History of Architecture II

Imperial Style Architecture

Prepared By: Anjali A. Patel

 I m p e r i a l Style Architecture

Imperial Style may be divided into five phases

corresponding to the five Mohammedan dynasties which
prevailed in Hindustan from the twelfth to the sixteenth
centuries.
 Slave (1191-1246 AD)
 Khilji (1290-1320 AD)
 Tughluq (1320-1413 AD)
 Sayyid (1414-1444 AD)
 Lodhi(1451-1557 AD)

Reference: Percy brown,1975,Indian Architecture (Iislamic Period),Kiran Book Agency,New Delhi

 I m p e r i a l S t yl e A rc h i te c t u re
(Beginning under the Slave Dynasty)

 The slave kings of Delhi, name has been given to the earliest moslem
rule in India, as it members were not of royal blood but belonged to a
system of slavery
 Qutub-ud-din established the slave dynasty which was most active
patron of the building art and their productions were the utmost
significance in laying the foundation of the style.
 Soon after he proceeding to erect monumental buildings of stone on
the site of the captured Hindu stronghold of Qila-I- Rai Pithora, which
he converted into the moselm capital of Delhi
 S l ave D y n a s t y
(Qutub Complex)

 The slave kings of Delhi, name has been given to the earliest moslem
rule in India, as it members were not of royal blood but belonged to a
system of slavery
 Qutub-ud-din established the slave dynasty which was most active
patron of the building art and their productions were the utmost
significance in laying the foundation of the style.
 Soon after he proceeding to erect monumental buildings of stone on
the site of the captured Hindu stronghold of Qila-I- Rai Pithora, which
he converted into the moselm capital of Delhi.
 S l ave D y n a s t y
(Major Monuments)

 Qutub mosque,delhi 1195

 Qutub minar,delhi 1200
 Arhai-din-ka jhompra Mosque,ajmer 1205
 Khilji Dynasty

 The Khilji dynasty or Khalji was a Muslim dynasty of Turkic origin

which ruled large parts of South Asia between 1290 and 1320.
 It was founded by Jalal ud din Firuz Khilji and became the second
dynasty to rule the Delhi Sultanate of India.
 Khilji Dynasty
(Major Monuments)

 Alla-ud-din khalji’s extension of qutub mosque:1300

 Alai darwaza :1305
 S l ave D y n a s t y
(Qutub Complex)

 The Qutub complex was built by Qutb

Ud-Din Aibak (1206 - 1211) who
established the first Islamic sultanate Alauddin’s tomb
in the Indian subcontinent in Delhi in & Madrassa

1192.
It is located within the Qila Rai
Pithora where Qutb Ud-Din also set up
his administrative quarters and
residence
It is also known as Quwwat ul Islam, Alai darwaza
meaning the 'might of Islam,' the Imam zamins tomb

Qutub complex was created with the

dismantling and reassembling of the 27 Qutub Complex Consist of
existing Hindu and Jain temples on the 1) Qutub Minar
site.
2) Iron Pillar
3) Iltumish Tomb
4) Alai Darwaza
5) Alai Minar
6) Alaudin’s Tomb and Madarasa
 Qutub Complex

Qutub complex consists of a mosque and

two minarets enclosed within a series of
cloistered precincts.

This rectangular complexmeasures about

235 m(north-south) and 155m (east-west)

It was entered via four monumental gates

along the north, east and south walls, of
which only the southern gate (Alai Darwaza)
remains.

The mosque, known as the Qutub or

Quwwat ul Islam Mosque, occupies the
southwest corner of the complex.

A tall screen wall with pointed archways

runs along the western edge of the precinct,
creating a qibla wall for the prayer spaces
 Qutub Complex
(Qutub Minar)

 Qutub Minar is the tallest Minar (73 metres) in

India Originally ancient Islamic Monument,
Inscribed with Arabic inscriptions and is
UNESCO World heritage Site.
 It is made of red sand stone and marble.
 The stairs of the Minar has 379 steps is 72.5
metres high and has a base diameter of 14.3
metres and narrows to 2.7 meter at the top.
 Construction was started in 1192 by Qutub-ud-
din and carried on by his successor Iltumish
and in 1368 Firoz Shah Tughlak constructed
the fifth and the last story.
 The Minar comprises of several superimposed
flanged and cylindrical shafts separated with
stone brackets for support.
 Qutub Complex
(Qutub Minar)

The Minar is decorated throughout with

floral motifs and arabesque.
The stone brackets are decorated with
honeycomb design, more conspicuously in
the first story.
The first three stories are made of
sandstone and the next two of marble and
sandstone
Firoz shah Tughlaq added marble to the
top story
The Minar is in fact belived to have been
built to aid the Mmuezzin of the Mosque
for prayer call.
 Qutub Complex
(Qutub Minar)

Projected Balconies supported by stone Bracket

 Qutub Complex
(Quwwat-ul-islam masjid )
 To mark his victory over Qila Rai
Pithora, he built the mosquei n
1192 which was completed in
1198.
 It is earliest extant mosque in
India, having a rectangular
court.
 The court is enclosed by cloister
which were carved columns and
other architectural members
from the 27 Hindu and Jain
temples which were later
demolished
 Qutub Complex
(Quwwat-ul-islam masjid )

Pillars of the mosque: “as a

whole, a confused and somewhat
incongruous improvisation”.
(Percy Brown)
 Qutub Complex
(Alai Darwaza)

 It is the southern gateway of the

Quwwat-ul-islam mosque, and is a
gem of Islamic architecture in India.
 It was built by alla-ud-din Khilji in
1311.
 It is 17.2m square and pierced by
arched openings that echo the
contours of the covering dome.
 The arch to the north is semicircular
while the others are of pointed horse
shoe shape
 It has intricate carvings in red
sandstone and marble.
 It has red stone jali screens
Qutub Complex
(Alai Darwaza)
 Qutub Complex
(Iron Pillar)
 The iron pillar dates back to the 4th century BC.
 It bears inscriptions that dedicate it as a flagstaff
to honor the Hindu god Vishnu and in memory of
Gupta king Chandragupta ii (375- 413 ad).
 The pillar is a symbol of the progress of
metallurgy in ancient India.
 It is made of 98 percent wrought iron and has
survived 1,600 years without rusting.
 The pillar was cast in its present form not forged.
 Length 7.2m of which 93 cm is underground.
 Its Diameter is 0.41 m