Indo-Islamic Architecture
18ARC54: HOA V
Wadiyar Centre for Architecture, Mysuru
Section B, Sem 5
Faculty: Shashank Satish
Note: All images are linked to their online sources for reference.
The Kaaba, Mecca, Saudi Arabia
The Dome of the Rock Mosque, Jerusalem
The Ummayad Mosque, Damascus, Syria
The Great Mosque of Samarra, Iraq
Djenné Mosque, Mali, Africa
FEATURES PRESENT IN A MOSQUE AS PER THE LITURGICAL REQUIREMENTS OF ISLAM
QIBLA >> “Direction” (Arabic)
The direction of Mecca toward which Muslims are required to face when they perform their prayer.
MIHRAB
A wall recess, mostly in the form of arched niche, in the qibla wall, indicating the position of the prayer-leader
facing the direction toward Mecca.
MINBAR
The pulpit, mostly made of wood, put in a mosque near its mihrab, upon which the prayer-leader stands when he
gives the congregational prayer's sermon on Fridays and in holidays.
MINARET
A tall slender tower, circular or square in section, built next or in a mosque, from which the Muslims are called to
prayer. Mosques may have one, two, three, four, and up to six minarets.
ABLUTION FOUNTAIN
A feature frequently but not always encountered in mosques. It is usually put in the center of the mosque's
courtyard for the worshipers to perform their ritual washing before prayer.
FEATURES PRESENT IN A MOSQUE AS PER THE LITURGICAL REQUIREMENTS OF ISLAM
MAQSURA SCREEN
An enclosure in a mosque which includes the praying niche, made usually of an openwork timber or metal screen; originally meant for
the sultan during public prayers, for purposes of status or protection.
SAHN
A large open courtyard which usually adjoins the mosque. It acts as a space for large congregations to come
together. The ablution tank/fountain is placed in the sahn.
RIWAQ
An arcade or portico open on at least on side, which usually surrounds an open space such as the sahn. The riwaq
also acts as a transition space from the outside to the inside, by virtue of being semi-open/semi-enclosed.
Delhi Sultanate: Mamluks to Lodhi Dynasty (1206 - 1526)
Qutb al Din Aibak: Slave becomes King Quwaat Ul Islam Mosque | Qutb Complex Plan
Exam Resource:
https://www.coroflot.com/archiwebresource/Humanities-Indo-Islamic-Architecture-Session-3
Quwaat Ul Islam Mosque built from the ruins of Hindu and Jain temples
where prototypes for Indo-Islamic Style first emerges.
The Qutb Minar is built as a sign of Victory and establishment of Islam in India.
Striking exteriors of the Qutub Minar built of sandstone and marble with intricately carved motifs and hindu craftsmen influences
Cross Sections of the Qutub Minar
Tomb of Iltutmish, Quwaat Ul Islam Complex, Delhi Alai Darwaza, Quwaat Ul Islam / Qutb Complex
Tomb of Iltutmish
Qutb Complex Plan, Delhi https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tomb_of_Iltutmish_Qutub_Complex_Pallav-journo.jpg
Tughluqabad
Tomb of Ghiyas ud-Din Tughluq
Firoz Shah Tughlaq
Plan of Firoz Shah Kotla
Plan of Firoz Shah’s Tomb (Source: Google Arts & Culture)
Tomb of Feroz Shah Tughlaq, Hauz Khas Village, Delhi Plan and View of Khirki Masjid, Khirki Village, Delhi
The Timurid Invasion would severely weaken the Delhi Sultanate which
would fragment later on. It would during this time that Islam would take
hold in Kashmir, Gilgit (Sargin), Baltistan (Baltiyul) and beyond in the
Indian Subcontinent as regional Islamic Provinces broke away from the
Delhi Sulatante.
After the invasion of Timur and the sack of Delhi, in spite of the
devastation thus caused, in the course of time the imperial power in
northern India to a certain extent revived, but it was little more than a
shadow of its former state.
During the fifteenth century and also into the first quarter of the
sixteenth a number of buildings were erected in various parts of the
Delhi area, first under the rule of the Sayyids and afterwards under that
of their successors, the Lodis, but, owing to the much diminished
influence of these two dynasties, all forms of enterprise languished, and
what architecture was produced reflects the broken spirit of the time.
No great building undertakings are recorded as during the previous
regime, no capital cities were founded, no imperial palaces, no
fortresses or strongholds were created, no mosques of any importance,
no colleges, and no public buildings of any kind appear to have been
produced. It is significant that almost the only form of monument that
appealed to the rulers and their subjects at this juncture, were those
expressive of dissolution-they excelled in memorials to the dead.
In the sphere of architecture it was a period of the macabre,
appropriately so-named as that word is probably derived from
magbarah, the Arabic for cemetery. And at perhaps no other time has
the tomb been more manifest in the consciousness of the people than
during the rule of the Sayyids and Lodis, and Delhi on account of its
imperial associations, was considered the most appropriate site on
which such buildings should be erected.
Scores of large tombs therefore arose within its
neighbourhood, so much so that in the course of time
the country around the capital was converted into a vast
necropolis. No special system of allocation or similar
arrangement seems to have been followed, the spaces
between the various cities were occupied by groups of
memorial monuments, great and small, and they also
spread themselves into the tracts beyond. Upwards of
fifty of these tombs are of size and importance, at least
three of which are large mausoleums of the rulers
themselves, while many others mark the last resting
places of nobles and other prominent personages of
their court.
They range from simple open pillared pavilions in which
the cenotaph is exposed to view, to imposing structures
standing within spacious walled enclosures entered by
tall gateways, and with the addition of a mosque
recalling a mortuary chapel on their western sides. No Tomb of Mubarak Sayyid
longer were their precincts designed to appear like
miniature fortresses, but they now began to assume the - The corners are strengthened by sloping buttresses.
character of cloistered garths (yards) surrounding a - Its broad low dome rises from a sixteen-sided battlemented
central monumental pile, and were thus more in keeping drum with a turret on each corner and is crowned by a lantern.
with their peaceful and solemn purpose. - Over the roof in the middle of each side stands a chhatri.
The tomb of Mubarak Sayyid (1434) stands in a thickly populated locality in Kola Mubarakpur. The main entrance to this
octagonal tomb is from the southern side. The cenotaph chamber is surrounded by a verandah which has three arched
openings on each side of the octagon. The corners, strengthened by buttresses, give it a look of massive structure, further
accentuated by a broad low dome crowned by a lantern.
This is a general view of Mubarak Sayyid’s tomb (c.1435). The building has an octagonal pillared verandah
surrounding the central chamber with a large central dome surrounded by smaller chhatris.
The Early Phases of Islamic
tombs are of similar
ornamentation though their
plans are different – they
may be square, hexagonal
or octagonal.
Chhatri (umbrella or canopy)
Elevated, dome-shaped
pavilions used as an element in
Indian architecture. Used in
memorials, usually very ornate,
built over the site where the
funeral (cremation) of an
important personage was
performed. Also used to refer to
the small pavilions that mark
the corners and roof of the
entrance of a major building.
These pavilions are purely
decorative and have no utility,
but serve to display the status
and wealth of the owner.
Tomb of Muhammed Shah Sayyid, Lodhi Garden, Delhi
Class Screening:
Islam in India: Lecture at Yale by
Richard Eaton
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rom
OBHXl8yE&ab_channel=YaleUniversity
Tomb of Sher Shah Suri at Sasaram, Bihar (1545)
Map of Lodhi Garden, Delhi The tomb buildings express
characteristic features of
Sayyid and Lodhi architecture
such as:
- Octagonal plan
- Corner buttressess
- Decorative plaster finish
- Corbelled doorways
- Chattris on the roof
- Inverted lotus finial on top
of the dome
Thought the exact date of construction of Sheesh Gumbad is not known. There are four monuments (tombs) in the Lodhi
Gardens including the Shish Gumbad.
Shish Gumbad has a double-storeyed exterior with a careful arrangement of horizontal lines crossing the vertical lines. There
are traces of some remarkable ornamentation with turquoise, blue glazed tiles on the central frieze on the exterior. The western
wall has a mihrab. The three other sides have arched entrances set within a projected frame. The soffit of the dome carries
some elegant ornamentation in incised plasterwork, floral patterns with Quranic inscriptions, typical of the age.
- The Shish Gumbad has a square plan, like
most other Lodi tombs .
- It measures 17m on all sides .
- The western wall contains a mihrab while the
remaining three sides have arched doorways
which lead into the tomb.
- On either side, a central doorway is flanked
by two arched openings to admit light and
air.
- Hidden staircases lead to the terrace above.
View and Section of Shish Gumbad, Lodhi Garden, Delhi
Architecturally, the Sheesh Gumbad follows the
pattern of the other Lodi tombs with a 'double
storeyed' appearance, but differs from them in its
ornamentation. Topped by octagonal minarets in
the corners, the exterior divides itself into two
storeys with the help of a projecting horizontal
cornice. One can see the remnants of the former
elegance of the structure in the turquoise and
cobalt blue tilework on the facade.
The Sheesh Gumbad has a square layout like the
other Lodi tombs. It measures 17m on all sides,
with a hidden staircase along its western wall that
leads to the terrace above. Its western wall
contains a mihrab, and the other three sides have
three openings each - a central doorway flanked
by two arched openings to admit light and air. The
central tomb chamber measures 10m on all sides
and has several graves.
Elevation of Shish Gumbad, Lodhi Garden, Delhi
The ceiling is decorated
with plaster work that
contains Quranic
inscriptions and floral
designs. The monument
was originally decorated
with blue enamelled tiles
that shined like glass. The
Gumbad hence got its
name "Shish Gumbad".
The blue tile
embellishment presently
only remains on top of the
main frontage in traces.
By ZainShahid117 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0,
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=35619594
Tomb of Shah Rukn-e-Alam, Multan, Pakistan Isfahan Royal Mosque, Iran
Persian Influences
Sikandar Lodi’s tomb was built in the Sayyid style of octagonal maqbaras (tomb).
The first of the Indo-Islamic “Garden Tombs” – tombs set within a garden enclosure with elaborate gateways – which
would go on to become a popularly explored style during the later Mughal period. The tomb of Sikandar Lodi is very
similar in appaearance to Muhammad Shah Sayyid’s tomb, with the following exceptions:
-A large wall encloses the tomb. The west wall of this enclosure serves as a mosque
-The chattris around the dome are replaced by semi-minarets known as guldastas
- The dome is a double-dome
(L) Chhatri is replaced by guldastas on the tomb. (R) Ruined chhatri with remains of tile work at entrance to the south of the enclosure of Sikandar Lodhi
The Mughal Empire
1526 - 1857
Chahr Bagh is a quadrilateral garden layout based on the four
gardens of Paradise mentioned in the Qur'an. The quadrilateral garden
is divided by walkways or flowing water into four smaller parts.
The four-part garden is laid out with axial paths that intersect at the
centre. This highly structured geometrical scheme became a powerful
metaphor for the organization and domestication of the landscape,
itself a symbol of political territory.
Hasht Bihisth or “Eight Paradises” is based on the Islamic
conception of heaven with its eight gates and eight spaces, each
one decorated with a special precious stone or material.
Garden Tomb of Humayun, Delhi
In Persian and Mughal architecture, it also refers to a planning concept
where the central room is surrounded by eight chambers. It is also
a favoured form for garden pavilions and mausoleums
e.g.: Taj Mahal, Agra, Todar Mal’s Baradari at Fatehpur Sikri,
Humayun’s Tomb.
For Reference:
https://www.theheritagelab.in/mughal-charbagh-paradise-gardens/ Tomb of I'timad-ud-Daulah, Agra
