THE VAST PAST OF DELHI (2) – MUGHAL RULE
- Malika Vaidya
- Dec 15, 2020
- 6 min read
The Mughal rule in India began with the victory of Babur in the battle of Panipat in 1526 where Ibrahim Lodi lost bringing an end to the Lodi Dynasty. Though Babur was interested in architecture, his illness led to a very short reign in India post battle.
HUMAYUN (1555-1556)
Babur was succeeded by Humayun, who had more interest in astrology, star gazing and opium than in architecture!
Humayun’s Tomb
Interestingly, the first Mughal building of note constructed in India was Humayun’s tomb, built by Haji Begum, the wife of the Emperor in 1564, eight years after his death. It was built in Delhi, in the vicinity of the city of Din Panah, which was founded by Humayun.
The architect was a Persian by the name of Mirak Mirza Ghiyas.
The planning and design of the tomb is such that it sits at centre of a square garden designed on the Persian Char Bagh principle. The highly geometrical and enclosed Paradise garden is divided into four squares by paved walkways (khiyabans) and two bisecting central water channels, reflecting the four rivers that flow in jannat, the Islamic concept of paradise.
The garden symbolises the Emperor’s place in paradise.
The central building stands on a platform which is 6.7m in height. The sides of the platform are arcades, with each archway leading to a small room for visitors and their attendants. The tomb structure is a square in plan and occupies the middle of the platform. All four sides are alike in elevation. Over the four sides, hangs the whole marble dome with a cluster of pillared kiosks with cupola roofs on each side. Clerestory windows with perforated screens fitted into the arched recesses of the facades light the interior.
The dome is the first example in India of the double dome i.e. a dome with two shells, an outer one supporting the marble casing and giving the lofty shape from the exterior and an inner one built lower to create a better proportion with the space below.
AKBAR (1556-1605)
The reign of Akbar which lasted over fifty years, saw the Mughal architectural style develop vigorously. The structures which were built saw strength in elegance and grace due to the rich decorative work and reflected many Hindu elements. This style was exemplified in the architecture of the Agra fort and that of Fatehpur Sikri. Other structures of note included Arab Sarai (guesthouse at Humayun’s Tomb), Delhi and the Ajmer and Lahore fort.
Some of the main architectural features of the building built during Akbar’s reign is the extensive use of red stone.One can also see the marriage of Muslim – Hindu elements in architecture which is richly experienced in the niches and brackets of the palace of Jodha Bai and Birbal in Agra.The construction of public buildings as a sign of generosity was also developed.
JEHANGIR (1605- 1627)
Jehangir contributed to Mughal architecture by building a great number of tombs for the nobility who had been at court since his father’s times. The most notable amongst those was the refurbishment and renovation of the tomb of Sheikh Nizamuddin Auliya.
The tomb has a white dome and whose main structure was built by Muhammad bin Tughluq in 1325, following Nizamuddin's death. Firuz Shah Tughlaq later repaired the structure and suspended four golden cups from the dome's recesses. Khurshid Jah of Hyderabad gifted the marble balustrade that surrounds the grave. The dome is about six metres in diameter.
The dargah is surrounded by a marble patio and is covered with intricate jaalis. The dargah complex has a wazookhana (wash basin) and also has over seventy graves including the tombs of Amir Khusrau, Nizamuddin's disciple, and Jehan Ara Begum, Shah Jahan's daughter which are located at the entrance to the complex.
Jehangir had great artistic sense but was fond of paintings rather than architecture.
SHAH JAHAN (1627 – 1658)
The period under Shah Jahan is called as ‘The Golden Age of Mughal Architecture’. His most impressive buildings include the Taj Mahal at Agra, The Red Fort at Delhi and Jama Masjid at Delhi. He mostly used marble instead of red stone and made full use of gold, silver, precious and coloured stones to enhance the beauty and effect of the ceilings.
His reign also marked the re-emergence of Persian features in buildings which was earlier seen during Humayun’s era.
Red Fort, Delhi
The fort is in the form of a parallelogram measuring 930x495m. it is surrounded by a strongly fortified wall whose height is higher on the Chandni Chowk side compared to the side along the river Yamuna. Lahori Gate, which is the western gateway is the main ceremonial entrance. Some of the prominent buildings in this fort are Diwan-i-Aam, the Diwan-i-Khas and the Rang Mahal.
Jama Masjid, Delhi
It is located near the Red Fort and was built by Shah Jahan in the 17th century A.D. It is the biggest mosque in India and is built on a high platform with three onion shaped domes decorated with black stripes. It has four minarets in four corners. Its courtyard has a reservoir of water in the centre. This courtyard can accommodate as many as 10,000 people at a time. The mosque is built in red sandstone with inlaid white marble. Its construction began in 1644 A.D. and was completed in 1658 A.D.
AURANGAZEB (1658- 1707)
The accession of Aurangazeb to the throne marks the end of the golden years of Mughal architecture in India, which lasted over 100 years under the reign of Akbar, Jehangir and Shahjahan. Being constantly at war and facing political strife, Aurangazeb neither had the time nor the resources to dedicate to architecture.
SAFDARJUNG’S TOMB
One of the last remnants of Mughal architecture in India, the tomb was built in 1753-1754, and is located at Lodi road, New Delhi. It was built by Nawab Shuja-ud-Daulah, the son of Safdarjung who was the governor of Awadh. It has an ambience of spaciousness and an imposing presence with its domed and arched red brown- and white-coloured structures.
It is a square double-storied structure built on a raised terrace and surmounted by a bulbous dome of marble. It was erected roughly on the pattern of Humayun's tomb. It represents the last phase of the Mughal style of architecture.
The main entry gate to the tomb is two-storied and its façade has very elaborate ornamentation over plastered surfaces and is in ornate purple colour. The rear side of the façade, which is seen after entering through the gate, has many rooms and the library. To the right of the gate is the mosque, which is a three-domed structure marked with stripes.
The tomb is enclosed within a large garden, on the charbagh pattern, with tanks and fountains along the central pathway, the tomb proper stands out in the center of the enclosure. It is a square double-storied structure built on a raised terrace and surmounted by a bulbous dome of marble.
THE WOMEN OF MUGHAL EMPIRE
The women in the Mughal Empire yielded immense power and contributed significantly towards architectural wonders despite being behind the purdah. The first was Haji Begum, wife of Emperor Humayun who built the Humayun’s tomb. Nur Jahan was a great patron of architecture and built many beautiful palaces, gardens and mosques. Princess Jahanara, daughter of Shah Jahan was the driving force behind at least five major buildings in Shahjahanabad (Old Delhi). The most notable being Chandni Chowk bazaar which was the pulse of Shahjahanabad.
The Mughal dynasty’s rule in India was nothing short of grand, great and unforgettable. The rulers of the dynasty were great patrons of art and architecture, trying desperately to leave a mark behind in their name, while attempting to do civic good at times.
Summarised below are some of the key Mughal architectural features:
· Variety of Buildings: The Mughal rulers built gates, palaces, forts, mausoleums, mosques, public places, etc
· Blend of Persian and Indian style
· Special Characteristics of buildings: the Mughal architecture in India is characterised by use of pronounced domes, slender turrets at the corners, the palace halls supported on pillars and the broad/gateways.
· Decorations: the most distinguishing feature of Mughal Buildings in India is the use of costly material such as precious and semi- precious stones in decoration compared to the simple buildings of previous Muslim rulers of India.
· Building Material: red stone and marble was extensively used during the Mughal rule.
The last rulers of the Mughal dynasty lived in the twilight of the glory of their amicable predecessors while trying to ward off the growing presence of the East India Company, which was in the dawn of its glory.
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