PROVINCIAL STYLES

PRESENTED BY-
AR. PALAK PATEL
 PROVINCIAL STYLES
The Provincial (belonging to some particular province; local) Style of Architecture encompasses the
architectural trends and developments noticed in different provincial capitals in India, but specifically in:

Punjab (1150-1325 AD),

Bengal (1203-1573 AD),
Gujarat (1300-1572 AD),
Jaunpur (1376-1479 AD),
Malwa (1405-1569 AD),
Bijapur (1490-1656 AD),
Khandesh (1425-1650 AD) and
Kashmir (1410 onwards).

Such separate and self-contained developments were called ‘provincial styles’.

Some of such provincial styles, though subsidiary to the mainstyle, were of great importance as their buildings
were often of remarkable beauty and displayed definitely original qualities
 PROVINCIAL STYLE OF PUNJAB
The earliest provincial style to emerge was in Punjab, as here the first contacts with Islam.

The Indo-Islamic architecture of Punjab province was mainly of brickworks and produced highly decorated
building arts.

Their palaces were embedded with brickwork and other wooden elements, mainly their doorways, windows
and other hanging balconies.

The buildings were constructed in Islamic styles with the fusion of Hindu culture.

In the twelfth century, the city was known mainly for the royal residences of the princes of that dynasty.

It can be said that Indo Islamic architecture in Punjab initiated in that era.

In the middle of the 12th century, Ala-ud-din Ghor destroyed the palaces of Lahore.

Therefore, not much is known about the architectural styles and characteristics.

It is assumed that probably the ruined buildings of Lahore had much the same character as those in the
parent city of Ghor.
 PROVINCIAL STYLE OF PUNJAB (1150-1325AD)
GOLDEN TEMPLE OR HARMANDIR SAHIB AT AMRITSAR
 GOLDEN TEMPLE - PUNJAB (1150-1325AD)
The foundation stone was laid in 1589 by a Muslim saint called Hazrat Mian Mir

The architectural prototype of the golden temple came into being as an idea combining the
dharamshala and the tank envisaged by Guru Arjan, the son and successor of Guru Ram Das.

In 1875, the design of the temple, as reconstructed by Ranjit singh, was borrowed from the
shrine of saint mian mir, near lahore.
 GOLDEN TEMPLE - PUNJAB (1150-1325AD)

 Instead of building the temple on a high plinth in

hindu or mughal style, guru arjan had it built in a
depression so that worshippers had to go down the
steps in order to enter it.

It had four entrances, which mean no distinction

between the four hindu castes.

The main structure rises from the centre of the

sacred pool, 150 metres square, approached by a
causeway about 60 metres long.

An archway on the western side of the pool opens

on to the causeway, bordered with balustrades of
marble, and, at close intervals
 GOLDEN TEMPLE - PUNJAB (1150-1325AD)
On the ground floor, is the Guru Granth Sahib, placed under a gorgeous canopy, studded with
jewels.
On the second storey is a pavilion known as Shish Mahal or Mirror Room, so designed as to
have a square opening in the centre to view from there the ground floor,
The interior of the Shish Mahal is ornamented with small pieces of mirror, of various sizes and
shapes, skilfully inlaid in the ceiling, and walls richly embellished with designs, mostly floral in
character
multiplicity of chhatris which ornament
the parapets.
the invariable use of fluted domes
covered with gilded copper balconised
windows thrown out on carved brackets or
bay-windows with shallow elliptical
cornices.
enrichment of walls, arches and ceilings
by various forms of mural art
There are about 300 different patterns
on the walls, which, from a distance, look
like hung Persian carpets
 GOLDEN TEMPLE - PUNJAB (1150-1325AD)
Sikh architecture reflects a lively blend of Mughal and
Rajput styles.

Onion-shaped domes, multi-foil arches, pilasters, in-lay

work frescoes, etc. are doubtless of Mughal extraction,
more specifically of Emperor-Architect Shah Jahan’s
period, bracket-supported eaves at the string-course,
chhattris, richly-ornamented friezes, etc. are reminiscent
of elements of Rajput architecture such as is seen in
Jaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, and other places in Rajasthan.

Use of water as an element of design has been

frequently exploited in Mughal and Hindu architecture,
but nowhere in so lively a manner as in Sikh architecture
as in the Golden Temple at Amritsar
 GOLDEN TEMPLE - PUNJAB (1150-1325AD)
The naqqashes, or painters, of these patterns had developed a terminology of their own to
distinguish various designs.

Among these the most prominent is known by the name of Dehin.

This is also a decorative device involving knotted grapples between animals.

In the Golden Temple are seen

showing cobras, lions and elephants
clutching one another, carrying
flower vases in which fruits and
fairies have been depicted.

Pattais a decorative border design

used around the Dehin and often
depicted through creepers. There are
also compositions based on aquatic
creatures.
 PROVINCIAL STYLE OF BENGAL ( 1203-1573 AD)
In the thirteenth century Arabs invaded the Bengal province and introduced their architecture
for the first time in this region.

These Muslim rulers constructed several new cities fortresses, palaces, free-standing victory-
towers, citadels, immense land bridges and embankments, etc in this province that included present
day Bangladesh and West Bengal in India.

These architectures were maintained for a period of two hundred and fifty years.

They created the buildings with the locally available building materials combining the regional
styles with the typical Muslim features such as domes, arches, the minaret and the mihrab.

This amalgamation resulted into a new and improved technique named as Indo-Islamic
architecture, enriched with regional building tradition in Bengal
 PROVINCIAL STYLE OF GUJARAT (1300-1572 AD)
Early in the fourteenth century, Gujarat developed the Islamic style of architecture.

When Khalji dynasty of Delhi established their Governors in this province, they started to build
their architectures for the first time.

They constructed and developed their Islamic architecture until the independent rule of the
Ahmad Shahi dynasty declined, and absorbed into the empire of the Mughals in the sixteenth
century.

They constructed their several mosques, tombs and other buildings with the amalgamation of
Hindu culture
 JAMI MASJID – AHMEDABAD– Gujarat (1300-1572 AD)

LOCATION : OLD AHMEDABAD, GUJARAT BUILT IN : 1424 AD

BUILT BY : SULTAN AHMED SHAH ( founder of city Ahmedabad.)
BUILDING TYPE : MOSQUE
 JAMI MASJID – AHMEDABAD– Gujarat (1300-1572 AD)
In the period when it was constructed, It was the largest mosque of India.

The architectural design of the mosque is very unique as it has its entrance from three
different directions.

Architecture of Jama Masjid is a blend of Hindu and Muslim Styling.

PLAN AND ITS FEATURES

•Courtyard - Rectangular in plan .

•The mosque complex is centred on a

large rectangular courtyard 75 m
long and 66 m wide.

•Courtyard is lined with a colonnade

on three sides
 JAMI MASJID – AHMEDABAD– Gujarat (1300-1572 AD)
The prayer hall occupies the fourth (east) side.

It is rectangular in plan and covered by four vaults.

 In prayer hall have 260 columns and carved with the

form of a bell hanging on a chain.

It is covered with 15 domes.

Prayer Hall Interior
The prayer wall known as qibla is richly ornate.

Prayer hall is floored with white marble

Center of the courtyard is a rectangular basin for ablutions.

 JAMI MASJID – AHMEDABAD– Gujarat (1300-1572 AD)
The domes in the mosque are
given various shaped like the
central domes are carved like
lotus flowers, closely related to
the typical domes of Jain
temples .

Interior of DOME
 JAMI MASJID – AHMEDABAD– Gujarat (1300-1572 AD)
Another features

Pierced stone screens (the 'Jalis') are placed

between the two pillars of the central
openings.

The main entrance is framed by two

columns .
 JAMI MASJID – AHMEDABAD– Gujarat (1300-1572 AD)
MATERIALS USED
Yellow sandstone was main construction material and white marble was used
for flooring

Yellow sandstone White marble

 PROVINCIAL STYLE OF Jaunpur (1376-1479 AD)
The Governor of Jaunpur, an eastern province of the sultanate was given the title 'Malik-ush-
Sharq' (King of the East) by the Tughlaq monarch in Delhi.

Hence, the dynasty was called the Sharqi dynasty.

Under the Sharqi monarchs, Jaunpur became an important centre of Islamic art, architecture
and learning, a university town known as 'Shiraz-i-Hind' after the city of Shiraz in Iran.

Most of the structures of the style were destroyed when Sikander Lodi of Delhi reconquered
Jaunpur, leaving only 5 mosques.
 ATALA MASJID - Jaunpur (1376-1479 AD)
The Atala Masjid stands on the site of a Hindu temple of
Atala Devi.
It was built in 1408 by Sultan Ibrahim (1401- 1440),
Sharqi Sultan of Jaunpur on foundations laid during the
reign of Tughluqid Sultan Firuz Shah III
A large number of its pillars, brackets, lintels and flat
ceilings were extracted from Hindu monuments.
The mosque complex consists of a long rectangular
prayer hall that opens onto a large square courtyard to the
west.
The courtyard is enveloped by a two-story veranda on the
exterior that are used by merchants and visitors.
It is entered from three domed gates facing north, east and
west
Inside, the courtyard is enveloped by a three-bay deep double-
story colonnade on three sides.
The screened upper story was most likely reserved for women
 PROVINCIAL STYLE OF Malwa (1405-1569 AD)
 Malwa province experienced the Indo-Islamic architecture in the late medieval period with the
invasion of Muslim invaders.

This province which included the cities of Dhar and Mandu also experienced a large number of
Islamic architectures during the Muslim dynasty.

Initially they constructed new buildings on the ruins of Hindu and Jain temple materials.
Gradually they developed their own style in building art of Islamic culture.
 PROVINCIAL STYLE OF Malwa (1405-1569 AD)
The cities of Dhar and Mandu of the Malwa province provide examples of distinct architectural
elements in the form of ornamentation of buildings, which was obtained by the use of coloured
stones and marble as well as by means of tiles.

The earliest buildings of this period are the Kamal Maula Masjid (1400) and the Lat Masjid
(1405) at Dhar and the Dilawar Khan Masjid (1405) and the Malik Mughis mosque (1452) at
Mandu.

The architectural activity took a new turn with the establishment of the capital at Mandu,
especially under the rule of Hoshang Shah (1405-1435).

Important buildings in Mandu are the Jahaz Mahal (a 120 meter long 'ship palace' built by
Sultan Ghiyas-ud-din-Khilji between two artificial lakes Munj Talao and Kapur Talao), Taveli
Mahal with two wells called Ujali and Andheri Baoli, Hindola Mahal, Dilawar Khan's Mosque,
Hoshang Shah's Tomb, Ashrafi Mahal and the Jami Masjid built by Mahmud Shah Khilji I.

The city also has several gateways like the Delhi Darwaza, the Alamgir and Bhangi Darwaza,
Rampol Darwaza, Jehangir Gate and Tarapur Gate.
 Hindola Mahal - Malwa (1405-1569 AD)

This vast longitudinal room enormous arches punctuating its length -

and is uncharacteristically massive, with strongly battered walls adding
to its ponderousness. One theory is that it was originally intended to
have several more storeys above.
 The Jahaz Mahal - Malwa (1405-1569 AD)
The Jahaz Mahal, built by Mahmud Khilji, was a departure from the previous style at Mandu.
The most striking thing about this monument is its location between two water bodies, the
Kaphur Talao and the Munja Talao, which gives the building the appearance of floating on water,
hence its name, literally the ‘ship palace’.
Architecturally, the building consists of a series of compartments and corridors over the Munja
Talao, with terraces, kiosks and numerous open-air baths conforming to the lifestyle at Mandu,
which was slowly sliding into decadence.

The Jahaz Mahal proved an

inspiration for later Khilji
sultans to dot the landscape
with their own pleasure
pavilions and summer
retreats.
The Jahaz Mahal - Malwa (1405-1569 AD)
 GOL GUMBAZ - Bijapur (1490-1656 AD)
Surroundings
The mausoleum is part of a bigger complex.
The other buildings in the complex are a mosque (to the
west), a gateway called Naqqar Khana (drum house) and a
dharmasala or rest-house.

Mosque Naqqar Khana

 GOL GUMBAZ - Bijapur (1490-1656 AD)
Gol Gumbaz is one of the biggest single chamber structures
in the world.
The central dome is the second largest in the world (the
largest being the dome of St Peter s Basilica in Rome) which
stands unsupported by pillars measuring at 38 meters in
diameter and covering an area of 1700 sq m with 51 meters
in height.
The structure is composed of a cube, 47.5 metres (156 ft) on
each side, capped by a dome 44 m (144 ft) in external
diameter.
The walls are 3 m thick and 30.5 m in height. The
measurement from the interior is 41m on each side.

PLAN

At each of the four corners of the cube, is a dome-capped octagonal tower seven stories high with
a staircase inside.
The upper floor of each opens on to a round gallery which surrounds the dome.
 GOL GUMBAZ - Bijapur (1490-1656 AD)
SECTION

"Eight intersecting arches created by

two rotated squares that create
interlocking pendentives" support the
dome.

The eight high pointed arches bisect in

the interior of the cube at regular
intervals.

There are six openings at its base. The

low drum below the dome is encircled by a
foliated band

The effect of the building is derived from the fine proportions between its various elements,
especially between the cubical part below and the domed part above.
 GOL GUMBAZ - Bijapur (1490-1656 AD)
 Inside the mausoleum hall, is a square podium with steps
on each side.

In the middle of the podium, a cenotaph slab on the ground

marks the actual grave below.

A very strong circular foundation was discovered in the

basement that resembled the circular opening of the dome
above. But this foundation supports only a platform and a
light wooden pavilion.

The real graves are in the basement, which can be accessed

by a staircase below the entrance on the west.

The south door is the main entrance to the tomb.

 GOL GUMBAZ - Bijapur (1490-1656 AD)
The They have a large
use of central arch, above which
groined is a cornice of grey basalt
compart and a row of small arches
ments or carrying a second line of
pendenti plain work crowned by a
ves, balustrade 6 feet high.
which
countera
ct the
outer
thrust of The interior of the dome
the converges with the edge of
dome. the circle by about 4 m so
Dome that part of the weight falls
with on the intersecting arches
intersecti that bear and neutralize
ng arches any other exterior forces.
from the
inside
 GOL GUMBAZ - Bijapur (1490-1656 AD)
The base of the monumental dome of the Gol Gumbaz is
carved with beautiful petals that cover the drum.
Horizontal courses of brick have been used in the
construction of the dome which has a flat section at its crown.
It has been cemented with lime.
It is in the eighth storey is a broad gallery around the dome
which hangs out at around 11 feet.
It can be reached by means of winding staircase in the four
towers.
On the exterior side of the structure there are three great
blind arches.
The central arch is the widest of all and is decorated with
wooden panels (chajja ) and has a small rectangular
entrance and three rows of windows with arches.
The cornice and parapet of the building is the most distinct
characteristic of the façade.
The cornice rests on highly carved stone corbels that
project to about 3 m from the wall.
The cornice supports the parapet, which has a row of
arched openings and leaf-shaped walls.
Thank You