Q.

Features of Indo islamic Architecture

Features of any 2 provincial architecture during the period of your study
Examine the various historical perceptions of the Qutb Complex and its changing significance over
time.

INTRODUCTION
With the Arab conquest of sind in 712 AD the arrival of the islamic rulers to the western frontiers of
india had started. By the 12th century AD the throne of delhi sultanate had been occupied by an
islamic ruler which marked the onset of medieval period of indian history. The medieval period of
Indian history was a period of synthesis amongst various cultures. The traditions brought by the
Turks and Mughals assimilated with Indian traditions and enriched the Indian culture. It also marked
the beginning of a new expression in art. The style of architecture that evolved during this time is
called Indo-Islamic. In his work "Medieval India: From Sultanat to the Mughals," Satish Chandra
delves into the regional variations in Indo-Islamic architecture, noting how different geographical
areas of the Indian subcontinent developed their distinctive styles under the influence of local
traditions and available materials. According to Percy Brown's seminal work "Indian Architecture:
Islamic Period," the traditions brought by Turks and Mughals merged harmoniously with Indian
customs. Burton-Page, in "Indo-Islamic Architecture: An Introduction to its History and Significance,"
and George Michell's research in "Architecture of the Islamic World: India" highlights the
multifaceted influences, ranging from Turkish and Persian to Indian and Arabic, that shaped Indo-
Islamic architectural marvels.

BACKGROUND:
Indo islamic Architecture came into existence when mohammad bin sam made his capital Delhi in
1193. The Turks coming from Central and West Asia, required places for living and worshipping.
Hence they converted some existing temples into houses and mosques. In later years, when new
constructions were made, indigenous craftsmen were employed. The types and forms of large
buildings required by Muslim elites were mostly Mosques and Tombs what we generally
charachterize as Religious Architecture of this period. As per central asian canonical dictates of the
kinship when a sultan conquers a new land he required to read khutba at the friday prayer therefore
he immediately needed a mosque for the same. The period is also known for its secular
Architecture. The monuments expressed Turkish, Persian , Indian , Islamic , Arabic and Ottoman
Turkish influence . A variety of regional styles also grew up following the imperial style. India had
highly skilled masons and craftsman and used to produce stone masonry. As a result an IMPERIAL
STYLE of architecture built in India which combined both the existing indian style and the style of
central asian people .

The turks used arches and domes in their building on a wide scale. Neither of this was a turkish
invention. Rather it was borrowed from Rome through the Byzantine empire developed and made
their own. Arches were made in a variety of shapes : four centered arch , pointed arch . The
construction of dome demanded special technique. The problem was to find a suitable . The problem
was to find a suitable method for converting the square top of the walls of the room into circular
base for raising a spherical dome. The best way to overcome was to convert the square plan into
polygon by the use of squinches.

According to the reports of Archaeological Survey Of india 1865-77 by General Alexander

Cunningham we find the incidence of masonry buildings including civilian housing towns in towns
increases significantly after the 13th century . This was primarily due to the use of lime mortar as the
basic building material. In masonry work stone has been used abundantly. The material commonly
used for plastering was gypsum. In the sphere of decoration the turks eschewed representation of
human and animal figures in the buildings. Instead they used geometrical and floral designs
combining them with inscription containing verses from the Quran. Thus the Arabic script itself
became a work of art. The combination of these decorative devices was called ARABESQUE. They
also used red stone , yellow sandstone or marble in the buildings for decoration

Evolution of the Indo-Islamic architectural style under the Sultans of Delhi can be divided into
three phases :-

The First Phase (c.1206-1320 A.D.) -

MAMLUK DYNASTY - The history of Indo-Islamic architecture commences with the occupation of
Delhi by the Turks in AD. 1192. The Tomar citadel of Lal Kot with its Chauhan extension, called Qila
Rai Pithora, was captured by Qutbuddin Aibak. Here he began the construction of a Jami Masjid
completed in 1198. It was the mazana from where azaan was called. It was known as Quwwat-ul -
Islam mosque and was built from the wreckage Of twenty-seven Hindu and Jain temples . The arches
of the screen have been built by employing the method of corbelling. In later buildings of this phase,
such as Qutab Minar (built 1199-1235), Arhai Din Ka Jhoupra (built c. 1200) and Iltutmish's tomb
(completed 1233-4), though corbelling could not be replaced as the principal structural technique,
decoration became almost fully Islamic in detail. Illtutmish's own tomb is an indication of the mixed
Hindu muslim tradition of architecture. The tomb was a square building built by putting pendantives
and squinch arches in the corners . It was made octagonal on which a dome was built. This devise
was used in many square buildings. Even more remarkable was the calligraphy combined with
Indian floral motives. We see the first true arch in the plain and simple tomb of Balban. This is to say
it was based on rariating voussoirs and a coping stone , not putting one stone over the other to cover
the gap and then out a stone or slab on top. KHALJI DYNASTY - Khalji period saw a lot of building
activity . Percy Brown (Indian Architecture : Islamic Period,Bombay, 1968) has noted that in the
buildings of the Khalji period a new method of stone masonry was used. This consisted of laying
stones in two different courses, that is headers and stretchers. Allaudin khalji build his capital at Siri.
He added an entrance door the Alai Darwaja to the quwwat ul islam mosque . Mosque architecture
also developed as shown in the jamaat Khana mosque at mausoleum of Sufi saint Nizamuddin Auliya.
In the evolution of Indo-Islamic architecture, this phase occupies a key position as it exhibits a
distinct influence of the Seljuq architectural traditions (a Turkish tribe ruling - over Central Asia and
Asia Minor in 11-13 century) . The characteristic features of this phase are a) Employment of true
arch, pointed horse-shoe in shape , b) Emergence of true dome with recessed arche under the
squinch c) Use of red sandstone and.decorative marble reliefs as new building materials . d)
Appearance of lotus-bud' fringe on the underside of the arch - a Seljuq feature.
4.1.2 The First Phase (c.1206-
1320 A.D.)
The first phase of the
architectural developments
under the Delhi Sultanate
extended till the end
of the Khalji dynasty. The most
significant aspect of this period
was the development of an
Indo-
Islamic style. The arch and
dome which were commonly
used by the Turks replaced the
flat
roofed structures of the Indians.
The Turks constructed many
lofty and impressive buildings
by
4.1.2 The First Phase (c.1206-
1320 A.D.)
The first phase of the
architectural developments
under the Delhi Sultanate
extended till the end
of the Khalji dynasty. The most
significant aspect of this period
was the development of an
Indo-
Islamic style. The arch and
dome which were commonly
used by the Turks replaced the
flat
roofed structures of the Indians.
The Turks constructed many
lofty and impressive buildings
by
The Second Phase (c.1320-1414 A.D.) -
TUGHLAQ DYNASTY - the architecture of this period can be divided into two main groups. To the first
group belong the construction by Ghiyasuddin and Muhammad Tughluq, and the other to those of
Feroz Tughluq. Ghiyasuddin and Muhammad Tughlaq built the huge palace fortress complex called
tughlaqabad . By blocking the passage of yamuna a huge artificial lake was created. The tomb of
Ghiyasuddin marks a new trend in architecture. To have a good skyline the building was put on a high
platform and its beauty was heightened by a marble dome. A striking feature was the sloping walls
called "batter" which gives the effect of strength. A second feature was to combine the principle of
the arch and the lintel and beam. It was seen in his buildings in Hauz Khas and Kotla. The Tughlaqs
did not use red sandstones but the cheaper Greystones. Tughlaqs buildings had minimum of
decoration but one common devised evident in every building was lotus. Another devise used is the
stone railing in tomb of Firuz Tughlaq. Many mosques were built during this period such as Kalan
mosque , khirki mosque. The general features of the Tughluq style of architecture are a) Stone rubble
is the principal building material and the walls are in most cases plastered. A hesitant and possibly
experimental use of a new shape of arch- the four centered arch-necessitating its reinforcement with
a supporting beam. This arch-beam combination is a hall-mark of the Tughluq style. ' The pointed
horse-shoe arch of the preceding style was abandoned. Emergence of a pointed dome with clearly
visible neck in contrast with rather stifled dome of the preceding style. e) Introduction of encaustic
tiles as an element of decoration in the panels of the buildings. f) Emergence, in the tombs of this
period, an octagonal plan which came to be copied and perfected by the Mughals in the 16th-17th
century.

The Third Phase (c.1451-1526 A.D.)

Lodis continued the Tughlaq tradition of using rubble and undressed stones. Both the arch and lintel
and beam method were used in their buildings. Another device used by the Lodis was placing their
buildings especially tombs, on a high platform thus giving the building a more imposing look. Another
architectural devise which was used for the first time in the tomb of Firuz Wazir, Khan-i-jahan
telangani was the Octagonal tomb. Many features were added to it : a verandah was built , sloping
chajjas , chattris or kiosks at each corners . These features were of Gujarati and Rajasthani origin. In
some cases gardens were laid out around the tombs. The Lodi gardens at Delhi are the finest
examples of this. The most significant structural alteration under the Lodis was seen in the Tomb of
Sikander Lodi in the Lodi gardens at Delhi. This was the first application of Double Dome
architecture. Later most of the larger domes of the Mughal period such as Taj Mahal were
constructed on this principle.

Apart from the Royal structures a number of other structures were also existent which can be
grouped as public buildings. The majority of these buildings comprised of Sarai , bridges , irrigation
tanks , wells , baoli , kachehri , hammam (public baths) , katra (market place) , kotwali (police
station), dak chauki . Sarai is most conspicuous of these buildings. It was introduced by turks in 13th
century. The earliest mention of the existence of sarai is from Balban's time ($66). Among late rulers
both Muhammad Tughluq and Feroz Tughluq are known to have built a large number of sarais in
Delhi along the major land-routes of the Sultanate.

CONCLUSION - The end of the Delhi Sultanate came in 1526 with the defeat of Ibrahim Lodi at the
hands of the Mughal invader, Babur. By the time of the break-up of the Delhi sultanate individual
styles of architect had also developed in the various kingdoms. Many of these were influenced by
local traditions of architecture as we have seen happened in Bengal, Gujarat, Malwa, Deccan etc.

Thus we not only see an outburst of architectural activity but a coming together of the Muslim and
Hindu traditions and forms of architecture. In the various regional kingdoms which arose during the
15th century attempts were made to combine the style of architecture which had developed at Delhi
with regional architectural traditions