Medieval Indian Architecture - Class X

Jama Masjid is the first mosque in India with minarets and full domes.

In historical contexts, especially regarding industrialization or large-scale construction, it is rarely the case that all raw materials are available locally; trade and transport are usually required.

Chihil Sutun means "Forty Columns" in Persian language. 
The ceremonial halls of public and private audience (diwan-i-aam or diwan-i-khaas)  were also described as chihil sutun or forty-pillared halls, placed within a large courtyard.
The proportions of this hall, of its columns, and of the engraved arches show high aesthetics and fine craftsmanship. With an impressive facade of nine engraved arch openings, the hall was ornamented with gilded and white shell lime chunam plasterwork.

In architecture Hasht-Bihisht or 'Eight Paradises' refers to a specific type of floorplan common in Persian architecture and Mughal architecture whereby the plan is divided into 8 chambers surrounding a central room.

The central towering dome and the tall gateway (pishtaq) became an important aspect of Mughal architecture and was first visible in Humayuns tomb. The tomb was placed in the centre of a huge formal Chahar Bagh and built in the tradition known as eight paradises or hasht bihisht a central hall surrounded by eight rooms.

Between the eighth and the eighteenth centuries, kings and their officers built two kinds of structures: the first were forts, palaces and tombs - safe, protected and grandiose places of rest and the second were structures meant for public activity which included temples, mosques, tanks, wells and bazaars.
Kings were expected to look after their subjects, and by making structures for their use and comfort, rulers hoped to win their praise. 
Sultan Iltutmish won universal respect for constructing a large reservoir just outside Dehli-i kuhna. It was called the hauz-i Sultani or the Kings Reservoir.

Humayun's Tomb, built in the mid-16th century, is considered the first mature example of Mughal architecture in India, featuring the central towering dome and high arched gateways (pishtaqs).

Monuments provide an insight into the technologies used for construction. A stylistic development in the construction of 12th-century architecture was the use of Arches.
The weight of the superstructure above the doors and windows was carried by arches. The Keystone at the centre of the arch transferred the weight of the superstructure to the base of the arch. This architectural form is called arcuate.
A horizontal beam across two vertical columns is called "trabeate" or "corbelled".This design was used in the construction of temples, mosques, tombs and in buildings attached to large stepped-wells between 8-13 century.

Shah Jahan's audience halls (Diwan-i-Khas and Diwan-i-Aam) were designed to reflect the king's status as a shadow of God on earth, with architectural elements often drawing inspiration from mosque designs.

Jama Masjid in Delhi, is one of the largest mosques in India built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan between 1644 and 1656.

Humayun's Tomb is constructed primarily of red sandstone, with white marble used for the dome and decorative details, setting a standard for later Mughal structures.

Jama Masjid and Qutub Minar, the two heritage sights of India are located in Delhi, the capital city of India.

• Jama Masjid: It is one of the largest mosques in India and was built by Mughal emperor Shahjahan. 
  
• Qutub Minar: One of the tallest Minar or pillar built by Qutb-Ud-Din Aibak, founder of the Delhi Sultanate.
  

It was during Shah Jahan's reign that the different elements of Mughal architecture were fused together in a grand harmonious synthesis. His reign witnessed a huge amount of construction activity especially in Agra and Delhi. The ceremonial halls of public and private audience (diwan-i khas or aam) were carefully planned. These courts were also described as chihil sutun or forty-pillared halls, placed within a large courtyard. 

Limestone cement was increasingly used in construction. This was very
high-quality cement, which, when mixed with stone chips hardened into
concrete. This made the construction of large structures easier and
faster. Arches, domes and limestone mortar were used extensively in
buildings after 1190 AD.

Between the eighth and thirteenth centuries, trabeate style of architecture came to be used extensively. Example of such a structure include Quwwat-al-Islam mosque at Delhi. A trabeate structure is a building where strong horizontal elements are held up by strong vertical elements with large spaces between them.

Trabeate is also known as Corbelled style of architecture. Trabeate
style is a type of construction in which the roof is supported by beams
placed on pillars. This construction can be found usually in old
temples and Masjids.

Monuments provide an insight into the technologies used for construction. Take something like a roof for example. We can make this by placing wooden beams or a slab of stone across four walls. But the task becomes difficult if we want to make a large room with an elaborate superstructure something which is seen in a monument. This requires more sophisticated skills.

By 1200 AD, the temples had become elaborate institutions which employed hundreds of artisans, dancers, musicians, priests, administrators, servants, etc. They collected taxes from the villages, lent money on interest to traders, etc. organized fairs and markets to which thronged buyers and sellers of goods. These temples thus became centers of political and economic power.

Between the 7th and 10th centuries architects started adding more rooms, doors and windows to buildings. Roofs, doors and windows were still made by placing a horizontal beam across two vertical columns, a style of architecture called trabeate or corbelled like earlier times.

During the medieval time, it was widely believed that the rule of a just king would be an age of plenty when there was plenty of rainfall. At the same time, making precious water available by constructing tanks and reservoirs was highly praised. Sultan Iltutmish won universal respect for constructing a large reservoir just outside Dehli-i-Kuhna. It was called the Hauz-i-Sultani or the Kings Reservoir. 

Formal gardens, a feature of the Mughal Architecture, placed within rectangular walled enclosures and divided into four quarters by artificial channels were called as chahar bagh, Pishtaq was the tall gateway at the entrance of the Monument. Hasht bihisht was a central house surrounded by eight rooms.

Between the 8th and the 18th Century, the temples and mosques were beautifully constructed because they were places of worship. They were also meant to demonstrate the power, wealth and devotion of the patron. The largest temples were all constructed by kings. The other, lesser deities in the temple were gods and goddesses of the allies and subordinates of the ruler. The temple was a miniature model of the world ruled by the king and his allies. As they worshipped their deities together in the royal temples, it seemed as if they brought the just rule of the gods on earth.

Muslim Sultans and Padshahs did not claim to be incarnations of god but Persian court chronicles described the Sultan as the Shadow of God. An inscription in the Quwwat al-Islam mosque explained that God chose Alauddin (Sultan) as a king because he had the qualities of Moses and Solomon, the great lawgivers of the past. The greatest lawgiver and architect was God Himself. He created the world out of chaos and introduced order and symmetry.

• The Rajarajeshvara temple is located at Thanjavur. 
  
• It had the tallest Shikhara of its time. 
  
• An inscription mentions that it was built by King Rajarajadeva for the worship of his god, Rajarajeshvaram.
  

As construction activity increased between the eighth and eighteenth centuries, there was also a considerable sharing of ideas across regions: the traditions of one region were adopted by another. In Bengal, the local rulers had developed a roof that was designed to resemble a thatched hut. The Mughals liked this Bangla dome and used it in their architecture.

Between
the seventh and tenth centuries architects started adding more rooms,
doors and windows to buildings. Roofs, doors and windows were still made
by placing a horizontal beam across two vertical columns, a style of
architecture called "trabeate" or "corbelled".

Between
the eighth and thirteenth centuries the trabeate style was used in the
construction of temples, mosques, tombs and in buildings attached to
large stepped-wells.

Between
the seventh and tenth centuries architects started adding more rooms,
doors and windows to buildings. Roofs, doors and windows were still made
by placing a horizontal beam across two vertical columns, a style of
architecture called "trabeate" or "corbelled".

Between
the eighth and thirteenth centuries the trabeate style was used in the
construction of temples, mosques, tombs and in buildings attached to
large stepped-wells.

Between
the seventh and tenth centuries architects started adding more rooms,
doors and windows to buildings. Roofs, doors and windows were still made
by placing a horizontal beam across two vertical columns, a style of
architecture called "trabeate" or "corbelled".

An
inscription in the Quwwat al-Islam mosque explained that god chose
Alauddin as a king because he had the qualities of Moses and Solomon,
the great lawgivers of the past.

A
tomb architecture, first visible in Humayun's tomb. The tomb was placed
in the centre of a huge formal chahar bagh and built in the tradition
known as "eight paradises" or hasht bihisht- a central hall surrounded
by eight rooms. The building was constructed with red sandstone, edged
with white marbles.

A
tomb architecture, first visible in Humayun's tomb. The tomb was placed
in the centre of a huge formal chahar bagh and built in the tradition
known as "eight paradises" or hasht bihisht- a central hall surrounded
by eight rooms. The building was constructed with red sandstone, edged
with white marbles.

Qutub Minar was built by Iltutmish (completing Qutb-ud-din Aibak's work), Gol Gumbaz by Muhammad Adil Shah, Buland Darwaza by Akbar, and Moti Masjid by Aurangzeb.

Ibadatkhana was built by Akbar, Jama Masjid of Delhi by Shah Jahan, Adhai Din Ka Jhompda by Qutub-ud-din Aibak, and Vijay Stambha by Rana Kumbha.

The Quibla is the direction that should be faced when a Muslim prays. It is fixed as the direction of the Kaaba in the Hejazi city of Mecca. Most mosques contain a wall niche that indicates the Qiblah.

Monuments provide an insight into the technologies used for construction. A stylistic development in the construction of 12th-century architecture was the use of Arches.
The weight of the superstructure above the doors and windows was carried by arches. The Keystone at the centre of the arch transferred the weight of the superstructure to the base of the arch.
The roof too used this principle and was converted into vaults and domes.
This architectural form is called arcuate.

Shah Jahans audience halls were specially constructed to resemble a mosque. The pedestal on which his throne was placed was frequently described as the qibla, the direction in which Muslims pray, since everybody faced that direction when court was in session. The idea of the king as a representative of God on earth was suggested by these architectural features.
It was during Shah Jahans reign that the different elements of Mughal architecture were fused together in a grand harmonious synthesis. His reign witnessed a huge amount of construction activity, especially in Agra and Delhi.

In the early years of his reign, Shah Jahans capital was at Agra, a city where the nobility had constructed their homes on the banks of the river Yamuna. These were set in the midst of formal gardens constructed in the chahar bagh format. The Chahar Bagh garden also had a variation that historians describe as the river-front garden. In this garden, the dwelling was not located in the middle of the Chahar Bagh but at its edge, close to the bank of the river.

Shah Jahan adapted the river-front garden in the layout of the Taj Mahal, the grandest architectural accomplishment of his reign. Here, the white marble mausoleum was placed on a terrace by the edge of the river and the garden was to its south. 

The ceremonial halls of public and private audience were referred to as the diwan-i-khas and the diwan-i-aam respectfully. 
The proportions of this hall, of its columns, and of the engraved arches show high aesthetics and fine craftsmanship. With an impressive faade of nine engraved arch openings, the hall was ornamented with gilded and white shell lime chunam plasterwork.
These courts were also described as chihil sutun or forty-pillared halls, placed within a large courtyard.

Akbar's architects turned to the tombs of his Central Asian ancestor, Timur. The central towering dome and the tall gateway (pishtaq) became important aspects of Mughal architecture, first visible in Humayun's tomb. The tomb was placed in the centre of a huge formal Chahar Bagh and built in the tradition known as eight paradises or hasht bihisht a central hall surrounded by eight rooms. The building was constructed with red sandstone, edged with white marble.

The ceremonial hall private audience was referred to as the diwan-i-khaas. It was the hall in the Red Fort of Delhi where the Mughal emperor received courtiers and state guests. It was also known as the Shah Mahal.

The ceiling was originally inlaid with silver and gold but was stripped bare by successive financial crises of the empire by the Jats or Marathas.

Through the centre of the hall flowed the Stream of Paradise (Nahar-i-Bihish). The building used to have red awnings, or shamianas. Over the corner-arches of the northern and southern walls below the cornice is inscribed the verse of Amir Khusrou: "If there be a paradise on earth, it is this, it is this, it is this."

Charbagh or Chahar Bagh is a Persian and Islamic quadrilateral garden layout based on the four gardens of Paradise mentioned in the Quran. The quadrilateral garden is divided by walkways or flowing water into four smaller parts. In Persian, "Chahar" means four, which corresponds to "Char", which means four in Urdu, while "bagh" means 'garden' in both Persian and Urdu.
Shah Jahan adapted the river-front garden in the layout of the Taj Mahal, the grandest architectural accomplishment of his reign. Here, the white marble mausoleum was placed on a terrace by the edge of the river and the garden was to its south.