THE KHILJI DYNASTY (1290-1320AD)

TURKIC origin , Through Nepal

Thename "Khilji" refers to an Afghan village or
town known as Qalat-e Khilji (Fort of Ghilji)
Known for their faithlessness and ferocity

RULER REIGN NOTES

Jalal ud din Firuz Khilji (1290–1296) Son of Qaim Khan (Yulak

Territory controlled by the Khaljis (dark green)
Khan of Qunduz), and also the and their tributaries (light green)

founder of the Khilji Dynasty.

Ala-ud-din Khilji (1296–1316) Nephew of Firuz Khalji
and the most powerful ruler of Khilji
Period
Shibab-ud-din Omar (1316)
Khan Khalji
Qutb ud din Mubarak (1316–1320) Nasiruddin Khusro
shah
 ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES
➢ Put up Maqusra in the extended part of the
mosque

➢ The Riwak and iwan on east and west part

was constructed

➢ The eastern riwak was connected with the

newly constructed riwak
on the south portion

➢ Only the southern gateway was completed

Alai Darwaza

➢ Alai Minar
➢ Jamaat Khana Mosque City of Siri & the Fort
Hauz Khas
FURTHER EXPANSION OF QUTB COMPLEX

Figure 01: Plan of the Qutb Complex - 3rd expansion carried out by
Ala-ud-din Khalji, Delhi
FURTHER EXPANSION OF QUTB COMPLEX

Figure 02: Aerial View of the Qutb Complex after 3rd expansion carried
out by Ala-ud-din Khalji, Delhi
 ALAI DARWAZA

Figure 03: south façade of Alai Darwaza , Delhi

 ALAI DARWAZA
➢ Built in : 1311
Built by : Ala-ud-din Khilji
Location : Delhi

➢ A GRAND GATEWAY
The Alai Darwaza is a magnificent gateway
which act as the Southern entrance of
Qutb complex, located at the South East corner having exquisite inlaid
marble decorations and latticed stone screens.

➢ It was a part of Ala-ud-din-Khilji’s extension of the Quwwat-ul-Islam

mosque. It was one of the four grand gateways; the other three could
not be completed because of the death of Ala-ud-din in AD 1316.
.
➢. It highlights the remarkable artisanship of Turkish and local artisans who
worked on it. standing as an best example for an new style of indo-islamc
architecture.
 ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES:-

➢The main structure of the Alai Darwaza

consists of a single hall 34½ feet on the
inside and 56½ feet on the outside.

➢The domed ceiling rises to a height of

47 feet.
Figure 05: Plan of Alai Darwaza,Delhi
➢ The three doorways on the east, west,
and south are lofty pointed arches, in
the shape of a horseshoe, which rise
above the flanking side bays.

➢The entrance to the north is of an

indigenous character, as its arch is semi-
circular in shape.

Figure 06: north elevation of Alai

Darwaza,, facing into the complex
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➢ The south, east, and west elevations each feature horseshoe arches with
spearheaded decorations in the intrados and a decorative parapet above.
.
➢ On the south elevation, patterns range from
arabesques to more Hindu motifs such as
rounded lotus buds and leafy tendrils

Figure 07: interior of Alai Drwaza

Figure 08: Exterior of Alai Drwaza
➢Low height hemispherical dome

➢Usageof blind alcovesand windows to create two storey illusion

➢Concept of Iwan (huge arched entry) tocreate a grand entrance

➢Successful use of pointed arch till the height of the parapet, horse shoe shape design

➢Blend of slender marblepanels along with red sandstone

9
➢ LOW HEIGHT HEMISPHERICALDOME
➢ The recessed corner arches of the attractive
horseshoe forms, supporting a simple spherical
dome on top of the square chamber, are an
especially happy solution to the perpetual
problem of supporting a good dome.

➢ The dome was constructed on highly scientific

principles. A series of squinches of pointed
shape, one recessed within the other, in the
upper section of each angle of the hall, changes
the square into an octagon, and then the
octagon into the circle of the dome with an
interweaving sixteen-sided shaft formed by a
bracket at each end of the octagon. With use of
complex geometric calculations, the load of the
dome has been gracefully conveyed to the
ground—from the circle to the sixteen-sided
shaft, from the latter to the octagon and then
onto the four walls of the square chamber
Hemispherical
dome without
shoulder,
disproportionate
with the gateway
structure’s height
to enter Qutb
Complex.

Figure 05: Alai Darwaza,

Delhi
11
• The plinth on each side is beautifully carved with floral and geometric patterns
in both white marble and red sandstone, creating a superb polychrome effect.
• Perforated latticework window screens (jali) are set in the recessed windows on
both sides of the entrances.
• These marble screens set off the monotony of the vertical lines of calligraphic
ornamentation.
• The most charming aspect of surface decoration is the lace-like interweaving of
floral tendrils, repeated with a flawless symmetry on all the three entrances,
elegantly designed and perfectly built
 Low Relief
Carving
indicating
plastic art
on stone
surface

Star and
hexagonal
shaped white
marble jali
(latice) at
window

Figure 06: Interior of Alai Darwaza,

Delhi
 ALAI MINAR
• Alauddin Khalji started building the Alai Minar, after he had doubled the
size of Quwwat ul-Islam mosque.
• He conceived this tower to be two times higher than Qutb minar in
proportion with the enlarged mosque
• The construction was however abandoned, just after the completion of
the 24.5-metre-high (80 ft) first-story core; soon after death of Alauddin in
1316, and never taken up by his successors of Khalji dynasty.
• The first storey of the Alai Minar, a giant rubble masonary core, still stands
today, which was evidently intended to be covered with dressed stone later
on. Noted Sufi poet and saint of his times, Amir Khusro in his work, Tarikh-
i-Alai, mentions Ala-ud-din's intentions to extend the mosque and also
constructing another minar.
 ALAI MINAR

Figure 08: Plan of Alai Minar, Delhi Figure 08: View of Alai Minar, Delhi

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