The document summarizes the key Mughal emperors in India and their contributions to architecture between 1526-1707. It states that while all Mughal rulers except Aurangzeb took interest in architecture, Shah Jahan surpassed others by building grand structures like the Taj Mahal during his reign from 1627-1658. The period between Akbar, Jahangir and Shah Jahan from 1556-1658 was especially significant for architectural promotion, resulting in the Mughal period being considered the golden age of Indian architecture.

2.  Babar 1526-1530
 Humayun 1530-1556
 Akbar 1556-1605
 Jahangir 1605- 1627
 Shah jehan 1628-1658
 Aurangzeb 1658-1707
 ….. Bahadur shah zafar II 1837-1857

3.  Although all the Mughal rulers exceptAurangzeb
took great interest in architecture, yet Shah
Jahan surpasses all in the field of architecture.
 There is no doubt that architecture reached the
pinnacle of its glory during the period of Shah
Jahan.
 The period of Shah Jahan (1627-1658) witnessed
a glorious outburst of activity in the
development of architecture.

4. At the same time it must also be accepted
that a period of 100 years (1556-1658)
covered by the reign of Akbar, Jahangir and
Shah Jahan has a special significance for the
promotion of architecture. Likewise there
was some activity in this area in the period of
Babur and Humayun.Therefore, it is said that
the Mughal period was the golden period of
Indian architecture.

5. 1.Variety of buildings:
The Mughal rulers built magnificent gates,
forts, mausoleums, mosques, palaces, public
buildings and tombs etc.
2. Synthesis of Persian and Indian style:
The specimens of architecture created under
the Mughals have become the common
heritage of both the Hindus and the Muslims.
It is a happy blend of Hindu and Muslim
architecture

6. 3. Specific characteristic:
A common characteristic of the Mughal buildings is “the
pronounced domes, the slender turrets at the corners,
the palace halls supported on pillars and the
broad/gateways.”
4. Costly decorations:
The Mughal emperors in general but Shah Jahan in
particular decorated his buildings with costly articles.
One of the important distinguishing features of the
Mughal buildings is their ornamentation as compared
with the simple buildings of the previous Muslim rulers of
India.
5. Building material:
During the Mughal period, buildings were constructed
mostly of red sandstone and white marble.

7.  Babur and architecture:
Babur was not impressed by Indian architecture.
At the same time he was busy in waging wars.
Nevertheless he sent for the pupils of Sinan the
noted Albanian architect to work with Indian
craftsmen whose skills he had appreciated. But
this did not materialise. As Babur recorded in his
‘Memories’, he employed 680 workmen and
1491 stone cutters daily on his various buildings
in India. He constructed several buildings but
only two mosques—one at Panipat and the
other at Sambhal have survived.

8.  Humayun and architecture:
Humayun’s troubled reign did not allow him
enough opportunity to give full play to his
artistic temperament. Even then he
constructed the palace of ‘Din-i-Panah’ in
Delhi which was probably destroyed by Sher
Shah. Humayun constructed some mosques
at Agra and Hissar

9.  Akbar and architecture:
The history of Mughal architecture really starts with
Akbar. Just as Akbar built up an extensive empire on
the goodwill of the Hindus, in the same way he
utilised local talent and took inspiration from Indian
architecture. One of the earliest buildings built is the
Tomb of Humayun, in Delhi. It was built after
Humayun’s death by his first wife Hamida Banu
Begam.This splendid tomb, designed by a Persian
Architect Malik Mirza Ghiyas and executed by Indian
craftsmen and masons, is a fine example of the
synthesis of Indian-Persian traditions.

10.  Important buildings built during Akbar’s time
include the following:
(1) Red Fort at Agra.
(2) City of Fatehpur Sikri
(3) Lahore fort,
(4)Tomb at Sikandra.
 During Akbar’s time, it is said that about 500
beautiful buildings were constructed in the Red
Fort at Agra but only a few of them now survive.

11.  Main features of Akbar’s buildings are:
(i) Synthesis of Hindu- Muslim art tradition
(ii) Extensive use of red stone
(iii) Construction of buildings for civilian
purposes.

12.  Jahangir and architecture:
Jahangir had fine artistic sense but he was more
fond of painting than architecture.Two
important buildings were raised. One was the
completion of theTomb of Akbar at Sikandra
and the other was theTomb of Itmad-ul-Daula
built by Nur Jahan over the grave of her father.
The most important feature of this tomb is that
it is decorated with ‘pietra dura’ i.e. pictoral
mosaic in-laid with semi-precious stones of
different colours.

13.  Shah Jahan and architecture:
Shah Jahan’s period is usually called the ‘Golden Age
of Mughal Architecture’ and he is given the titles of
‘Prince among the Builders’ and ‘Engineer King’. His
most important and impressive buildings are theTaj
Mahal, Red Fort and Jama Masjid.These buildings are
extremely beautiful and soft.
Shah Jahan mostly made use of marble in place of red
stone.With a view to enhance the beauty and effect
of the ceilings, he made full use of gold, silver,
precious and coloured stones. At several places, the
pictures of trees, animal scenes and other flora and
fauna have been depicted.

14.  Aurangzeb and architecture:
Aurangzeb’s accession to the throne marks
the end of rich harvest in building art. His
orthodoxy and ruthlessness gave little
encouragement to the development of art.
He is usually discredited with the destruction
of two most important Hindu temples at
Banaras and Mathura and raising mosques
upon them. He built the Shahi Masjid at
Lahore.