Arhai Din Ka Jhompra (Mosque at Ajmer), Rajasthan (1205 AD)

Lecture #2 Year / Part: II / II History of Eastern Architecture / Islamic Architecture / 2005

Lecture No. 2 Slave Dynasty (contd…) Arhai Din Ka Jhompra (Mosque at Ajmer), Rajasthan (1205 AD)  Located 480 Km west of Delhi  Arhai Din Ka Jhompra literally means two and a half day cottage  Built on a large platform or terrace cut out of hill which probably was the site of Mela or fairground, the Mela lasted two and a half days  Columns, beams and brackets recovered from Hindu and Jain temples  Better architecture than earlier works  Use of 3 numbers of superimposed standards column to gain height Arched façade with the use of multifoil arch rare in Indian architecture  Enlarged more than twice than mosque at Delhi  Style of arch more closer to a four centered Tudor arch  Small rectangular panels present in the spandrels of each arch – a feature found in ancient mosques of Arabia, for lighting system here used as decorative motif

Sultan Ghari (Sultan of the Cave), Delhi (1231 AD)  The earliest Muslim tomb, non-traditional on the Indian land  Sultan Shams-ud-din Iiltumish’s contribution – built for his son Nasir – ud – din Shah  Named as Sultan Ghari or Sultan of the Cave because the cenotaph is an underground chamber  The whole construction rests on 3m high plinth  Domed circular towers at the corners of courtyard  Set in the middle of the courtyard of small mosque below 3 feet high octagonal platform, the platform might have carried a chhatri or canopy but non-existing today  Looks like mini – fort rather than tomb

Sultan iiltumish, another Turkish slave was probably son in law of Qutb-ud-din who completed many of the ventures of Qutb-ud-din.

Course Teacher: Ar. Rajjan Man Chitrakar Architecture Dept. - nec 1 Lecture #2 Year / Part: II / II History of Eastern Architecture / Islamic Architecture / 2005

Tomb of Sultan Iiltumish, Delhi (1199 AD)  Built at north-western corner of Qutb Complex  Application of basic vocabulary of Islamic architecture for tomb is found i.e. cubical base crowned with a dome along with the use of Squinch arch  Squinch:  An indigenous device aiming at solving a universal problem of supporting over a square or rectangular chamber  Works by projecting a small arch across the upper angled corners of a square room converting square into an octagonal shape from which a dome could be raised  By this method, a convenient base on which the lower circular rim of the dome rests leaving no part unsupported

Tomb of Balban, Delhi (1287 AD)  Use of true arch for the first time – the builders gained confidence Balban was a Turkish General in the army of slave dynasty.

THE KHALJIS (1290 – 1321 AD)  People originally of Turkish origin with Afghan characteristics  In 1290 AD, Firoz Jallal-ud-din Khalji came in to power in Delhi  Jallal-ud-din’s brief rule waws ended by brave but cruel and ambitious ruler Ala-ud-din (a nephew of Jallal) by murder in 1296 AD  Ala-ud-din built a circular city of Siri (the second Delhi)

Further extension of Qutb Complex  Requirement of larger area leads to the grand scheme of enlarging the complex by as much as 6 times by Ala-ud-din  Arrangement of cloister around the existing one  Foundation of ill-fated Alai Minar laid by Ala-ud-din  6 gateways to the complex was proposed including Alai Darwaza

Alai Darwaza, Delhi (1305 AD)  either only one to be completed or existed till date

 Refinement of basic module of Islamic architecture i.e. cube and dome both in decoration and structure  Masonry formed of alternative courses of stretchers and headers resulting in greater stability  Construction with true arch with use of voussoirs  Raised on plinth forming 17.2 m square base with 10.3 m dia. dome above

Surface treatment  Blend of red sandstone and white marble panels over façade  Flat Quranic inscriptional bands to surround and define openings  Façade gives impression of a 2 storied building as the volume of cubic mass is reduced with use of 2 layers of windows – to more human proportions  Intrados of arch with garlands of buds to soften the stern profile  Use of blind windows in non-existing upper storey  Use of star and hexagonal Jalis in lower storey windows to admit light and ventilation – these Jali works later become Mughal’s great work of art  Lavished interior

THE TUGHLAQS (1321 – 1412 AD)  Founder was Ghiyas – ud – din Tughlaqs (ruled 1321 – 25 AD)  Along with other important architectural undertakings, the Tughlaq rulers built their own capital cities  Tughlaqabad (the third Delhi) by Ghiyas – ud – din Tughlaq  Jahanpanah (the fourth Delhi) by Mohammed – bin – Tughlaq  Firoz Shah Kotla (palace city) / Firozaabad (the fifth Delhi) by Firoz Shah Tughlaq

Tughlaqabad (1325 AD)  A great complex combining a city, fort and palaces  Built structures influenced by familiarity with briock seen in tapering forms – walls inclined at 75 degrees, inspired / influenced by Tomb of Rukhn – i – Alam at Multan

 Rampart structured fort with concentration on defence  A rough rectangle of approx. 733 feet each way – irregular ground plan

Tomb of Ghiyas – ud – din Tughlaq, Delhi (1325 AD)  Contained within an irregular fortified structure with five bastions at corners – dictated by contours of hillocks  Surrounded by moat and approached by 228.6 m long causeway  Within the courtyards are several underground vaults possibly to deposit hoarded wealth

The tomb  Placed diagonally in the widest part of fortified enclosure bringing it in the direction of Mecca  The tomb is square in plan with 20 m side and rising up to height of 24 m  Walls of the tomb are battered and inclined at 75 degree  Made of red sandstone and white marble lining  Use of both true arch and lintel beam, the stone lintel being redundant in nature – a compromise between two different methods of building construction - this compromise becomes elegant and effective device in the later buildings of the Muslims  Roofing with white marble dome with use of squinch  Kalasa pinnacle over dome – Hindu influence

Mohammed – bin – Tughlaq (ruled 1325 – 51 AD)  Son of Ghiyas – ud – din Tughlaq who came into power killing his own father  No significant architectural contribution except for bulding a new city of Jahanpanah (meaning World’s refuge), between the first Delhi and Siri (the second Delhi)

Firoz Shah Tughlaq (ruled 1351 – 88 AD)  Responsible for large number of building projects including a well planned city named Firoz Shah Kotla

 His buildings show a new set of ideas in Indo – Islamic architecture

Firoz Shah Kotla / Firozabad (1354 AD)  Muslim city center planned in a slightly irregular rectangle measuring 800 by 400 m  Moderate defense wall enclosure of rubble stone with cement coating  Eastern longer side was parallel to river Yamuna  At the middle of western wall was the main entrance gate  Enclosure contained various planned structures such as  Diwan – i - am (hall of public audience) located opposite to entrance gate wehre king would give audience to public  Diwan – i - khas (hall of private audience) located behind Diwan – i – am where kind held cabinet meeting  Along the river banks were the private palaces, mosques and harems (living quarters) of royal court – safe location with nice views  Also contained various other structures like gardens, baths tanks, barracks, etc.

Tughlaq mosques  Further transformation in design of arched façade – emergence of ceremonial pylons in place of arched screen  Started to have courtyard generally raised over high platforms with imposing flights of steps  Lower portion of raised platform is provided with deep niches for pilgrims, priest, shops, etc.  Some notable examples:  Kalan Masjid, Delhi (1375 AD)  Khirki Masjid, Delhi (1375 AD)  Begampuri Masjid, Delhi (1370 AD)

Kalan Masjid, Delhi (1375 AD)  Pseudo – militaristic style of Ghiyas – ud –din even in religious building  Courtyard built over raised platform of more than 3.6 m above ground

 Circular planned quoins at corners and rear wall of Maqsura and also at entrance  Provision of imposing series of steps – entrance gateway with dominating pylons

Khirki Masjid, Delhi (1375 AD)  Attempt to cover courtyard and use of domed and flat roofs  Symmetrically located open to sky courts for both light and ventilation  Purpose of covering – to stop the harsh summer sun leading to comfortable praying condition (attempted also in Jami Masjid at Gulbarga of one more time)  The partition of courtyard leads to the grouping of gathered people – becomes psychologically intolerable than hot sun  2 choices: to build a huge dome with uninterrupted space and to leave the court open

Course Teacher: Ar. Rajjan Man Chitrakar Architecture Dept. - nec 6