetrical frame. The courtyard is
paved to resemble a prayer carpet.
 FORT OF FIRUZ SHAH
The Fort of Firuz Shah is an irregular quadrangle
overlooking the north of the Gumti. It comprises a stone
wall around an earth mound which utilizes earlier masonry
inscribed with Hindu motifs. Most of the towers were
blown up after the 1857 Mutiny but the entrance gate
constructed by Munim Khan still survives. Remnants of its
original cladding of blue and yellow glazed brick are still
visible.

About 62 m beyond the entrance gate is a large reservoir

with a low mosque beyond, built in 1376 by Ibrahim Naib
Barbak, brother of Firuz Shah Tughluq. Between the
mosque and the river wall, above the surrounding
countryside, is a round magazine tower with the Hammam
or baths of Ibrahim on the left.
 SUMMARY
The monuments of Jaunpur are eye-catching because they
show a wonderful confluence of Hindu as well as Islamic
architecture. At the same time it can be said that the region has
more number of mosques to testify its architectural glory. The
main feature of Sharqi mosques is the huge rectangular pylon
(gateway) with arches. Through these arches, we entered the
three main mosques in Jaunpur : Atala Masjid, Jama masjid and
Lal Darwaza.
They are made of stone and have fine carving and latticework.
Unlike the Delhi mosques of the same period, there are no
minarets.
The unique feature of the buildings here is the use of bold and
forceful characters painted on huge screens in the centre and
side bays of the prayer hall.
 CONCLUSION
The various provincial architecture during Delhi Sultanate
period that are influenced by Indo Islamic architecture.
The term Indo-Islamic indicates the growth of composite
culture as a result of contact, intermixing and assimilation of
the cultural tradition of India and the Islamic world during the
medieval period.

In the field of architecture, a mix of many structural

techniques, stylised shapes, and surface decorations came
about through constant interventions of acceptance, rejection
or modification of architectural elements. These architectural
entities or categories showcasing multiple styles are known as
Indo-Saracenic or Indo-Islamic architecture.

The Indo-Islamic Architecture after 12th century AD began to

evolve, adding to it the local flavour of the provisional kingdom
of Bengal, Gujarat, Jaunpur, Golconda, Malwa and the Deccan.
Thus, leading to development of provincial style of
architecture.
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