Taj Mahal - Architecture In India

 Historical Background :

• Taj Mahal is a mausoleum complex built by Shah Jahan (1632-1643) in memory of his favorite wife, Arjumand Banu Begum better known by her title ''Mumtaz Mahal''.
• Construction of the building began shortly after Mumtaz's death.
• Today Taj Mahal is recognized as the most perfect building in the world.

Taj Mahal

Background :

• According to Islamic traditions, a woman that dies during children's birth gains the status of martyr.
• In 1631 Mumtaz passed away during the birth of her 14th child.
• According to legend, with her dying breath, she secures a promise from her husband to built for her, a mausoleum more beautiful than any the world had ever seen.
• 6 months after the death of his wife, Shah Jahan lays the foundation for a memorial near the river Jamna near his Palace in Agra.
• To satisfy his Artistic obsessions, vast quantities of white marble are mined from Rajhastahn and are carried 250 miles to the site of the Taj Mahal.
• The emperor reserves white marble for imperial building only.
• Red stone carted from Dehli.
• 20,000worker who labored over 20 years to build the monument.

Architectural Breakthrough :

• In Indian architecture, the trabeation system was widely used for the construction of temples.
• The Mughal introduce the concept of the arch to India and create very wide interior spaces.
• Although the essential style was Islamic, any of the details are Hindu/Indian.
• The Mughal introduced the use of ceramic tiles and precious stones for inlay work.

Engineering Breakthrough :

• The Taj Mahal was built next to the river Jumna.
• The Mughal Enginner's dug deep wells to below the water surface.
• These wells were filled up with vocals and mortar.
• On top of Well bases, the master builders erected stone columns, linked together by massive arches.
• This engineering innovation has been protecting the Taj Mahal from the currents of the Jumna river to date.

Minarets Optical illusion :

• The minarets of the Taj Mahal built to lean slightly outwards.
• Depending on each other, they look perfectly straight.
• This brings a massive advantage.

Dome :

• Today we can build a dome-like Taj Mahal using steel frames and other materials.
• The master builders of the Taj Mahal had to solve this problem in stone.
• They Laid stone on stone and built up the stone in rings.
• The dome rises layer by layer.
• The mortar between the stones gives its stability.

Design Components :

Minarets :

The tomb of Shah Jaha's own father provides the model for minarets.

Minarets

Corner Turrets:

Shah Jahan great grandfather. Akbar tomb had four corner turrets surrounding the central core.

Pishtaq :

The four Pishtaq is inspired by his grandfather Tomb.

Dome :

The dome is inspired by Ulugh Beg Madrasa in Samarkand.

Inside Dome

Religious Symbolism :

Taj Mahal is the architectural embodiment of this life and the next according to Islamic belief.

The ground plan represents this duality of life and the afterlife.

The complex is split between its tomb garden and mausoleum.

Colour Scheme :

The color scheme of the Taj Mahal is deeply symbolic.

The worldly elements and other buildings are all clad in red stone.

The pure white stands for the Spiritually and faith of the person buried here.

The Garden :

The Garden is the heart of the Taj Mahal.

It is an earthly representation of paradise described in the Quran.

The garden is divided into four squares.

Chahar Bagh

The channels along the paths represent the river of paradise milk, honey, wine, and water mentioned in the Quran.

Where the channels meet, there is a pool.

European Influence:

The Taj Mahal itself demonstrates the link between India and Europe.

Technique and Motifs traveled from Europe to adorn the entire interior of the Taj Mahal.

These mosaics of semi-precious stones are called Pietra dura.

Pietra Dura

This craft was used to decorate precious places during the renaissance.

This technique directly or indirectly traveled from Italy to India.

Unfortunately, no chronicles record the name of the artist who decorated the Taj Mahal.

Burial Chamber :

The coffin seen in the Mausoleum is only a cenotaph an empty monument.

Mumtaz Mahal lies in a secret marble chamber below the Taj Mahal, where she rests undistributed.

Here is the view of the Taj Mahal :

Tomb of Itimad-ud-Daula - Architecture In India

Itmad-ad-daula was the little bestowed upon Mirza Ghiyas Beg by emperor Jehangir.

According to Persian descent, Mirza Ghiyaz Beg became the first wealthy and became Prime Minister under Emporer Jehangir.

His daughter, Nur Jahan, later married the emperor and sent a mausoleum to honor his father's memory at his death in 1622 AD

Itimad-ud-daula and his wife are buried in the central chamber, his brother and sister and other members of his family occupy the four corners.

The Mausoleum was commenced in 1622 A.D and complete in 1628 A.D.

Many artifacts of the tomb symbolize the Taj Mahal.

Itmad-ud-din Daula was the first Mughal building to be completely enclosed with marble and heavily used in Pietra dura, a marble installation associated with the Taj Mahal.

Architectural Features:

The Tomb of modest scale, built on low lt form that is 4 feet high.

It has a square plan measuring  68'- 10', subdivided into 9 chambers, with 4 corner octagonal towers in form of minarets.

The kiosks of minarets consist of small hemispherical cupolas resting on small arches supported by 8 pilasters.

The roof pavilions impart a distinct  Hindu feel in its use of Bengali roof , completed by wide overhang, or eaves

Sandstone pathways lead up to the main tomb.

Each facade has a central arched entrance, flanked by two arches that are filled by beautiful marble screens.

Fine corbels support a marble tracery running along its length.

The platform and tomb are embellished with mosaics and Pietra and pietra dura inlay work of stone. 

Inlay marble art was practiced for many years, but this was the first attempt to imitate Persian Persian ornaments and tile work.

The interior is a series of rooms and corridors arranged around a verandah that contains the central chamber containing cenotaph.

The square roof Pavillion above the central chamber allows the light to filter down through its marble screen to washover the two yellow cenotaphs of Itimad ud Daua and his wife.

Muqarana squinches decorate the soffits of corner chambers and the main hall.

The surface above the dados has regularly distributed niches, alcoves, and decorative panels that allow for variation in decoration.

Fatehpur Sikri - Agra - Architecture In India

• Fathepur Sikri is a Palace complex, built by the Mughal Emperor Abar in 1571- 1585 A.D.
• One of the well-known Architecture in India.
• The palace building is located on a hillside about 100 feet [40 m] above the artificial lake.
• Akbar is responsible for the use of residence veneer, which gives the complex its characteristics hue.
• There were two main stages in the construction of this building.
• 1572 to 15757 A.D., when the main building was raised and finished.
• 15757 to 1585, when passage and corridor added to building according to the need of the emperor and his family.
• The complex served as the residence of the emperor for 14 years. in 1585 A.D. following a political and geographical shift of the empire, Akbar and his court satisfied transferred their residence to Lahore.

Architectural Features :

The following are the Architectural features of Fatehpur Sikri, Architecture in India.

1. Market.
2. Shop lined road.
3. Karkhana or workshop.
4. Octagonal Baoli.
5. Hiran Minar.
6. Hathipul or Elephant gate.
7. Daulat kahana (aam o Khas) or Diwan e Khas.
8. Kawabghah.
9. Daftar Khana.
10. Hammam.
11. Courtyard of panch MAhal.
12. Jadh Bai Palace.
13. Raja Birbal house.
14. Serai.
15. Courtyard of Jami mosque.
16. Jami mosque.
17. Tomb of Saikh salim chishti.
18. Tomb of Isa khan.
19. Buland Darwaza.

• It is situated on a long narrow ridge of Redstone that runs southwest to northeast.
• The building inside the complex is rotated 45 degrees.
• It is surrounded by enclosed walls that enclose the irregular place by about 2 miles and 1 mile long.
• The whole complex is spread in the three Plates.
• The mosque complex is located on the uppermost level of the ride and consists of a great mosque. The palace complex is laid out on the two lower platforms, covering 250 m sq.
• The building of the complex can be grouped into two main zones.
• The middle plateau is most private, housing the residential buildings, Birbal palace, Jodh Bai palace, Shahi Bazar, and Mina Bazar.Other buildings such as caravanserai, the Hiran Minar tower, hammam.
• The dominant material used is red stone.
• The building can be divided into two classes, the Religious and the secular.

Jami Mosque :

• The Jami Mosque at Fatehpur Sikri, Architecture in India, was built by Akbar in 1571.
• It covers a rectangular area measuring 542 X 438 and a large yard.
• The mosque follows the standard plan form with the central courtyard.
• The sanctuary facade consists of a large rectangular Pishtaq in the center.
• Above and behind these central features rises a large dome over the central nave.
• Arrange pillared kiosks all along the entire parapet.
• The nave is a square hall entered through three doorway.
• The aisles are accessible by highways from the nave. In the center of each hallway is a small church building, covered with one of the two smaller domes.

Buland Darwaza :

• Buland Darwaza is a gateway built by Akbar about 25 years after the Jami Mosque.
• The gateway is 134' high and 42 steps.
• The structure is 130' wide and 123' deep.
• The facade is embowed by the means of 3 planes comprising a large central face and a lesser one on each side.

Buland Darwaza from Inside

• The central plane is 86' wide and rectangular in shape.
• The smaller planes are in three kevels varied opening at each stage. The main feature of the decorative treatment of the exterior facade is the wide border of the gate.

Tomb of  Salim Chishti :

• It is located in the courtyard of the Jami Masjid at Fatehpur Sikri.
• Originally a sandstone structure, it was transformed into an expensive marble structure.
• The tomb consists of a 24-sided square exterior of the '16-sided chamber', all covered by a lower dome.
• A wide verandah is carried out the outside.
• There are carved brackets all around to support the extremely wides eaves.
• The pillars that make up the porch with their honeycomb capitals.

Jodh Bai Palace :

• Jodh Bai palace is a structure built as the house of the principle, Queen.
• Mariam was a Hindu, and the palace in all its construction and all its ornamentations belongs to the Hindu and Jamia style of Mariam's native country, Rajputra, It even contains a Hindu temple.
• The palace in plan measure 215' X 320', consisting of a large central courtyard.
• To the left of the door is a small guardhouse.
• The external hall is 32' high plan.
• The outer part of the wall is disturbed only three times, once by the east gatehouse, the Pavillion hanging from the Hawa Mahal.
• One of the most interesting features is the Hawa Mahal, Here the ladies enjoy the cool breeze and the view of the lake.

Birbal's House :

• Raja Birbal was a Barhaman, who came to Akbar's court at the beginning of his reign.
• From the construction, it would appear that h the Hindu were the architects.
• Birbal's house s a two-story structure.
• The ground story is made up of two rooms and an open terrace.
• The upper rooms are covered with cupolas while the galleries have a pyramidal roof.

Diwan-i- Khas :

• The Diwan-i-Khas or a hall of a private audience is the most distinctive of the administration building at the Fatehpur, Architecture In India.
• It is not a large structure, Externally, the structure is rectangular in plan with two-story.
• The interior arrangement is quite unique.
• From the platform, a stone bridge radiates along each diagonal of the hall to connect with hanging galleries that surrounded its upper portion.
• The idea behind the arrangement is that the emperor would occupy the central position.

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Agra Fort - Architecture In India

 Historical Background :

• The fort constructed by Akbar in 1565-1573. 
• The other name of the fort is Lal Qila or Red fort.
• It is one of the best Architecture in India.
• Akbar is responsible for the use of a red stone veneer, which gives the complex its characteristics hue.
• There were more than five hundred masonry buildings, many have originally been held with the fort complex.

Agra Fort

• These buildings inspired by the architecture of Gujrat and Bengal featured trabeated construction and Hindu decorations motifs.
• After Akbar, his Grandson Shahjahan carried out the most extensive building projects with the complex including the Diwan-i' Aam.
• Between 1628-1637 A.D Shahjahan rebuilt the three main places courtyard and introduced white marble and polish stucco to the fort's red stone material palette
• The fort remained the main imperial residence until 1648 A.D when Shahjahan shifted his court to Dehli.
• Its place in Mughal history continued when Aurangzeb took the throne from Jahan in 1658 A.D.

Agra Fort Castle

Architectural Features :

• Hathi Pul / Elephant gate.
• Amar Singh gate and Akbari gate which together from the southern gate.
• Anguri bagh ( grapes grden ).
• Diwan -i'Aam ( Hall of Public Audience).
• Shah Burj (royal tower).
• Dulat khana.
• Diwan -I Khas (hall of private audience).
• Aram Ghar (sleeping chamber).
• Moti Masjid.
• Akbari Mahal
• Jahangir Mahal.
• Khas Mahal.
• Imperial Hamam.
• Dressed red stone walls about 21 m high with a circumference of 2.5 km, enclose the fort.
• The walls about the Jamna river to the east with a straight line, 725 m in length, then form an irregular are protected by a moat, towards the west.

Main Gate :

• There are two main gates complexes in the fort both protected by barbicans.
• Each gate comprises two gates. The inner gate penetrates Akbar's older wall and the outer gate punctures Aurangzeb's outer wall.

Western Gate :

• On the west-facing of the city of Agra, The Dehli gate leads to the inner hatipul, Originally the main public entrance to the fort.
• From south of the hatipul, a 226 m long market extends large Diwan-i'Aam courtyard.

Southern Gate :

• The southern gate, originally called Akbari Darwaza, was renamed the gate of Amar Singh by the British.
• The southern gate which includes the outer Amar Singh gate followed by the Akbari gate was originally used by the imperial family and is now the public entrance into the fort complex.
• It has three consecutive entrance gateway built at the right angle to each other.
• A simple ogee arched outer gate at the end of the drawbridge puncturasAurangzeb's wall.
• This gate leads to the courtyard, about 45 m east-west and 25 m north-south, where the 3rd and final gate punctuate through the northern wall.
• Tall bastions articulated gateway here.
• Geometric multi-colored tile patterns are visible on the lower portion of bastions while the upper niches are clad in red sandstone.
• Space planning Layout :
• In the original layout of the fort, the east-west axis defined the public route, while the north-south axis formed the imperial or residential route, and both routes conveyed at the courtyard of Diwan-i Aam.
• Along the residential axis, the southernmost courtyard complex has survived from the Akbar region. these include Akbari Mahal and Jahangir Mahal.
• To the north of the Jahangir Mahal are the structures of the place known as Anguri Mahal, the Khas Mahal, and Diwan-i Khas.
• In 1628 and 1637 Shahjahan reconstructed all these palaces as well as the courtyard to Diwan-i A'am.

Diwan-i'Am and Diwan-i ' Khas :

• The diwan-i'Aam is organized like a Mughal courtyard mosque, with the niche in the Qibla wall replaced by Emporer Jhaorka.

Diwan-i'Aam

• The series of palaces and courtyards are located southeast of Diwan-i Aam along the river.
• All of these buildings constructed by Shah Jahan, which the Jahangiri MAhal and the Akbari Mahal and Anguri bagh are the original places from the Akbar region.
• The Diwan -I Khas now called the Machi Bharan (fish house), includes a courtyard measuring a 40 m east-west and 45 m north-south.

Diwan -I Khas

Shah Burj :

• To the east of Diwan-i Khas, the shah Burj project towards the river from one of the Akbar's red stone bastions.

Shah Burj

• A white marble structure with an arcaded front towards the river and more solid edges, it is decorating with small shallow niches.
• The chattri features alternating red stone and white marble panels with opening and jalis.

Anguri Bagh :

• To the south of the Shah Burj is the Anguri Bagh built by Shah Jahan in 1636 A.D
• The garden measures 40 m east-west and 45m north-south.
• Narrow soluble stories buildings border it on the north, south, and west and its eastern edge contains the three marble structure of the Khas Mahal.
• Designed as a traditional rectangular char bagh.
• The double stories of a building are a succession of open pillared verandas and small enclosed rooms.
• The upper story has a continuous balcony supported on stone brackets and protected by a Redstone Jali parapet.
• These buildings are considered to have been the Zanana, or residence of Imperial women.

Akbari And Jahangri Mahal :

• South of Anguri Bagh is the Akbari Mahal, built by its namesake.
• The better preserved Jhangri Mahal is located to its south.

Inside the Mahal

• Built by Akbar in 1570 A.D, the Jhanagir Mahal is the only one of Akbar's palace construction to survive completely intact.

Interior Marble Inlay

Styles and Influences :

• Some decorative inlay work is present in the buildings from Akbari time.
• Shah Jahani architecture within the complex display a profusion of pietra dura, inlay work set into the white marble.

Pietra Dura

• The articulation is very similar to that found in the Taj Mahal, and it is possible that the same craftsman, was employed in both projects.

Inlay Work in Fort

• The original aesthetic of the fortress as defined by Akbar was Indo-Islamic influenced by the architecture of Gujrat and Bengal.
• The result was truly Mughal architecture, a hybrid of geometric decoration and Hindu motifs.

Here is the Agra fort :