ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE IN INDIA

SULTANATE ARCHITECTURE - IMPERIAL STYLE

(1206-
(1206-1526 AD)

History of Eastern Architecture –II

U2L05: LODI DYNASTY B.Arch V Semester
 The LODI Dynasty (1451-1526)

Muslim Rulers of the LODI Dynasty (1451-1526)

1) Bahlul Lodi 1451 - 1489
2) Nizam Khan, Sikandar Lodi 1489 - 1517
3) Ibrahim Shah Lodi (II) 1517 - 1526

• It was made up of an Afghan tribe, who ruled northern India from 1451 to 1526.
• It was founded by Bahlul Khan Lodi
• Sayyid dynasty ended after Ibrahim Lodi was defeated by Babur from Kabulistan in the 1526
Battle of Panipat.
• It was during the period of the Lodi's that the first Portuguese Armada under Vasco da Gama
landed in India
 Major Architectural
Monuments in

LODI Dynasty

1) Tomb of Sikandar Lodi

2) Bara Gumbad

3) Shish Gumbad

4) Moth-ki Masjid

5) Jamala Masjid

6) Tomb of Adam Khan

The period in LODI & SAYYID Dynasty is called as MACABRE
emphasize the details and symbols of death

• During the entire regime of the Sayyid and Lodhi, they constructed several monuments as memorials to
the dead. So, the architectural period during these dynasties was termed as the period of the macabre
(word derived from ‘maqbara’ or the cemetery in Arabic).
• Sayyids and Lodis constructed the tombs in 2different forms;
Octagonal plan surrounded by arched walkway with one storey in height
Square plan without walkway with two or three storey in height
• In both the cases, the building had a dome with pillars on each side of octagonal and square variety.
• Octagonal tombs were reserved for the rulers & square tombs for the nobles of their courts.
• An important architectural feature – the amazing measurements of height and width to match with the
structure of the basements.
• The height and width of each octagonal face is 30’, including the basement.
• The ornamental pinnacles or guldasta is present at the corners. This measurement is also ½ the total
height of the building including the finial.
• Each octagonal face contains 3arched openings divided by pillars.
• The central opening of the octagonal face is slightly broader.
• The tomb chamber inside is octagonal in plan along with an "arch and beam" opening in each face.
Tomb of Sikandar Lodi 1518 AD

• 2nd ruler of Lodi dynasty

• The tomb is set in a garden set up
as LODI GARDENS, surrounded by an
elaborate enclosure 76m square
with walls 3.5m high
• This is the last royal monument of
mean importance in Lodi Dynasty
• Basic octagonal plan with a double
dome surmounting the central
chamber
The external dome is utilized for outer
elevation without compromising
the proportions
of the central
chamber and
also creates a
more pleasing
inner space

• Consists of deep arcaded well

that defines the square
courtyard
• The profile of dome is
elevated and base of dome is
attached with guldastas or
semi-minarets
The interior is decorated with extensive
and well preserved tile work and a
painted incised plaster ceiling
Bara Gumbad Mosque 1490 AD
• Bara Gumbad or Big Dome is a large domed structure grouped together with the Friday
mosque of Sikander Lodi and a Mehman Khana (Guest house) located in Lodi Gardens, Delhi
• Monuments were constructed at different times during the Lodi era
• Though it was the first full dome constructed in Delhi, it doesn’t have the tombstone
• It was intended as a gateway for the Friday mosque
• Bara Gumbad is square in plan measuring 20m each side set on a plinth of 3m high
• The E-S-W side plinths are decorated with ogee arch openings set into rectangular frames
• The walls are 12m tall above which a hemi-spherical dome on a hexadecagonal drum
extends more 14m from the roof level making the total building height as 29m above ground
• All the elevations are identical and divided into 2horizontal sections
• A projecting portal composed of an OGEE arch set in a rectangular frame (1.5m wide of grey
granite) is centered in each elevation and rises 75cm above the parapet line of the building
• Each of the recessed arch panels are blind and filled with granite masonry
• The lower panels adjacent to portal are windows while the lower panels at the edges are filled
• A single hemispherical dome surmounts on a 16-sided drum crowns the monument
• The interior surfaces are un-ornamented and finished in dressed granite
• The square plan of the room transitions into an octagon via Squinches, further supports the 32-
sided drum and then the DOME
Shish Gumbad Mosque 1510 AD
• Shish Gumbad or Glass Dome is
square domed tomb built for one
of the ministers of Sikandar Lodi
(1489-1517)

• Consists of a 2-storied exterior

arrangement with projecting
cornices, contrasted by the
verticals of the iwan frame and
arches.

• The portal frieze has square panels

adorned with cobalt-blue glazed
tiles imported from Persia that are
not suitable for the local climate.
• All the
Moth-ki Masjid 1505AD

• Located in Delhi and built by Wazir

Miya Bhoiya during the reign of
Sultan Sikandar Lodi
• Considered as a beautiful Dome (or
Gumbad) structure of the period
• Raised on high plinth 1.8m above
street level approached from
Eastern side street of village, built of
sandstone ashlar masonry,
decorated with blind arched niches
set into rectangular panels
 ORIGIN of it NAME – Sultan Sikandar Lodi visited a mosque in the vicinity
of Moth-ki Masjid and
1) Sultan kneeled over a grain of moth (a type of Lentil) dropped by a
bird. His Wazir, felt that “A seed honored by the Sultan must not be
thrown and must be used in the service of God”.
2) Sultan gifted his Wazir a grain of moth (Moth ka dal) which he
planted to yield surplus income
So, he planted all such seeds in his garden that earned him good
money with which he built the mosque. Sultan was impressed and laid
the foundation. Hence the name Moth-ki Masjid

• Domes of the pavilions have traces of blue tile work and are
supported on 8red sandstone posts. A continuous stone chajja runs
along the perimeter of the dome
• Square layout with 38m each side with an open courtyard on East,
a covered prayer hall along the West, elaborate entrance gateway
on the East (arch of gateway has Hindu arch within Muslim arch)
• GATEWAY - It is a free standing structure, square in plan, reached
with 7steps 5m wide, Eastern elevation composed of 3recessed
arches
THE PRAYER HALL

• It is rectangular in plan (41 (n-s) X 9 (e-w))m

• The interior has 5bays on E elevation and each bay has a niche
composed of stepping planes of ogee arches in the Qibla wall

• The central bay has the Mihrab niche (embellished in

elaborately carved red sandstone and white marble panels)
with a series of recessed niches, the central arch is of red
sandstone carved with Quranic inscriptions, the innermost niche
is of while marble with an inset rectangular red sandstone panel

• A stone Minbar, 80cm tall stands in the N corner of central bay

• The interior has been detailed with intricate stucco work,

especially the Squinches and pendentives

• The exterior elevation is finished in plaster as well as dressed

granite stone, parts of which are cladded in red and white stone

Squinches (decorated by Curved Ogee arched niches and round

plaster medallions) support the transition from the square ground
plan through Octagonal drum to the dome
Jamala Masjid 1536AD

• It was completed during the reign

of Humayun

• Associated with Shaikh Fazlullah or

Jalal Khan or Jamali, a saint and

poet who lived between Sikander

Lodi’s reign and that of Humayun

• Consists of 2graves Jamali &

Kamali (unknown)
ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES

• Fluted pilasters flanking the central arch, carved bands and

medallions in the spandrels and pendant lotus buds below
the parapet which decorate the façade of the prayer hall,
pierced by 5arched openings
• The west wall with octagonal towers at the corners has a
narrow gallery running around the mosque on the 2nd storey
with 3oriel windows
ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES

• This mosque was accompanied by a flat-roofed tomb in the

adjoining enclosure to the North which is unique with colored
ornamentation in tiles and patterns incised and painted pilaster
bearing an inscription composed by Jamali himself
Tomb of Adam Khan 1562AD

• Adam Khan, Akbar’s foster brother

• It was constructed for both Adam
Khan and his mother Maham Anga, a
wet nurse of Akbar
• This tomb lies to the North of Qutub
Minar, Delhi on the walls of Lal Kot
• Rises from a terrace enclosed by an
octagonal chamber in the Lodi &
Sayyid Dynasty styles
• Verandah on each side pierced by
3openings
• Adam khan was thrown down
from the ramparts of Agra Fort
twice till dead
• Maham Anga, died after 40th
day of mourning
• British converted residence,
police station, post office &
finally restored back the tomb
Ar. Ravindra Patnayaka
B.Arch,M.Tech Planning, PGDESM, (PhD)
Assistant Professor
ARCHITECTURE Acknowledgements :Ar. N.S.Kala.B.Arch, MS (USA), AIIA,Asst. Professor