EVOLUTION OF TOMBS AND DOMES

The building elements in the past were first evolved due to structural significance and later with
morphological refinements they reached to their aesthetic peak. The dome is primarily a structural
solution for roofing but being a dominant element it had been experimented for their aesthetic
value too. Shallow domes due to their non-appearance in the elevation were not considered to be
embellished on the external surface. But as the domes got a significant mass, their positions over the
top of the buildings dominated and caught the attention of the viewer. They defined the skyline and
governed the silhouettes of the cities. Domes apart from their structural and roofing function they
also have symbolic value.

Almost every Islamic dynasty in India had some innovation in the design of dome and maintained the
continuum also. Five dynasties of Sultanate period, Slave, Khilji, Tughlaq, Sayyid, Lodi and finally
Mughals contributed to the development of domes in India.

Tombs came in various shapes- square, trapezium, octagonal, rectangular arrangements, etc. Tombs
evolved in their design and grandiosity as the powerful kings grew in desires to have monumental
and revered tombs that signified their legendary lives.

ILLTUMISH’S TOMB – corbelled dome

The tomb is situated at the North western corner of the Qutb Mosque. The exterior of the building is
relatively plain with horizontal bands at intervals and a decorated central arch. The dome had
collapsed due to inexperience of the Hindu builders to construct a tomb. The basic concept of the
Tomb of Iltutmish was the circular dome supported on the square cube, involving a phase of
transition from the square, octagon, a 16 sided polygon to finally a circle. The domes of Islamic
monuments in India were supported by method of squinches. In the tomb of Iltutmish the squinch
took the form of a half dome with the facing of an elaborately decorated arch. The tomb could also
be a place for prayer with western side that included three mihrabs in the interior face, intricately
carved with inscriptions.

Compared to the later tombs, the supporting walls are relatively thinner, maybe that’s why they were
unable to support the outward thrust of the dome, hence collapsing. Or the cenotaph could’ve been
left open to sky as per the popularly ignored belief that a grave has to be open to rain and dew to be
blessed.
 FIG1: Plan and isometric break up of Illtumish’s tomb

TOMB OF SHER SHAH – shallow single shelled dome

The tomb of Sher Shah proportions are placed on an artificial lake, connected by means of causeway
to the mainland. The form is pyramidal in five distinct stages not strikingly different from its Sayyid
Prototype. The height increases with kiosks at each angle the plan being octagonal in shape. The
lower storey is in the form of a verandah having triple arches in each of its sides with a projecting
chajja and a high parapet with merlon motifs. The shape of the structure changes at each level from
a square basement to octagonal tiers and a circular dome.

FIROZ SHAH’S TOMB - shallow single shelled dome

The most ornate building in in the complex is Fitos Shah's own tomb which connects the Two wings
of the madrasa. The main entrance is on the south, with a small yard in front enclosed in stone
mailings, a feature not found anwhere else in Delhi The tombs has the same proportions as
Ghivasuddin's Tomb Tughlakabad but, instead of red sandstone and marble. it is built from local
quartzite rubble and finished with a plaster surface that would have gleamed white when first
applied, Grey quartzite was used for door pillars and lintel and red sandstone for the more
delicate carved elements.

During the rule of Firoz Tughlaq the tombs constructed were plain devoid of ornamentation with
inexpensive materials like rubble, lime and plaster. There was lack of skilled craftsmen and poor
economic conditions prevailed due to the shifting of the capital from Delhi to Daulat bad by his
predecessor, Muhammed Tughlaq. The plain walls of the tomb of Firuz Shah have a slight slope and is
decorated with merlons on two tiers one above the cube and second above the octagonal dome. On
the outer surface the there is a slight projection towards the centre emphasizing the entrance of the
door. On the southern side is a low platform with a stone railing of horizontals and verticals. The
exterior and interior of the tomb has limited ornamentation.

FIG2: Isometric section of Firoz Shah’s tomb

TOMB OF SIKANDAR LODI – shallow single shelled dome

The tomb of Sikander Lodi (fig.6) is built without kiosks . On each of the octagonal plan’s side are
arched verandahs taking the cue from the earlier tomb of Mubarak Sayyid. The tomb is the focus of
an elaborately landscaped garden within a walled enclosure and gateways on all four surrounding
sides. The later Mughal tombs were based on the idea of double domes and tombs related to
landscape.

The south entrance to Sikander Lodi's tomb is from a platform that appears to have been an cartier
construction, perhaps rather like the tomb of Khwaiah Sara Basti Khan Defence Colony. The peaceful
garden enclosure includes a wall mosque on the west side. The tomb itself is similar to Muhammad
Shak's tomb, the most noticeable difference being the lack of chatris on the root, (likely that these
were planned for but were removed) because the windows in the dome drum are still offset, as if to
avoid external chatris. Another difference is that there is greater disparity in width between the
entrance arches, barely detectable in earlier tombs. The interior, likewise, is similar, jaalis appear to
have been removed from all the doorways apart from the already open south entrance. Curiously,
the underside of the northern entrance arch is particularly ornately decorated, suggesting that this
was also an entrance. Stonework now closes the western doorway, implying there was never a
mihrab perhaps the view through to the wall mosque was sufficient. The greatest difference in the
interior of this tomb is the use of patterned tiles around the doors and niches.

FIG 3: Section and elevation of octagonal tomb of Sikandar Lodi

TOMB OF GHIYASUDDIN TUGHLAQ – shallow single shelled dome

The tomb itself stands in heavy contrast with the architecture of the rest of the structure. This has
left researchers to speculate whether Ghiyasuddin made the tomb during his reign, or if it was
constructed after. Instead of dressed quartzite and rubble masonry of the outter walls of the city, the
tomb is cut from finely cut red sandstone and white marble. The one feature it shares with the
fortification walls is their pronounced batter. The architectural interest of the building is
considerable. For here we are seeing an early version of the indo Islamic style that would become
ubiquitous in sultanate tombs of the next century. Typical are the diminished framed arches within
the pishtaq develop in later buildings, increasing in number and size. It has sloping walls probably
resembling the sloping walls of the fortification of the city.

Unusual enclosure is roughly triangular. The narrowest point is towards the cast, where the large
round bastion is left open to the sky. Below the main level is a large storage pit similar to the ones
inside the ty. At the other angles the bastions are smaller and roofed, containing subsidiary unknown
graves. The northern chamber is surmounted by a small white marble dome, the stonework
elaborately inscribed in places.

FIG4: Elevation and section of Ghiyassudin TughLaq’s Tomb

HUMAYUN’S TOMB – Bulbous double shelled dome

The plan of Humayun’s Tomb is composed of 5 octagons with chamfered corners and the tomb is
placed in the centre of a large walled garden. Some of the ideas developed for design of Humayun’s
Tomb like double dome, harbagh concept had precedence in the Sayyid and Lodi Tombs. It has
monumental gateways and stands on a large platform containing arcades and vaulted chambers. The
tomb is of a family more than individual tomb, the surrounding chambers contain sarcophagus of his
wife, and later Mughal emperors. The kiosks surrounding the marble dome in tombs of Sayyid
Dynasty had matured to chattris with chajja, an indigenous influence. An innovative detail is the
spandrel of the arches highlighted with light brown sandstone and marble bands emphasizing its
shape. The central Iwan on all four sides of the monument resembles the maqsura screen of a
mosque and obscure the dome. The exterior has an undulating effect with various faces of the
octagonal mass producing a contrast of recessed arches with smaller blind arches. Slender minarets
and chattris are placed at corner of the building creating an interesting skyline. The Humayun’s tomb
has the characteristics of all earlier tombs with certain modifications with the kiosks transformed to
chattris, the simple square and octagonal shape of the earlier tombs have been combined in the
octagonal composition, rectangular panels of Alai Minar with arches incised in them, the arcades of
Mubarak Sayyid, merlon motifs on the parapet and is considered one of the crowning glories of
Mughal Architecture.

FIG5: Isometric Sectional view of Humayuns Tomb

TIMELINE OF DOMES:

FIG6: timeline of evolution of domes