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TUGHLAQ DYNASTY
The Tughlaq dynasty also referred to as Tughluq or Tughluk dynasty, was a Muslim dynasty of Turko-
Indian origin which ruled over the Delhi sultanate in medieval India. Its reign started in 1320
in Delhi when Ghazi Malik assumed the throne under the title of Ghiyath al-Din Tughluq. The dynasty
ended in 1413

Each of the these cities grew round the palace - fortress of a particular dynasty

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TUGHLAQ DYNASTY
TUGHLAQABAD (FORTIFIED CITY)

INTRODUCTION

Tughlaqabad Fort is a ruined fort (Fortified city) in Delhi, built by Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq, the founder
of Tughlaq dynasty, of the Delhi Sultanate of India in 1321, as he established the fourth historic city of Delhi,
which was later abandoned in 1327. Tughlaqabad is considered to be the third extant city of Delhi after Lal Kot
and Siri. Ghiasuddin Tughlaq, the founder of the Tughlaq Dynasty, during his short reign (AD 1320–24) built the
fortified city of Tughlaqabad, spanning nearly 6.5 km, over a period of only four years. Tughlaqabad stands on a
high outcrop of rock towards the southeastern edge of Delhi.

Tughlaqabad is divided into three parts:

1. The Residential city - the wider city area with houses built along a rectangular grid between its gates
2. The citadel with a tower at its highest point known as Bijai-Mandal and the remains of several halls and
a long underground passage
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 3. Palace area - the adjacent palace area containing the royal residences. A long underground passage below
the tower still remains.

ARCHITECTURE
• Tughlaqabad still consists of remarkable, massive stone fortifications that surround the irregular ground
plan of the city. The sloping rubble-filled city walls, a typical feature of monuments of the Tughluq
dynasty, are between 10 and 15 meters high, topped by battlemented parapets and strengthened by
circular bastions of up to two stories height. The city is supposed to once have had as many as 52 gates
of which only 13 remain today. The fortified city contained seven rainwater tanks. The fort with
remarkably massive stone fortifications surrounds the irregular ground plan of the city.
• The walls built of random rubble masonry, rise in places to a height of nearly 30 m and have a pronounced
batter with frequent bastions and numerous slits.
• It was essentially built to serve a dual purpose—one, to resist the threat of Mongol attacks and second, to
serve as the capital of Ghias ud din Tughlaq.
• THE WALLS are thick, sloping and high, capable of withstanding Mongol attacks. Rubble masonry is
used to make up the shape of the structure, with huge sandstone blocks, probably quarried from the
surrounding hills, enveloping the rubble.
• Double-storied bastions and the tapered rubble-filled walls surfaced over with Delhi quartzite present a
composition of extreme grandeur revealing the sensitivity and proficiency of both the patron and
craftsmen during that time. The greater slope served to buttress the higher walls and increase security and
the bastions facilitated active defense against invading troops.

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TOMB OF GIYAS-UD-DIN
INTRODUCTION
Ghias ud din Tughlaq built his tomb, which is one of the early examples of Indo-Islamic architecture,
and was possibly finished by his son and successor Muhammad bin Tughlaq in the year 1328 AD
 Located on the southern side of the fort, the tomb is approached through a causeway that runs over a
vast, now dry water reservoir (250 Yards)
 The elevated causeway that connects both the fort and the tomb
 Within an unusual irregular pentagonal fortified enclosure, with parapet walls that support massive
cone-shaped bastions at every intersection.
 The walls are made of 75 degree with ground
 Plan is based on the contours of the site
TOMB PLAN
 Square plan, with entrance on three sides, mihrab on the western wall.
 It has three graves – belongs to giyas ud din, his wife and son
 Walls outside is 75 degree slope, interior walls are straight
 Entrance arch has stone lintels, lotus buds , ogee arch
 Small niches on either side of the entrance
 Overall profileis pyramidical due to construction of wall is 75 degreewith ground
 Internal plan is 38’ and external is 61’

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ARCH FEATURES
 The fort walls al around is rubble masonry
 Massive bastions that tapers from bottom to top at the corners of the pentagon
 Mixed technique of arch form and lintel – beam
 A redundant stone lintel below the springing of arch
 Kalasa as the apex over the Muslim dome
 Arch has lotus bud/fringe design.
 The arch is Ogee arch

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FEROZ SHAH KOTLA FORT
INTRODUCTION
• The Feroz Shah Kotla or Kotla was a fortress built by Sultan Feroz Shah Tughlaq to house his version
of Delhi city called Ferozabad.The location of Feroz Shah Kotla Fort is between Old Delhi and New
Delhi.
• Feroz Shah Tughlaq ruled the city from 1351 to 1384.
• He got the throne from his uncle Muhammad bin Tughlaq.
• The fort was built by Feroz Shah Tughlaq in 1354. In the same year, he also founded a city called
Ferozabad.

FORT
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  it is a fortress that consists of diwan-i am,diwan-i khas,a large Baoli, garden complexes, Ashokan pillar,
Jami Masjid, mosque, palaces and residences for royals.
 along one side of firoz shah kotla runs the river Yamuna
 The kotla is defined by the defensive by 15m high with merlons and narrow slits Planned in a slightly
irregular rectangle- 800m long and 400m wide Defined by defensive walls
 Opposite to the entrance is a rectangular court defined by cloisters- diwan I am (hall of public audiences)
Behind this is diwan I khass (hall of private audience)- at the heart of the complex Private palaces,
mosques and harems were located along the river banks

Main structures of Feroz shah kotla fort

 HAWA MAHAL / Ashoka pillar
 Jami masjid (Masjid used by royal ladies)
 Baoli (Stepped well)
1. Hawa mahal / ashokan pillar

• The Ashokan pillar is placed to the north of the Jami Masjid.

• King Ashoka of Mauryan Empire built the pillar between 273 and 236 BC in Topra, Ambala.
• Feroz Shah Tughlaq brought the pillar from Ambala and established it into the fort.
• The height of the pillar was 13m.
• In order to install the pillar successfully, a pyramidal structure of three storey was constructed.
• The pyramidal structure was built by using black and white stones with a kalash on top of the pillar.
• The pillar was beautifully decorated and was named Minar-i-Zarin.
• Some inscriptions can be found in Ashokan Pillar which were written in Prakrit and Brahmi scripts.
• Ten Commandments of Buddha are also there which led to the spread of Buddhism during Mauryan
period.
• The best time to see the pillar is during the day when sun’s rays directly falls on it and it shines like gold.

2. Jami masjid
 Jami Masjid is very close to the Ashokan Pillar and is one of the oldest mosque which is still in use today.
 Quartzite stone was used to build the mosque which was plastered with lime.
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 Entrance on high pedestal with series of steps,
 entrance – square chamber leads to courtyard.
 Built on a series of underground cells, which has arched openings
 There was a very big courtyard along with a prayer hall which was used by the royal ladies.
 The prayer hall has now been completely ruined.

3. Baoli or step-wells
• There is a Baoli which was filled with water. Circular in plan, a series of arched opening in each tire.
• The baoli is three-tiered and is connected to many pipelines. During the period of Tughlaqs, the river
flowed below the ramparts.
• The cisterns were connected to the river which provided water to Baoli through pipelines.
• The Baoli or well would have been an essential source of water for the citadel. Unlike common step-wells
this does not hve steps leading down to the level of water.
• The circular well, open to the sky has provison to lift water in a bucket on the pulley.
• Around this well two storeys of rooms are arranged. A complex system of pipes and channels are pumped
the water to the roof and from there to the outside, where presumably even animals could have drunk from
it. The roof, topped by chhatris and surrounded by the railing, was probably a recreational space

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KHIRKI MASJID - 1351-54
 Khirki Mosque, approached from the Khirki Village in South Delhi
 A mosque built by Khan-i-Jahan Junan Shah, the Prime Minister of Feroz Shah Tughlaq (1351–1388) of
the Tughlaq Dynasty. The word 'Khirki' prefixed to mosque is an Urdu word that means "window" and
hence is also called "The Mosque of Windows

 The Mosque, which is in a quadrangular shape, with an unusual fusion of Islamic and
traditional Hindu architecture. It is said to be the only monument style mosque in North India, which is
mostly covered; the totally covered mosque of the Sultanate period

Highlighting features
• Khirki mashid belongs to the indo-Islamic style of architecture. Hindu/Islamic style
• Most high lighting feature is the roof.
• Famous for the domes and jail windows.
• Pillars and brackets show Hindu influence

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PLAN
• The Mosque has a 52 m (170.6 ft)x52 m (170.6 ft) square plan in an area of 87 m 2 (936.5 sq ft).
• It is raised on a plinth of 3 m (9.8 ft).
• There are four open courtyards (square in size of 9.14 m (30.0 ft) on each side) encircled by arcades built
with 180 square structural columns and 60 pilasters, which run in north–south direction and divides into
aisles.
• The open courtyards are the source of light and ventilation to the internal prayer spaces.
• The roof is partitioned into 25 squares of equal size with 9 small domes in each square (totaling to 81
domes) and alternated by 12 flat roofs to cover the roof.
• The four courtyards provide light and ventilation.
• The four corners of the mosque are adorned with towers with three protruding gateways, one in the middle
of each face, with tapering
turrets(minarets) flanking each gate.
• The southern gate, with imposing steps
at the main entrance, exhibits a
combination of arch and trabeated
construction. It has an ornamental
rectilinear frame.
• The turrets flanking the southern and
northern gates are circular in shape; the
articulation on these gives them a three
storied appearance.
• The main gate, which leads to
the qibla on the western wall, has a
projecting mihrab. Above the vaulted
first floor cells, ubiquitous arch windows
(carved out of stone guard) with
perforated screens or jalis or tracery, known as "Khirkis", are seen on the second floor.
• ,the foyer in front of the mihrab is not well lighted since light from the latticed windows on the second
floor do not penetrate this space.
•
The approach to the roof of the mosque is from the east gate, and the view from the roof leaves a lasting
impression of the geometrical design of the Mosque.
• The mosque's walls are of rubble masonry construction with plastered surface on the outside. The interior
walls are bland but provided with traditional carved stone screens.
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 • The symmetrically designed admirable mosque is considered as one of “the finest architectural
compositions of the Sultanate history.” It was considered Firuz Shah's architectural benefaction.
• .The importance of the Khirki Mosque's architectural elegance has been considered a precursor to the
intensely metaphorical Mughal architecture (1526-1857), with the Lodhi period's (1451–1526)
architecture – the Delhi Sultanate's last dynasty – marking the transition.
In short
• 52M X 52 M – Square plan
• Raised plinth
• Four open courtyards(9.14m on each side – light and ventilation)
• Encircled by arcades (covered passage with arches)
• 189 square structural columns and 60 pilasters
• The roof is partitioned into 25 squares of equal size with 9 small domes on each square.
• 4 corners of the mosque – towers
• 3 protruding gateways/middle in each face
• The main gate, which leads to the qibla on the western wall, has a projecting mihrab.
• Above the vaulted first floor cells, ubiquitous arch windows (carved out of stone guard) with perforated
screens or jalis or tracery, known as "Khirkis", are seen on the second floor.
• mosque's walls are of rubble masonry construction covered externally with plaster
University questions
1. Illustrate with sketches, the architectural characteristics introduced by the Tughlaq dynasty and their
contributions.
2. Describe the planning of city Firoz shah kotla and architectural features of any two structures within the
complex in detail
3. The architectural character of Khirki Masjid differs from the tomb prototype of a century and half earlier.
Substantiate the statement with the contributions of the dynasty

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THE SAYYID DYNASTY

• The Sayyid dynasty was the fourth dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate, with four rulers ruling from 1414 to
1451(ruled for a very short time so no grand cities or palaces)
• Founded by Khizr Khan a former governor of Multan, they succeeded the Tughlaq dynasty
• In the 14th century the Timurid rulers, Islamic architecture underwent a change.
• The narrow horseshoe arch was replaced by the true arch, an ideas imported directly from Persia. But
Indian masons was not convinced by its holding power
• They began using wooden beams as supports, and eventually the four centred arch minus the beam support
came into vogue.
• More than 50 tombs of different sizes were constructed.
• The tombs of Mubarak Sayyid(1434) Muhammad sayyid(1444) are of octagonal shape
•

Mubarak sayyid Tomb

• The tomb of Mubarak Shah is situated within Kotla Mubarakpur, at the heart of the modern day New
Delhi South Extension
• The structure is one of the early tombs to be modelled on the typical octagonal style that rose to
prominence during this period.
• Octagonal in plan, 9m long side octagon side,
• The central octagonal chamber is surrounded by an octagonal verandah, with three identical arches
piercing each face.
• Each corner of the verandah is reinforced by a stone sloping buttress.
• An octagonal domed ‘chattri’ sits above each side of the verandah.

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 • The central chamber supports a sixteen sided battlemented drum, which in turn supports the broad, low
dome.
• The dome itself is crowned by a lantern, an unusual feature unique to this tomb.
This design gives the tomb a pyramidal effect as a whole.

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Muhammad Shah Sayyid Tomb
• This beautiful octagonal maqbara (tomb) of Muhammad Shah Sayyid is located near the
south-west corner of the Lodi Garden.
• The tomb was built in 1444 for the third Sayyid sultan Muhammad Shah.
• The architecture follows the style of the Khan-i-Jahan Telangani maqbara and the
Mubarak Shah Sayyid maqbara with some modifications.

• It has a fuller dome on a raised seat surrounded by chhatris.

• Each of the octagonal side has a three-arch opening, bordered by inclined columns at each
corner.
• This is arguably the best example of Sayyid monuments.
• The tomb is beautifully ornamented and some of the original coloured plaster-work is still
visible.

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THE LODI DYNASTY
The Lodi dynasty was an Afghan dynasty that ruled the Delhi Sultanate from 1451 to 1526. It was the last
dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate, and was founded by Bahlul Khan Lodi when he replaced the Sayyid dynasty.

Tombs of Lodi garden

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Garden tomb of Sikander Lodi

•
• Sikandar Lodi was the second of the Lodi sultans, who had built his capital in Sikandarabad near Agra.
• His tomb was built in 1517-18 in the Sayyid-Lodi style of octagonal tombs.
• This tomb is similar in design to the Muhammad Shah Sayyid maqbara in the South-West corner of the
Lodi Garden, except that:
• A large wall enclosure surrounds the tomb, of which the western wall serves the purpose of a mosque
• b) There are no chhatris around the dome
• c) The dome is a double-dome d) At the top of the dome, there is a lotus in stead of a small chhatri
• This is a structure in the middle of a fortified walled complex,
• incorporating beginning of the garden-tomb concept, char-bagh style
• , the garden is patterned on the octagonal design
• The walled enclosure was perhaps designed to prevent plundering.
• Built with grey-quartzite, and a bit of red sandstone, the gateways feature a Hindu temple-style corbelled
design.
• Water from the nearby Yamuna-tributary was constantly conveyed to the char-bagh gardens inside the
tomb complex through channels on the outer wall.
• At the middle of the western side of the boundary, there is a Wall Mosque.

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Bada Gumbad and Masjid:
• Termed as the finest gateway of the 15th century, this is a square tomb with turrets at the corners, with
two tiers giving a false impression of a double-storied building.
• This is the tallest structure in the complex, and the absence of a grave inside the tomb.
• it was built as a huge gateway to the mosque, positioned in between the mosque on its right and the “guest
house” complex on its left.
• All of its four sides are open, and there is no mihrab wall. The huge tomb uses temple-style corbelled
doorways as well as Islamic-style arches.
• With time, the inside of the dome has become blackened with fungus, mainly because of the use of organic
materials in construction.
• Its plinth is decorated on the east, south, and west with ogee arch openings set into rectangular frames.

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Masjid:
• The profusely ornamented mosque with three bays has
five arched openings with the central opening on a
projecting frame.
• The doorways are 5m wide, while those at the two ends are approx. 1.5m, rectangular plan -30m x 8m
• The three bays are surmounted by three domes.
• Very minute and detailed calligraphic designs adorn the mosque, which has multiple mihrab walls.
• Small niches used for oil lamps can be seen on the walls.
• Green, red, and blue calligraphic bands mark the inside of the arched hall.
• On the back of the Mihrab (the western wall), Hindu-style Jharokhas and five-storied tapering towers are
placed, like miniature Qutb Minar–type tapering towers.

• Each arch is finished in plaster and embellished with intricate carved Arabic inscriptions.

•
•
•
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 Sheesh gumbad

• Built on the same “double-storied” pattern of Bara Gumbad, its interior ceiling is decorated with Quranic
inscriptions and floral patterns.
• Originally, it was decorated with Persian glazed tiles of cobalt-blue and midnight-blue, leading to its name
as the “Glass Dome,”.
• Topped with octagonal minarets in the corners, the exterior divides itself into two storeys with the help
of a projecting horizontal cornice.

University questions
1. Illustrate with sketches, the contribution of sayyid and Lodhi dynasties in the evolution of Islamic
architecture in India with examples

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