Mughal Architecture Part - 01

Mughal Architecture: A Detailed Summary

Key Concepts: Mughal architecture, Timurid influence, Chahar Bagh plan, Hasht Bihisht plan, Iwan, Chhatri, Trabeate construction, Syncretism, Imperial symbolism, Royal court hierarchy, Dynastic style.

1. Introduction: The Mughal Empire and its Architectural Legacy

The video discusses Mughal architecture, tracing its evolution from its origins in the Fergana Valley to its development in India. It examines the influences, innovations, and key features of Mughal structures, highlighting the reigns of prominent emperors and their contributions. The Mughal Empire, over 150 years, expanded to cover most of South Asia. The five great Mughal emperors – Humayun, Akbar, Jahangir, Shah Jahan, and Aurangzeb – were responsible for most of the construction during the Mughal era.

2. Babur: The Founder and the Chahar Bagh Plan

Babur, the founder of the Mughal dynasty, hailed from the Fergana Valley and was a descendant of both Chengiz Khan and Timur. His architectural contributions, though not in India itself, set important precedents.

• Bagh-e-Babur (Kabul): This garden exemplifies the Chahar Bagh plan, a quadripartite arrangement divided by water channels for irrigation. The sloping terrain allows for natural water flow. The garden was designed to appear as a carpet of different colors when viewed from the top pavilion. This plan became a hallmark of Mughal gardens for centuries.
• Hauz-i-Nilofer (Dholpur): A small pool carved in yellow Dholpur rock, with little surviving evidence of the surrounding gardens.
• Irshad-ul-zeera: Treatises written in Afghanistan by hereditary families of gardeners, who were also men of letters, on how to breed good plants, what good gardening means, and the role of gardening in governance.

3. Humayun: A Tumultuous Reign and Timurid Influences

Humayun's reign was marked by conflict and exile, leaving a limited architectural legacy. However, his era saw the introduction of Timurid architectural elements.

• Mosques near Agra: While lacking distinct Mughal features, these mosques exhibit raised central arches, a characteristic derived from Timurid architecture.
• Tombs in Delhi (Nila Gumbaz, Sabz Burj): These tombs, with unknown inhabitants, follow a Timurid plan, featuring prominent iwans (large portals) on four sides.
• Purana Qila (Old Fort, Delhi): Humayun occupied this fort, which contains structures from both the Sultanate and Mughal periods. The Sher Mandal, an octagonal two-story pavilion, is attributed to Humayun and believed to have been his royal library.

4. Akbar: Syncretism and Monumental Architecture

Akbar's reign witnessed a flourishing of Mughal architecture, characterized by syncretism, the integration of diverse influences, and monumental scale.

• Humayun's Tomb (Delhi): Built by Akbar in the 1570s, this tomb served as a memorial to his father and a proclamation of Akbar's own greatness. It established the template for Mughal tombs, featuring four iwans, corner rooms, and a central dome. The plan is often referred to as a hasht bihisht plan (eight paradises). The tomb is set on a high platform with channels dividing the garden into quarters.
• Akbar's Palace (Ajmer): Built in the 1580s, this palace showcases a hasht bihisht plan with blocks of rooms in the corners and entryways on each facade. The construction is trabeate (post and lintel), lacking arches and domes, and borrows from local idioms of Gujarat and Rajasthan. The decorative schemes also draw from these regions, while the geometric patterns reflect Timurid influences.
• Agra Fort: Akbar initiated the construction of the Agra Fort, which was later expanded by Jahangir and Shah Jahan. The stone decoration incorporates indigenous styles of carving.
• Fatehpur Sikri: A city built by Akbar and later abandoned due to water shortages, Fatehpur Sikri exemplifies dense urban planning with interconnected courtyards and distinct public and royal areas. The Buland Darwaja, a grand entrance to the city and mosque, features a massive flight of stairs. The city incorporates architectural elements from Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Central India, including heavy brackets, cornice lines, and chhatris. The Jama Masjid at Fatehpur Sikri showcases Timurid architecture with a large portal concealing the dome. The tomb of Salim Chisti, built in white marble, stands out against the red sandstone setting. The Hiran Minar, a tower with stone projections resembling animal horns, is believed to have been used to display hunting trophies.
• Akbar's Tomb (Sikandera): Begun by Akbar and completed by Jahangir, this multi-tiered tomb features a magnificent doorway with marble minarets. The top storeys are built entirely in marble. The tomb lacks a monumental dome and follows an indigenous design with trabeated construction, chhatris, and baradaris (pavilions). The rooftop features a precursor to the bangla roof. The interior decorations include lusterware and paint, reminiscent of designs from Iran.

5. Jahangir: Naturalism and Garden Design

Jahangir, known for his interest in naturalism, oversaw the construction of several important buildings and gardens.

• Court Etiquette: Mughal court paintings reveal the importance of railings and elevations in establishing hierarchy and distance between the emperor and his courtiers.
• Tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah (Agra): A symmetrical building with identical facades, showcasing a typical Mughal predilection.
• Expansion of Agra Fort: Jahangir added gateways and other structures to the Agra Fort.
• Gardens in Kashmir: Inspired by the Bagh-e-Babur, Jahangir created gardens in Kashmir with cascades, flowing water, and central pavilions. The pavilions were built in local architectural traditions, using wood.
• Tombs at Khusrau Baugh (Agra): These tombs, particularly the one dedicated to Nisar Begum, served as experimental models for later Mughal tombs, including the Taj Mahal.
• Kaanch Mahal: Known for its lavish ceramic and glass decoration, this building exemplifies a trend that was adopted by post-Mughal states.
• Orchha Palace: Built by a vassal of Jahangir, this palace follows imperial Mughal planning principles with gateways, courtyards, columns, and chhatris.

6. Shah Jahan: The Epitome of Mughal Style

Shah Jahan is celebrated as the most prolific builder of the Mughal dynasty, known for creating a distinct Mughal style.

• Mosque at Thatta (Sindh): Built during Shah Jahan's time as a prince, this mosque reflects Iranian crafts traditions and design logic.
• Red Fort (Delhi): Shah Jahan built an entire city called Shahjahanabad, with the Red Fort as its citadel. The plan of the Red Fort is similar to that of the Agra Fort, with one side facing the town and the other facing the Yamuna River.

7. Conclusion: Synthesis of Mughal Architectural Evolution

Mughal architecture evolved over time, blending Timurid traditions with indigenous Indian styles and regional influences. From Babur's Chahar Bagh gardens to Shah Jahan's monumental structures, each emperor contributed to the development of a unique architectural vocabulary that reflects the empire's power, syncretism, and artistic vision. The Mughal style, characterized by hasht bihisht plans, iwans, chhatris, and intricate ornamentation, left a lasting legacy on the architectural landscape of India.