Compiled By
Dated: April 16, 2018
Rai Farhatullah
Contents
Mughal Architecture .................................................................................................................................. 3
Introduction of Greater Mughals .............................................................................................................. 4
Babur, the first Mughal Emperor (1526-1530)..................................................................................... 4
Humayun, the second Mughal Emperor (1530-1540 & 1555-1556) ................................................... 4
Akbar The Great (1556-1605) ................................................................................................................ 4
Nur-ud-din Jahangir (The age of Mughal Splendor 1605-1627) ........................................................ 5
Shah Jahan, The Architect King (1628-1658) ...................................................................................... 5
Aurangzeb Alamgir (1658-1707)............................................................................................................ 5
Early Mughal architecture ......................................................................................................................... 6
Mughal architecture during Akbar`s reign .............................................................................................. 6
Mughal architecture during Jahangir`s reign ...................................................................................... 6
Mughal architecture during Shahjahan`s reign ....................................................................................... 6
Later Mughal Architecture ........................................................................................................................ 7
Characteristics of Mughal architecture .................................................................................................... 7
Variety of buildings: ............................................................................................................................... 7
Synthesis of Persian and Indian style:................................................................................................... 7
Specific characteristic:............................................................................................................................ 7
Costly decorations:.................................................................................................................................. 7
Building material: ................................................................................................................................... 7
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Mughal Architecture
A characteristic Indo-Islamic-Persian style that flourished on the Indian subcontinent during the
Mughal Empire (1526–1857). This new style combined elements of Islamic art and architecture,
which had been introduced to India during the Delhi Sultanate (1192–1398) and had produced
great monuments such as the Qutb Minar, with features of Persian art and architecture. Mughal
monuments are found chiefly in N India, but there are also many remains in Pakistan.
Abstract decoration of the surface is an important factor in every work of Islamic art and
architecture, whether large or small. Curving and often interlaced lines, of which the arabesque is
a typical example and the use of brilliant colors characterize almost all of the finest productions,
which are of greatly varied styles. Islamic art eschews the realistic representation of human beings
and animals, and its floral designs are extremely distant from their original models. While the
prohibition against depicting living forms is not contained in the Qur’an, it is widely thought that
the non-representational character of Islamic ornament has its source in the traditional theological
prohibition against imitating God’s works.
Scrolling vines and flowers, jewels, and crowns in greens, blues, and gold adorn Mughal buildings.
For the Mughal emperors, a tomb was an opportunity to pay tribute to the dead, observe their
religious responsibilities and broadcast their magnificence. The tombs of Humayun and Akbar
were also grand architectural experiments
Shah Jahan, who ruled from 1628 to 1657, is best remembered for building the splendid Taj Mahal,
which has become a symbol of India the way the Eiffel Tower symbolizes France or the pyramids
represent Egypt. This was the tomb of his beloved wife, who died giving birth to her seventh child.
The walls of the dazzlingly beautiful marble monument are incised with calligraphy and inlaid
with flowers made of lapis lazuli, green jade, carnelian and other semi-precious stones. Floral
design was popular at the time of Shah Jahan´s reign; artists and craftspeople used it in architecture,
on textiles, on metalwork such as enamelled gold, and on the borders of paintings.
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Introduction of Greater Mughals
The House of Timur moved to India: Babur established the Timurid Dynasty in India in 1526
which is known as the Mughal empire (1526-1857). Babur was sixth in descent from Timur, while
his mother was a descendant of Chengiz Khan. The first six Mughal Emperors from Babur to
Aurangzeb are known as the great Mughals. This was the time period when Mughal Empire reaced
to its full peak and so did Mughal architecture. Some information about the greater Mughals is as
follow
Babur, the first Mughal Emperor (1526-1530)
The founder of the Mughal dynasty was Babar, "The Tiger," who ruled from 1526 to 1530. Babar
was not fully a Mongol: his mother was descended from Genghis Khan, but his father was
descended from Timur. He ruled over a small kingdom in Turkestan; he expanded his kingdom by
attacking Afghanistan and India in 1504 A.D. When he died in 1530 he had conquered all of
Hindustan and controlled an empire that extended from the Deccan to Turkestan.
Since Babar was aggressively expanding his territory he did not concentrate on constructing
buildings of architectural value but he paved the way for an empire famous for its architecture.
Humayun, the second Mughal Emperor (1530-1540 & 1555-1556)
Babar was succeeded by his son, Humayun, who was 23 years old. Humayun's tenure is marked
by aggressive fighting throughout his life- from losing the entire empire to recon quest he was
busy in the fighting. However, had a profound influence on Mughal culture? In his years of exile
in the Persian court, Humayun developed a deep understanding and love for Persian culture, and
instilled that in his son Akbar. After his and his son's recon quest of India, the culture that they
built around themselves was based heavily on Persian models: philosophy, literature, painting, and
architecture, all show deeply embedded Persian models.
Akbar The Great (1556-1605)
Akbar was born in November 1542 and was a little more than 13, when he ascended the throne on
Feb, 14 1556. He ruled India till his death on Oct 27, 1605. During Akbar's reign (and to a much
greater extent during the reign of Jahangir), trade activities were further facilitated by the
construction of numerous caravanserais (inns) and hospitals along the Grand Trunk Road,
especially in Punjab.
Under Akbar, Persian artists directed an academy of local painters. The drawings, costumes, and
ornamentation of illuminated manuscripts by the end of the 16th cent. Illustrate the influence of
Indian tastes and manners in the bright coloring and detailed landscape backgrounds. Modeling
and perspective also began to be adapted from Western pictures. Basawan, Lal, and Daswanth
were Akbar’s most famous painters.
This tradition translated into beautiful artwork on buildings built by later Mughals.
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Nur-ud-din Jahangir (The age of Mughal Splendor 1605-1627)
Jahangir ascended the throne on Nov 3, 1605 and ruled India till his death on Oct 28, 1627.
Jahangir seems to have inherited the attitude of the older Akbar, for he lavishly patronized the arts:
painting, architecture, philosophy, and literature, while ignoring military conquest. The period of
Jahangir's tenure as Emperor is considered the richest period of Mughal culture; Indian, Muslim,
and Western scholars have named this period, the age of Mughal splendor.
Jahangir favored paintings of events from his own life rather than illustrated fiction. He encouraged
portraiture and scientific studies of birds, flowers, and animals, which were collected in albums.
Mansur and Manohar were among his famous painters. Jahangir, who resided at Lahore, built less
than his predecessors but effected the significant change from sandstone to marble in his
monuments of architecture.
Shah Jahan, The Architect King (1628-1658)
The reign of Shah Jahan, who formally ascended the throne on Feb 6, 1628 is considered the period
of the greatest splendor of the Greatest Mughals. The empire enjoyed a great measure of internal
peace and the emperor had ample leisure to satisfy his taste for cultural pursuits and the Mughal
armies could attend the expansion of the empire. It was Shah Jahan who perfected Mughal
architecture. Shah Jahan began a series of incredible, resplendent, and monumental architectural
projects in Dehli. The city itself was surrounded by sixty foot walls. In the middle of the city he
built a magnificent palace for himself itself contained within the Red Fort (so called because it was
made of red sandstone), which housed the palace as well as all the buildings associated with
imperial administration. He built for himself an extravagant throne, the Peacock Throne, all in gold
and covered in rare jewels. Western historians estimate that the throne was built at an expense of
over five million dollars. In 1739, the Afghani conqueror of Persia, invaded Hindustan, burned
down Shah Jahan's palace and seized the Peacock Throne for himself—it has remained in Iran ever
since.
Shah Jahan's most famous building project, however, was the Taj Mahal in Agra. When his favorite
wife, Mumtaz Mahal ("Ornament of the Palace"), died at the age of 39 while giving birth to her
seventh child in 1631, the grief-stricken emperor set about building for her the most lavish tomb
he could manage. Combining both Persian and Indian architectural styles, the tomb and the
grounds are meant to bring into reality the Muslim idea of Paradise. The Taj Mahal took over
twenty years to build and demanded the labor of over twenty thousand men.
Aurangzeb Alamgir (1658-1707)
Aurangzeb, the third son of Shah Jahan, was born on Oct 24, 1618. He firstly ascended the throne
on 21st July, 1658, and then on 5th June 1659. He was industrious far seeing and thorough. Under
the orthodox Aurangzeb (1658–1707) the decline of the arts began, although his ornate Pearl
Mosque (1662) at Delhi is worthy of mention. During his reign the Mughal academy was
dispersed. Many artists then joined Rajput courts, where their influence on Hindu painting is
clearly evident. Famous Badshahi Mosque is also built by Aurangzeb which had the largest praying
area in the world till the construction of Faisal Mosque in Islamabad in late twentieth century.
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Early Mughal architecture
Mughal architecture came into prominence and gained reputation with the rule of Babur who was
the first Mughal emperor in India in 1526. Babur`s victory over Ibrahim Lodi, initiated the erection
of a mosque at Panipat succeeded by another called the Babri Mosque in Ayodhya. The Maqbara
in Vadodara is an example of the early Mughal architecture. Early Mughal architecture relied on
post-and-beam construction and scarcely used arches. Some great forts and palaces of the early
Mughal period can be traced in the reign of Akbar (1556-1605) in Agra Mausoleum to Humayun
is another important signifier of the early architecture of the Mughals.
Mughal architecture during Akbar`s reign
Mughal architecture gained prominence during the rule of Akbar. He built massively and the style
was unique. Most of Akbar`s buildings are in red sandstone, exempted at times through marble
inlay. Fatehpur Sikri which is located 26 miles west of Agra. Mausoleum gra, was constructed in
the late 1500s and bears the testimony to the era of his royal heritage. In Gujarat and many other
places we find the presence of a style, which is a blend of Muslim and Hindu characteristic features
of architecture. The great mosque is one such epitome of architectural brilliance unmatched in
elegance and splendour. The south gateway is well known, excelling any similar entrance in India
in its size and structure. The Tomb of Akbar`s father Humayun, Akbar`s tomb at Sikandra are
some such finest work of architectural magnificence which highlights the Mughal architecture
prototypes. The tomb placed in a garden at Delhi, has an intricate ground plan with central
octagonal chambers, which is joined by an elegantly facade archway, surmounted by cupolas,
kiosks.
Mughal architecture during Jahangir`s reign
During the reign of Jahangir from 1605- 1627, the decline in the Hindu influence on Mughal
architecture was witnessed. His style was Persian like his great mosque at Lahore, which is covered
Tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulawith enamelled tiles. Akbar`s mausoleum was built during his rule.
"Verinag" and "Chashma-Shahi" are gardens built by Jahangir beautifully around spring. The tomb
of Itimad-ud-Daula completed in 1628, was built entirely of white marble and covered wholly by
pietra dura mosaic. The Shalimar Gardens and other pavillions on the shore of Kashmir`s Dal lake
was also built by him. The Shalimar garden is also his creation that is distinguished by a series of
pavilions on carved pillars, surrounded by pools with seats which can be reached by stepping
stones. Jahangir was responsible for the development of the Mughal garden. Jahangir`s own tomb
have no dome, minarets and ornamentation are only evident. The extensive use of white marble as
a material and inlay as a decorative motif were the two major innovations that were introduced by
the Mughals.
Mughal architecture during Shahjahan`s reign
Mughal architecture reached its perfection in the construction of Jama Masjid of Delhi during the
rule of Shah Jahan. Humayun`s tomb was the first of the tombs, which continued the saga of the
succession of tombs out of which the Taj Mahal is a magnificent piece of art. The Red Fort contains
the imperial Mughal Palace, which is situated in Delhi. Marble was used for the constructions. In
the palace fort of Agra, Shah Jahan replaced old structures along as well as built a couple of new
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ones. An inlay of black marbles was used for the re-building of The Diwan-I-Am. The Moti Masjid
is another beautiful creation which was built during his rule. The Pearl Mosque of Agra is
reminiscent of the style that was eminent in Mughal era. Shah Jahan built a new capital,
Shahjahanabad, with its magnificent Red Fort. The Hall of Public Audience, in the fort contains
the Peacock Throne, which consists of jewels and precious metals and stones. It took ten years to
build the city. It has three mosques that have survived the ravages of time.
Later Mughal Architecture
Art and architecture took a backseat during Aurangazeb`s rule. As he wanted to overpower
Hinduism, he made the Great Mosque towering over the Hindu holy city of Benaras.
A standard mosque form was developed in his reign where the eminence of three domes over the
sanctuary in conjunction with a raised central arch and engaged minarets could be seen. The Moti
Masjid or the Pearl Mosque was built by Aurangzeb in the Red Fort at Delhi incorporated a three-
domed sanctuary with a raised central arch and mini-domed pillars projecting out of the roof to
resemble minarets.
Aurangazeb`s was more concerned seems to be for garden architecture than construction of
palaces. Fatehbad district near Agra is one of the most impressive of these gardens.
Characteristics of Mughal architecture
Main features of Mughal Architecture are as follow:
Variety of buildings:
The Mughal rulers built magnificent gates, forts, mausoleums, mosques, palaces, public buildings
and tombs etc.
Synthesis of Persian and Indian style:
The specimens of architecture created under the Mughals have become the common heritage of
both the Hindus and the Muslims. It is a happy blend of Hindu and Muslim architecture.
Specific characteristic:
A common characteristic of the Mughal buildings is “the pronounced domes, the slender turrets at
the corners, the palace halls supported on pillars and the broad/gateways.”
Costly decorations:
The Mughal emperors in general but Shah Jahan in particular decorated his buildings with costly
articles. One of the important distinguishing features of the Mughal buildings is their
ornamentation as compared with the simple buildings of the previous Muslim rulers of India.
Building material:
During the Mughal period, buildings were constructed mostly of red sandstone and white marble.
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The features of Mughal architecture included a Perfect or bilateral symmetry, red sandstone with
white marble inlays, later pure white marble surfaces, geometric ornament, domes which are
slightly pointed instead of hemispherical ones and garden surroundings are the features of Mughal
architecture. In addition to the fine-cut stone masonry used for facades, rough rubble stone
construction was used for the majority of walls. For the construction of domes and arches baked
brick was used that was covered with plaster or facing stones. The design of gardens is one of the
most important aspects of Mughal architecture which provided the setting for tombs and palaces
and also helped for relaxation.
Buildings were decorated with ceramic tile work, pietra dura inlay with coloured and semi-
precious stones, carved and inlaid stonework. Carved stonework is another interesting feature in
the Mughal architecture, ranging from shallow relief depictions of flowers to intricate pierced-
marble screens known as jalis.
There is the existence of various influences of the Persian and Hindu architecture in the Mughal
architecture. Shallow arches made out of corbels rather than voussoirs and richly ornamented
carved piers and columns are some typical features of Hindu architecture that have been
incorporated in the Mughal architecture. Other constructions like the chhatris- a domed kiosk
resting on pillars, chajjas and jarokhas- a projecting balcony supported on corbels with a hood
resting on columns became a part of the Mughal characteristics. Extensive use of tile work, the
iwan as a central feature in mosques, the garden, divided into four and the four-centre point arch
and the use of domes are the features borrowed from the Persian architecture.
The Mughal Architecture can be termed as the Indo-Islamic architecture. Hindu architecture was
modified and elements of spaciousness, immensity and extent were incorporated by the Mughal
architecture. The kalash on top of the Hindu temple was borrowed and replaced by a dome.
Exquisite monuments like the Taj Mahal, Qutub Minar, Alai Darwaza, Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque,
Vitthala temple, Tughlaqabad Fort, Kirti Stambha, Fatehpur Sikri, Agra Fort, Red Fort have
glorified India.
The entire Mughal architecture is an excellent combination of various local and foreign
characteristics, which associates it universally with many distinct forms of architecture. These are
also a source of inspiration to many other forms of architecture with different cultural background.
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References
Saraswati, S. K., and A. Goswami. Glimpses of Mughal Architecture. Publisher Not
Identified, 1953.
Koch, Ebba. Mughal Architecture: an Outline of Its History and Development, 1526-1858.
Primus Books, 2014.
www.storyofpakistan.com
www.pbs.org/treasureoftheworld/
www.factmonster.com
http://www.tourism.egnet.net
www.waxvisual.com/mughal.html/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mughal_emperors
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