alai darwaza history of architecture

1. ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE.
ALAI DARWAZA.
ASIYA TAHREEM
SEM III
HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE.

2. ALAI DARWAZA.
Location: Qutub
Minar complex, India.
Built: 1311
Alauddinkhiljiof
khiljidynasty.
Architecture:
Indo Islamic
Architecture.
Construction
Material: Red
Sand Stone and
white Marble.
Alai Darwaza is the southern gateway of the Quwwat-ul-
Islam Mosque in Qutub Complex.

3. History
• The Alai Darwaza was built by Sultan Alauddin Khilji of the Khilji
Dynasty in 1311.
• Number of gateways were built in Delhi over the centuries. One of the
oldest Gateways is the Alai Darwaza.
• This was the first of all the four Gateways that Alauddin wanted to built,
which he couldn’t because of his death in 1316.
• It serves as the southern Gateway of the mosque, located in the southern
part of the complex.
• The Domed Gateway is decorated with red sand stone and inlaid White
marbles showcasing the craftsmenship of the turkish artisians.
• The Slave Dynasty did not employ true Islamic Architecture styles and
false domes and false arches.
• This makes the Alai Darwaza the earliest examples of true arches and
true domes in India.
• It serves an entrance for the Quwwat-ul-Isam mosque.

4. Architecture
• The Alai Darwaza is made up of a single hall whose Interior
part which measures 10.5m and the exterior measures
17.2m.
• It is 18m tall and walls are 3.4m thick.
• It shows an approach to new technology with thick walls
and shallow Dome.
• And the Arches are pointed and come together slightly at
there base giving an effect of horse shoe shape arches.
• The jali stone screens are introduced here, which were
used in temples long before.
• The height of dome is 14m. It is the first true Dome built in
India, as the previous attempts failed.
• The façade has pre-turkish carvings and patterns .

6. Gate details
• Red sandstone is not the only material used in the
construction of the gateway.
• There is also a great amount of white marble found
around the gate. Also used in the inlay to the Gate.
• There are many architectural carvings found around
the white marble inlay.
• There are several different verses from the Quran
featured around the inlay. These also include a few
quotes from hadith book.
• There are other carvings of lotus flowers and hindu
images around the area.

7. Gate inlay at Alai Darwaza.
The inlay carvings on the
red sandstone and white
marble.

8. Window detail
• A few windows are used around the sides of
the gates. This lattice worksfeatures stars with
six points and few circular shapes around the
area.
• There are carvings of Quranic verses around
the area.
• These were all carved by the turkish craftmen.
From the turkic era which still exists within the
crowd of our modern century.

9. Window
carvings at
Alai Darwaza.