Part-A

Islamic Architecture in India

Tughlaq Dynasty (1321- 1413 AD)

Arch 2205 | Architectural Heritage – IV

| Kowshik Roy | Part Time Lecturer | Architecture Discipline | Khulna University |
 Tughlaq Dynasty (13201- 1413 AD)

Ruler Reign Notes

Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq 1321–1325 Ghiyath al-Din Tughluq
Muhammad binTughluq 1325–1351 aka Muhammad Shah II
Mahmud Ibn Muhammad 1351 (March)
Firuz Shah Tughlaq 1351–1388 Cousin of Muhammad bin Tughlaq.
Ghiyas-ud-Din Tughluq II 1388–1389
Abu Bakr Shah 1389–1390
Nasir ud din Muhammad Shah
1390–1393
III
Ala-ud-Din Sikandar Shah I 1393 (March–
April)
Nusrat Shah Grandson of Firuz Shah Tughlaq,
1393–1394
controlled the west from Firozabad.
Nasiruddin Mahmud Shah Son of Mahmud Nasir-ud- din,
1394–1399
controlled the east from Delhi.

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 Tomb of Ghiyas-ud-din

Figure 01: Tomb of Ghiyas-ud-din, Delhi

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 Tomb of Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq
General Information
Known as a Fortress Tomb

Tomb of Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq is placed within a fortress boundary.

The fortress boundary is located at southern (main) entrance of

Tughlaqabad Fort

Architectural Features
Only red sand stone structure of Tughlaq dynasty

Constructed in the midst of an artificial lake.

The courtyard of the tomb consisted of some underground chambers.

White marble panel and white marble blind alcove at upper part of
the structure.
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 Tomb of Ghiyas-ud-din

Irregular pentagon
in plan.
The layout was
dominated by the
topography of the
land.

Elevated cause
way connection

Figure 02: Plan of the Tomb of Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq, Delhi

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 Tomb of Ghiyas-ud-din

Figure 03: Aerial view of the Tomb of Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq, Delhi

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 Tomb of Ghiyas-ud-din

Figure 04: Causeway to the Tomb of Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq, Delhi

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 Covered dome
with white
marble casing
Blind
alcove

Blind
alcove

Figure 05: West façade of the Tomb of Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq, Delhi

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 Tomb of Ghiyas-ud-din

Intrados of the
arch has lotus
bud/ fringe
design.
Apex is slightly
ogee , similar to
Tudor type of
Arch

Figure 06: Entarnce of the Tomb of Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq, Delhi

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 Khirki Mosque, Delhi

Figure 07: Khirki mosque, Delhi

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 Khirki Mosque, Delhi

General Information
The Khirki, named for the perforated windows or khirkis

Built by Khan-i-Jahan Junan Shah, the Prime Minister of Feroz Shah Tughlaq
(1351–1388)

Architectural Features
Built as a fortress with an unusual fusion of Islamic and traditional Hindu
architecture

The sahn was partially covered by a combination of a domed and flat roof,
leaving four symmetrically arranged open-to-sky courtyards for lighting and
ventilation

The mosque's walls are of rubble masonry construction with plastered surface
on the outside

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 Khirki Mosque, Delhi

The Mosque is 170.6 ft x 170.6 ft square plan, raised on a plinth of 9.8 ft

Figure 08: Plan of Khirki Mosque, Delhi

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 Khirki Mosque, Delhi
The southern gate, with imposing steps at the main entrance, exhibits a combination
of arch and trabeated construction with an rectilinear frame.

Figure 09: Southern entrance of Khirki mosque, Delhi

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 Khirki Mosque, Delhi

Figure 10: Axonometric view of Khirki mosque, Delhi

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 Khirki Mosque, Delhi
There are four tapering corner towers and three projected gateways one in the
middle of each face, with tapering turrets flanking each gate.

Figure 11 & 12: Southern entrance (left) and corner tower (right) of Khirki mosque, Delhi

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 Khirki Mosque, Delhi
The southern gate, with imposing steps at the main entrance, exhibits a combination
of arch and trabeated construction with an rectilinear frame.

Figure 13: Southern entrance of Khirki mosque, Delhi

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 Khirki Mosque, Delhi

Figure 14: Arcade around the courtyard of Khirki mosque, Delhi

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 Firuz Shah Kotla
(Fortress of Firuz Shah Tughlaq)

Figure 15: Remains of buildings at Firoz Shah Kotla, Delhi, 1795.

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 Firuz Shah Kotla
(Fortress of Firuz Shah Tughlaq)

General Information
Popularly known as Kushk-I-Feroz (Feroz's palace)
Erected on the bank of the river Yamuna because of availability water.

Architectural Features
Consist of three rubble-built walled rectangular enclosures

an irregular polygonal plan with its eastern wall in one alignment.

The eastern wall was built on the bank of the River Yamuna.

The central & largest enclosure had an imposing main gateway from
the western direction and bastions on either side flanked it.

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 Firuz Shah Kotla
(Fortress of Firuz Shah Tughlaq)

Figure 16: Plan of Firoz Shah Kotla, Delhi

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 Firuz Shah Kotla
(Fortress of Firuz Shah Tughlaq)

Figure 17: aerial view of Firoz Shah Kotla, Delhi.

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 Structures within Firuz Shah Kotla

Ashokan Pillar (Ashok Lat)

Made of sandstone, but so
polished that looks like metal

Called as Minar-i-Zarin (gold

or gloden) as ornamented by
Feroz Shah

In the afternoon on a bright

day it glitters like gold

Figure 18: Ashokan Pillar on top of Hawa Mahal at Firoz Shah Kotla, Delhi

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 Structures within Firuz Shah Kotla

Jami Masjid
Located just next to the
Ashokan Pillar

Built on a series of
underground cells and
made of quartzite stone,
covered with lime stone

Surrounded by a large
courtyard with cloisters
and a Prayer Hall

Figure 19 Jami Masjid at Firoz Shah Kotla, Delhi.

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 Structures within Firuz Shah Kotla

Figure 20 Jami Masjid at Firoz Shah Kotla, Delhi.

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 Structures within Firuz Shah Kotla

Baoli (step well)

Located northwest of the
Ashokan pillar, just in the
center of the garden

It has subterranean
apartments served as a cool
retreat in summer and was
used by persons of royal
lineage

A large underground drain

for the water towards its
eastern side

Figure 21: Baoli (step well) at Firoz Shah Kotla, Delhi

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 Structures within Firuz Shah Kotla

Figure 22: Baoli (step well) at Firoz Shah Kotla, Delhi

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 Structures within Firuz Shah Kotla

Hawa Palace
A tired structure
combined with
arched facades ,
influenced by of
Buddhist stupa.

Figure 23: Hawa Mahal with Ashokan Pillar on top at Firoz Shah Kotla, Delhi

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 Structures within Firuz Shah Kotla

Figure 24: Plan (left) and Section (right) of Hawa Mahal at Firoz Shah Kotla, Delhi

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 Distinct Features of Tughlaq Architecture

Massive battered wall made of rubble stone & brick

Figure 25: Out side view of Fort Wall, Firoz Shah Kotla, Delhi

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 Distinct Features of Tughlaq Architecture

Tapered conical shaped corner bastion (tower)

Figure 26: Corner Bastion, Firoz Shah Kotla, Delhi

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 Distinct Features of Tughlaq Architecture
Fort like structure with
Barbican (outer defense of a castle or walled city)
Merlon (solid part of a crenellated parapet)
Battlement (parapet at the top of fort or castle with regularly spaced openings)

Merlon

Figure 27: Battlement, Firoz Shah Kotla, Delhi

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 Distinct Features of Tughlaq Architecture

Hall room ceiling has crossed arch

Figure 28: Celing of Khirki mosque, Delhi

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 Distinct Features of Tughlaq Architecture

Hall room ceiling has crossed arch

Figure 29:Typical Crossed Arch

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 Distinct Features of Tughlaq Architecture

Four centered Arch along with

two centered arch

Combination of Arcuated &

Trabeated system in
construction of arched
openings

Usage of Pier also multiple

pillar & pier in arcade

Shallow dome a bit angular in

mosque
Figure 30:Four Centered Arch

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