Oudh Architecture

1. HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE- IV
Oudh architecture

2. OUDH
 Oudh known in British historical texts
as Awadh or Oude, all derived from Ayodhya, is a
region in the modern Indian state of Uttar
Pradesh and a small area of Nepal's Province.
It was established as one of the twelve
original subahs (top-level imperial provinces)
under 16th-century Mughal emperor Akbar and
became a hereditary tributary polity around 1722
AD, with Faizabad as its initial capital.

3. Saadat Ali Khan first Nawab

4. Bara imambara
 Bara Imambara is an Imambara Complex in Lucknow,
India, built by Asaf-ud-Daula, Nawab of Awadh, in
1784.
 It is also called the Asafi Imambara.
 Bara means big, and an imambara is a shrine built
by Shia Muslims for the purpose of Azadari.
 The Bara Imambara is among the grandest buildings of
Lucknow.

5. Site plan

6. Now letz c the
interesting elements in
bara imambara
complex……..

7. Lal Pul
✣Lal Pul, also known as Pakka Pul and Navabi pull, is a
bridge across the Gomti river.
✣It is considered to be the best starting point of
Lucknow heritage walks
✣.
✣This bridge is among the oldest in the area and it has
survived many floods.
✣It is the tourists’ favorite passageway to the
monumental building named Bara Imambara.

8. Teele Wali Masjid
 Teele Wali Masjid, also known as Alamgiri Mosque,
is located to the north of the Imambara complex
and is believed to be the earliest construction in the
area.
 It is built on a mound specially raised by order of
Aurangzeb, governor of Lucknow, to serve as the
mosque ground.
 An interesting fact is that “teele” is translated form
the local dialect as “mound”.
 Teele Wali Masjid is renown for its outstanding
architectural symmetry and equilibrium.

9. Gulab Vatika
 Gulab Vatika is an exquisite garden of roses that
beautifies the area near Roomi Darwaza and Bara
Imambara.
 It was originally developed for the leisure of
wealthy families, but today it welcomes all visitors.
 A wholesome and gorgeous environment, rich in
various roses.

10. Roomi Darwaza
 The Roomi Darwaza, sometimes called the Turkish
Gate, is an imposing gateway, built under the
patronage of ruler Asaf-Ud-Dowlah in 1784.
 It is a perfect rendering of Awadhi architecture (the
Lucknow School of Architecture).
 This sixty foot tall structure was patterned after the
Sublime Porte (Bab-iHümayun) in Istanbul.

11. Naubat Khana
 Naubat Khana or Naqqar Khana means a drum
house or an orchestra pit for ceremonies.
 This monument is a distinct representation of the
Mughal architecture.
 It was built for drummers who announced the hours
of the day, as well as the arrival of the emperor or his
distinguished guests.
 And after the American Mission refused to take
Naubat Khana as a gift, Lucknow authorities took the
decision to restore the building

12. Bara Imambara Entrance Gate
 Bara Imambara Entrance Gate features rather
restrained and moderate architectural elements
comparing to the structures that await visitors inside
the complex.
 The smooth lines of the gate represent a definite
example of Mughal architecture.
 Arched windows and doorways were designed to
allow free flow of air, which is typical for Indian
architecture, as well as the symmetrical “umbrella”
towers with small pikes on the tops.

13. Bara Imambara Second Gate
 The second gateway to Bara Imambara creates a
splendid view.
 Its architectural features include some Rajput
details, and patterned reliefs on the arches that
represent the so-called “fish motifs”, typical for
Lucknow architecture, especially on gates.
 There is a symmetrically laid out garden in front of
this gateway.

14. Asafi Masjid
 The image of the mosque Asafi Masjid is often used as
the city symbol, highlighting Lucknow tourist
attractions lists.
 It was among the first buildings erected after the capital
of the state was permanently transferred to Lucknow in
1775.
 Asafi Masjid is located inside of the Bara Imambara and
it was built near 10 years before the complex itself. It is
believed that this three-domed mosque was designed
and raised by Iranian architect Kifait-ullah, who later
drafted the project of Bara Imambara.
JAMMA MASJID ASAFI MASJID

15. Shahi Baoli
 Shahi Baoli is a building raised around a large well,
initially dug as the water reservoir for the Imambara
construction works.
 The well happened to be a perennial source of water
due to its connection to underground river streams.
 The emperor desired to build unique premises to
host his distinguished guests and had chosen this
particular spot to place it.
 Many of the emperor’s guests described this
building as having an exquisite design with the rarest
English marble finish, small hot an cold.

16.  Bhool Bhulaiya is the main part of the Imambara
complex. The central part of it is a big arched hall
where the tomb of Asaf-Ud-Dowlah lies.
 The Iranian architect Kifait-ullah, the author of this
project, also lies buried there.
 There are eight more chambers built to different
roof heights.
 The building is surrounded with 489 identical
doorless galleries.
 Bhool Bhulaiya has no pillars to support the ceiling
and it is among the largest vaulted constructions in
the world.
Bhool Bhulaiya

17. NEXT TOPIC S
CHOTA IMAMBARA

18. CHOTA IMAMBARA
 Chota Imambara also known as Imambara Hussainabad
Mubarak is an imposing monument located in the city
of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
 Built as an imambara or a congregation hall
for Shia Muslims, by Muhammad Ali Shah, the
third Nawab of Awadh in 1838.
 It was to serve as his own mausoleum and his mother,
who is buried beside him.

19.  The large green and white bordered hall of
Azakhana is richly decorated with chandeliers and a
good number of crystal glass lamp-stands.
 In fact, it was for this profuse decoration that the
Imambara was referred by European visitors and
writers as The Palace of Lights'. The exterior is very
beautifully decorated with Quranic verses in Islamic
calligraphy

20. Tomb of Princess Zinat Algiya
 Zinat Algiya the daughter of King Mohammad Ali
Shah Bahadur (3rd King of Awadh).
 This structure serves as a mausoleum for four graves,
of the son, daughter and son-in-law of the King
Mohammed Ali Shah and one of the lady.
 This is the small scale copy of the TAJ MAHAL.
 This tomb is smaller in area of the TAJ MAHAL.

21. Treasury
This other structure facing the tomb was built for the
architectural symmetry and balance of the Imambara.
It was used as a treasury.

22. Husainabad Mosque
 This Mosque is Built on high platform with two
grand minaret on the edge of the platform.
 This Mosque is very beautifully decorated with
Floral designs and Quranic Calligraphy.

23. Satkhanda
 Outside the imambara is the watch tower
called Satkhanda or tower of seven stories.
 Though it is called Satkhanda, it has only four
stories, as the construction of the tower was
abandoned when Ali Shah died.
 Satkhanda was built between 1837–1842 in the time
of Muhammad Ali Shah.
 He wanted to make it the same as Qutub Minar of
Delhi and the leaning tower of Pisa.
 Its main purpose is lunar observation.

24. The next topic is
Chattar Manzil

25. Chattar Manzil
Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh

26. Chattar Manzil
 It was constructed by order of Nawab Ghazi Uddin
Haider .
 Completed after his death by his successor,
Nawab Nasir Uddin Haider.
 The Chattar Manzil stand on the banks of the River
Gomti.
 The Chattar Manzil consisted of a Bari (larger)
Chattar Manzil and Chhoti (smaller) Chattar Manzil.
 Only the larger one still exists

27. Chattar Manzil
 These two buildings were examples of the Indo-
European-Nawabi architectural style.
 Chattar Manzil has been altered over the years.
 The palaces were named after the chattris (umbrella-
shaped domes) on the octagonal pavilions,which
crown the buildings.
 The imposing building has large underground
rooms .
 A dome surmounted by a gilt umbrella.
Usage
 Nawabs of Awadh: Saadat Ali Khan

28. Underground rooms

30. Now letz discuss about
the next topic
tomb of saadat ali khan

31. Saadat ali khan
 Saadat Ali Khan was a known ruler
amoung the navabs of owdh.
 This tomb is dedecated for his
favourite wife Murshid Zadi who
popularly known as Begum.
 It is built in the Indo-Islamic style of
architecture.
✣.

32.  The tomb of Nawab Saadat Ali Khan’s wife
Murshidzaadi lies adjacent to his Maqbara.
 The walls of the facade has fine stucco work done on
it. It also has turrets and a huge dome which is
further embellished with an inverted guldasta over
it.
 At top the guldasta is fixed a pointed, narrow rod
which aims at the sky.
 The building has it’s floor chequered with black and
white marbles and it’s walls adorned with several
arched doors and windows.

33.  The building has it’s floor chequered with black and
white marbles and it’s walls adorned with several
arched doors and windows. ‘Lakhauri bricks and
locally available mortar was used to build this
structure.
 It’s deteriorating condition in the form of crumbling
plasters, broken pointed rod at it’s peak, dull-
blackened walls and bad shape of the park
surrounding it, is awaiting for the onlookers’s to pay
heed over the feeling of love and respect with which
it was once built and help it in regaining it’s original
grace.

34. Thatz all………

36. A group work by
JEBIN
ADARSH
ABINOV
FAZAL
BALA
LEKSHMI KARAN
FOR MORE DETAILS :jaafarchitrendz@gmail.com

37. THANK YOU……