Islamic Architecture in India

Akbar, the King of Builders

(1556 –1605)
 Fatehpur Sikri, Agra

Figure 01: Areal view of Fatehpur

Sikri
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 Fatehpur Sikri, Agra

General Information
Also called as City of Victory

The was city founded 41 km west from Agra, in 1570. Deserted since 1585

Akbar's spiritual counselor, Shaikh Salim Chishti established hermitage on sikri hill

and
predicted birth of three sons of akbar.

Babar has waged a crucial war in Sikri and built a small mosque as a “shukri”
to
celebrate his victory.

And sikri hill became the auspicious site for a new capital.

Surrounded 11 km of wall of rocky ridge : irregular rectangle (2 mile x 1 mile)

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 Fatehpur Sikri, Agra

Figure 02: Satelite view of Fatehpur

Sikri
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 Fatehpur Sikri, Agra

Figure 03: Master Plan of Fatehpur

Sikri
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 Fatehpur Sikri, Agra

Zoning

Service area
(water-works, guard quarter ) were located in the outer
periphery

Public spaces
(Diwan-i-amm), Jami mosque from a ring around the private
audience chamber.

Private Residences
at the the heart of the city.

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 Diwan-I-Khass

Figure 03: Front view of Diwan-I-

Khass
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 Diwan-I-Khass

Hall of Private
audience

Inspired by Gujrati
model; minarates
of mosque at
ahmedabad.
(Mosque of Sidi
Bashir, later 15th
C.)

A plain square
building with
four chhatris on
the roof. Figure 03: Minarate of Figure 04: Central Pillar of
Sidi Bashir Mosque (15th Diwan-I khass
c.)

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 Diwan-I-Khass

Figure 04: Ground Floor Plan Diwan-I Figure 04: Upper Floor Plan Diwan-I
Khass Khass

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 Diwan-I-Khass

Architectural Features

Central pillar has a square base and an octagonal shaft, both

carved with bands of geometric and floral designs.

It bursts forth into a set of 36 closely set vaulted and

pendulous brackets supporting a circular platform from which
radiate four passages.

This platform is connected to each corner of the building on the

first floor, by four stone walkways.

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 Diwan-I-Khass

Figure 03: Section of Diwan-I- Figure 04: Elevation of Diwan-I-

Khass Khass

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 Diwan-I-Amm

Figure 03: Front view of Diwan-I-Amm

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 Diwan-I-Amm

Architectural Features

Hall of public audience

The narrow and severely ouster oblong public entrance

through breaking the canons of symmetry of the city.

The single storey Diwan-i-amm became the meaningful from the

point of view of security and function.

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Panch Mahal (Palace of Wind)

Figure 03: Perspective view of Panch

Mahal
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 Panch Mahal (Palace of Wind)

Architectural Features

The tallest (five stored ) building is the so called ‘panch mahal’,

name derives from its five tires.

It’s a pleasure pavilion to take advantage of cooling breezes.

It was reserved for the emperor and the royal household, only the
most trusted would have had access to it.

The five stories above diminish gradually from north-west to south-

east
facades, as inspired by multiple storied of Buddhist Viharas.

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Panch Mahal (Palace of Wind)

Figure 03: Front view of Panch

Mahal
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 Panch Mahal (Palace of Wind)

Architectural Features

The rectangular ground floor being built over 84 columns

South east portion rise vertically up to culminate in a domed

canopy
supported over 4 pillars.

Pierced stone screen faced the façade and probably sub-divided the
interior.

It was used by the women of the imperial harem (more than 300 wives
of Akbar) to enjoy their leisure during summer.

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 Jodha Bai’s Palace

Figure 03: Perspective view of Jodha Bai’s

Palace
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 Jodha Bai’s Palace

Architectural Features

The largest palace of the city.

A series of palaces and rooms had been arranged in two floor around
a courtyard.

Summer palace ------- Northern end

Winter palace ------- Southern end

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 Jodh Bai’s Palace

Figure 03: Prespective view of Panch

Mahal
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 Raja Birbal’s House

Figure 03: Perspective view of Raja Birbal’s

House
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 Raja Birbal’s House

Architectural Features

The largest palace of the city.

A series of palaces and rooms had been arranged in two floor around
a courtyard.

Summer palace ------- Northern end

Winter palace ------- Southern end

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 Raja Birbal’s House

Figure 03: Ground Floor Plan (left) & First Floor Plan (Right) of Raja Birbal’s
House
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 Jami Mosque

Figure 03: Areal view of Jami

Mosque
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 Jami Mosque

Architectural Features

Measuring 515 ft x 432 ft undoubtedly the largest mosque in India.

A more conventional Islamic configuration, the mosque with liwan facade

that is rather confused and weak with other edifices of fatehpur sikri.

Its consists Central arched fronton which dwarfs the dome behind in the
old Tughlaq tradition.

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 Jami Mosque

Figure 03: Plan of Jami

Mosque
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 Buland darwaza

Figure 03: Front view of Buland

darwaza
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 Buland darwaza

Architectural Features

An opening of a modest size within a frame of intentionally

immense proportions.
And yet maintaining a fluid relationship between the
‘crescendo of the great alcove above’
and
‘diminuendo of the man height passageway’

Two seemingly contrary visual requirements are satisfactorily

reconciled.

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 Buland Darwaza

Figure 03: Front view of Buland

darwaza
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 Buland Darwaza

Architectural Features

Approached by grand flight of steps towards the huge almost 50ft wide
and 100ft high arch over 134’ft of portal.

The central two storied of small arches (attendants room) lead one into
the courtyard of the mosque through a domed passage.

The platform over the building rise at an elevation of 42 ft from

ground bellow.

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 Buland Darwaza

Figure 03: Front view of Buland

darwaza
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