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Mughal Architecture

Mughal architecture is a remarkably symmetrical and decorative amalgam of Persian, Turkish, and Indian architecture. Mughal architecture first developed and flourished during the reign of Akbar the Great (1556–1605), where it was known for its extensive use of red sandstone as a building material.

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Rachna Rana
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534 views

Mughal Architecture

Mughal architecture is a remarkably symmetrical and decorative amalgam of Persian, Turkish, and Indian architecture. Mughal architecture first developed and flourished during the reign of Akbar the Great (1556–1605), where it was known for its extensive use of red sandstone as a building material.

Uploaded by

Rachna Rana
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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 Mughal Architecture is a

style that combines Islamic,


hindu and Persian
architecture. It was
developed in the 16th and 17th
century by the Mughal
empire.

 Location: Mughal; currently


India, Pakistan, and
Bangladesh.
 The founder of Mughal
architecture was Babur, the
founder and leader of the
Mughal dynasty, who started
this type of architecture on a
more modest scale. His sons
and grandsons, however,
continued on his path and
evolved this type of building
to become a very
distinguished style. Emperor Babur (1483-1530)
 Physical Factors: The huge span of the Mughal dynasty
across western Asia lead to having a huge variety of
building materials which included stone, marble and rocks,
due to the existence of mountainous regions, thus they did
not use wood in their construction. The availability of
fertile soils lead to the ease of gardening and growing many
types of different plants, trees, flowers that created some of
the most beautiful gardens in the world.
 The main non-physical factors included the introduction
of Islam. The founder of the Mughal dynasty was a Muslim,
and therefore placed all his energy and resources into
building beautiful and well decorated buildings: mosques,
tombs, forts, and palaces.
 Symmetry: Mughal architecture has a strong
relationship with radial or bilateral symmetry.
 Geometric Ornament: highly decorated type of
architecture.
 Slightly pointed domes.
 Use of decorative stones: colored and semi-precious
stoned.
 Use of white marble. Example: Taj Mahal.
 Ornamented piers and columns.
 Tombs
 Symmetry: Mughal architecture has a strong
relationship with radial or bilateral symmetry.

Humayun's tomb in Delhi Humayun's tomb’s plan


 Geometric Ornament: highly decorated type of
architecture.

Pictures showing
Islamic patterns and
geometric ornaments.
 Slightly pointed domes: onion dome.

Taj Mahal dome

Badshahi mosque dome


 Use of decorative stones: colored and semi-precious
stones.

Mosaic
with
semi-
precious
stones.
 Mughal Calligraphy inside Taj Mahal
 Use of white marble.

Mirza Ghiyas’s tomb:


Baby Taj
 Ornamented piers and columns.
 Tombs: Humayun’s Tomb

Humayun's Tomb’s garden Humayun's Tomb interior


 Tombs: Safdarjung’s Tomb
 Tombs: Taj Mahal
 Jharoka
 Chhatri
 Chhajja
 Jali
 Charbagh
 The jharokha is an enclosed
balcony that is protruding
from the wall of a building.
 This balcony was used for
several reasons that could
only be accomplished by
having it enclosed partially
to prevent people outside to
see who was in the balcony.
 This balcony was used by
women to see events and
parades without being seen.
It was also used to place
army men and spies or
security to watch the
surroundings of the
building without being
seen by others.
 This balcony typically had a
pyramid or cupola roof
shape, with two columns to
support it and placed over
rows of highly decorative
corbelling.
 The chhatri is a small
building that has a domed
shape. It was usually built
over burial sites of
important people as a
memorial structure. They
vary in size from just 4
poles and a roof , to a
whole building with
several domes and rooms.
 The Chhajja is a large
overhanging roof with
very deep eaves.
However, to support
this roof, they used
brackets, which are L
shaped parts that are
fixed into the exterior
wall to support the
roof from below.
 The jali was a screen
somewhat similar to a
Mashrabeyyah.
However, the difference
is that the mashrabeya
was created with wood,
and the jali was made
with fine stone and
marble.

White marble Jali


 They used these screens
for decorative elements
over doors and windows
and also to increase
privacy. These stones
were intricately cut out
and carved to shape tiny
ornaments and
geometrical shapes.

Akbars tomb, Sikandra


Shalimar Gardens

 The Charbagh literally means “four gardens”, when


translated from Persian.
 This type of garden followed a very strong discipline of
dividing the surroundings equally into 4 parts. Usually to
define these parts, walkways or waterways like fountains
and mini man-made rivers were placed to emphasize the
division and symmetry of the garden.
 Running water.
 Use of pool (reflection
object)
Shalimar Gardens
 Trees for shading, fruit
producing, flowers…
 Birds.
 Raised hillock at the
center.

Taj Mahal Garden


Sunken Garden

Nishat Bagh Mughal gardens


Humayun Tomb water garden

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