Full animation Only run on 2013

1. MUGHAL ARCHITECTURE
Aman Kumar

2. Introduction
Major Mughal contribution to the Indian subcontinent was their
unique architecture. Many monuments were built by the Muslim
emperors, especially Shah jahan, during the Mughal era. One of them
is the world famous Taj Mahal. Others are Fatehpur sikri, Red fort,
Qutb Minar and Agra fort and many more.

3. Mughal
Paintings

4. • Under the rule of King Akbar, there was a large scale growth
of Painting experience.
• He encouraged paintings based on Ramayana, Mahabharata
and Persian epics. It also used to depict nature, animal tales
and portraits of Kings and Queens.
• The king who showed the maximum interest in painting was
Emperor Jahangir.
• This period saw more and more refinement in brushwork, along
with the use of much lighter colours.
• During the rule of Aurangzeb, Painting was not allowed and
thus Mughal style of painting started to decline.

6. Bahabar Shah Jafar

7. A rare picture of Bahadur Shah Jafar awaiting trial

8. Mughal Literature

9. Mughal Literature
• Islamic schools were attached to mosques, Khanqah of the Sufis and tombs.
• Students received education free of cost. Famous scholars received fixed stipends from the
royal treasury.
• Nizamiyyah ( model of madrasa) system of education was introduced.
• Nizamiyyah institutes were the first well organized higher institutes of learning in
the Muslim world. The quality of education was the highest in the Islamic world.
• Girls from rich families were given private tuitions at home and girls from middle class
were usually able to attend classes in the same schools as the boys.

10. Mughal Literature
The Mughal period saw great developments in the field
of literature.
Many Mughal emperors and members of the royal
family were great men of letters.
Babar the first Mughal emperor was one of the pioneers
of Turkish poetry and also the author of a very valuable
autobiography in Turkish BabarNama which was later
translated into Persian
Jahangir the great connoisseur of painting wrote his
autobiography the Tuzuk-i- Jahangiri.
The last Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar was a
notable Urdu poet.

11. Mughal Literature
• Hindi literature made significant progress during Akbar’s
reign.
• Tulsidas and the Surdas wrote in this period. Keshavdas a
great poet wrote on themes of love
• Abul Fazl wrote the Ain-i-Akbari and Akbar Nama during
Akbar’s reign.
• Akbar also encouraged the translation of Mahabharat,
Bhagvad Gita, a Panchatantra, etc.
• One of the most significant developments during the medieval
period was the birth of the Urdu language.
• It produced great poets like Wali, Mir Dard, Mir Taqi,
Akbarabadi, etc.

14. Indo-Islamic style is neither a local variant of Islamic art, nor a
modification of Hindu art; it is an assimilation of both the styles,
though not always in an equal degree. On the other hand, Islamic
art itself was a composite style, which had various Muslims
influences-Turkish, Persian, and Arabic.
This amalgamation of exotic and indigenous architectural styles
was possible due to a variety or factors- Muslim rulers had to use,
in most cases, Indian craftsmen and sculptors who were schooled
in their own art traditions. Another factor that inadvertently
contributed to this fusion
of style was that during the early Muslim invasions, mosques were
often built out of materials from Hindu and Jain temples and
sometimes temples themselves were modified into mosques.

15. FATEHPUR SIKRI
Fatehpur Sikri Fort was built by Akbar. It is
regarded as Emperor Akbar’s crowning
architectural legacy. This was the temporary capital
of Emperor Akbar, of the Mughal Empire, between
1570 to 1586. He came to the city of Sikri and met
the Sufi mystic called Sheikh Salim Chishti. Salim
told the Emperor that he would have at least three
sons. A year later, the first son was born. In
gratitude, Akbar named the son Salim (later known
as Jahangir), after the saint and he also moved his
capital here.

16. FATEHPUR SIKRI
Sikri was the first planned city of the Mughals. Akbar chose to construct this capital
on the natural feature of the terrain. In 1571, Akbar began building a mosque and
then a palace complex at Sikri. The nobilities built their mansions further down the
hill and shops lined the road to Agra. To commemorate his conquest of Gujarat,
Akbar named his new capital Fatehpur Sikri or the “City of Victory.”
The structures here include palaces and courtyards, as well as official buildings, like audience halls,
the treasury, the harem, soldier's barracks and kitchens. The attached complex comprises the main
mosque, the shrine of Sheikh Salim Chishti, and a lofty gateway. The mosque complex at the highest
level – comprising of Jami Masjid, Tomb of Sheikh Salim Chisti and Buland Darwajah. Royal
complex on the lower level comprising of Raniwas, Mahal-I-ilaahi, Shahi Bazaar, Meena Bazaar,
Baithak and gardens. And the public complex at the lowest level comprised of Panch Mahal,
Khawabghah, Shahi kutub khana, Ibaadat khana and deewaan-i-aam.

17. FATEHPUR SIKRI
INSIDE FATEHPUR SIKRI
The Dewan-i-Khas”or “Ibadat khana”. Is the
centerpiece of the room, it is a highly decorated
pillar – Throne pillar, from which four bridges
radiate. Akbar’s throne is placed on the circular
platform over the central pillar. It is here that
Akbar, seated on his throne, listened to the
discussions/debates among representatives/gurus of
all the major religions of that time.
Deewan-i-Khaas

18. FATEHPUR SIKRI
The Pachisi court has a giant stone
board of the game “Chausar ”. It is
believed that Akbar used to play this
game using slave girls as live pieces.
According to Abul Fazal – Another
jewel of Akbar’s Nauratna- at a time
there were about 200-300 people
playing the game with Akbar and they
were not allowed to go home till the
Emperor had played 16 rounds of this
game.
Treasury or Aankh Michauli
The Treasury or Aankh Michauli was composed of three rooms.
Current thinking suggests that that building was used as the
imperial treasury of gold and silver coins. Its brackets had
mythological sea creatures carved on it signifying the
guardians of the treasures of the deep sea
Pachisi Court

19. Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum located in Agra, India. The
Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan commissioned it as a
mausoleum for his favorite wife, MumtazMahal.
Construction of the Taj Mahal was begun in Agra soon after
Mumtaz's death. The principal mausoleum was completed in
1648, and the surrounding buildings and garden five years
later.
Construction began in 1632 and was completed in 1648.

20. Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal was constructed using materials from all
over India and Asia. Over 1,000 elephants were used to
transport building materials during the construction. The
translucent white marble was brought from Rajasthan,
the jasper from Punjab and the jade and crystal from
China. The turquoise was from Tibet and the Lapis lazuli
from Afghanistan, while the sapphire came from Sri
Lanka and the carnelian from Arabia. In all, 28 types of
precious and semi-precious stones were inlaid into the
white marble.

21. Taj Mahal
The Taj rises on a high red sandstone base topped by a huge
white marble terrace on which rests the famous dome flanked
by four tapering minarets. Within the dome lies the jewel-inlaid
cenotaph of the queen. So exquisite is the workmanship
that the Taj has been described as "having been designed by
giants and finished by jewellers" . The only asymmetrical object
in the Taj is the casket of the emperor which was built beside
the queen’s as an after-thought.
Inside the dome

22. • The Taj Mahal is built from precious white marble with delicate mosaic, with inlaid precious stones.
Almost every surface of the entire building has been decorated, and every detail is symmetrical. The
mosaic designs are based on three decorative elements- calligraphy, abstract geometric and vegetative
motifs. The exterior decorations of the Tag Mahal are among the finest to be found in Mughal
architecture of any period.
• The Taj Mahal is arguably one of the most incredible man-made constructions in the world. It’s located in
Agra, which is in the north central part of Indian, on the right part of the Humana River. Known for its
symmetry, the Taj Mahal sits on a raised platform surrounded by four minarets.

23. The tomb of Shah Jahan bears a calligraphic
inscription, not taken from the Qur'an, but
referring to the resting place of this Mughal
Emperor. Part of the inscription reads; "He
travelled from this world to the banquet-hall of
Eternity on the night of the twenty-sixth of the
month of Rajab, in the year
1076 Hijri."

24. Shah Jehan deemed
that one else should ever
copy the masterpiece, so
he had the master craftsman
Ustad Isa right
hand cut off.
Many people believe,
Shah Jehan had planned to
build another Taj Mahal in black marble,
which was to be his own tomb on the
opposite bank of the River Yamuna and
connect the two by a bridge.
However, the construction never
got started due to conflict with his
son, which took up most of his time.
The Taj Mahal cost 32 million rupees
to build, which is roughly $1,000,000.

25. • A whole town, named Mumtazabad, was constructed to house the twenty
thousand workers who laboured for whole years to build the Taj Mahal.
• Above the tombs is a Cairene lamp, the flame of which is supposed to never
burn out. The acoustics of the building are superb with the domed ceiling
being designed to echo chants from the Koran and musician’s melodies.
• Taj is a world’s wonder because of its perfect symmetry, than beauty. The
composition of the forms and lines is perfectly symmetrical. Here is a
beautiful admixture of lines, horizontal with vertical, and straight with curved
all harmoniously set together in total unity. The adopt each other with amazing uniformity.

26. The Red Fort, set amidst the bustling heart of Old Delhi, with its obligatory share of dust and memories, bears
the stamp of a place that has seen much grandeur and knows it. After Mughal Emperor Shahjahan shifted his
capital to the royal quarters of Delhi, this colossal fort sprouted from the heart of his new city, Shahjahanabad.
History traces its way back from the dawn of Mughal power in Delhi, to the times when it was known as Qila-e-
Mu'alla or the 'Auspicious Fort'.

27. The Diwani Khas, an outstanding structure was meant for the Emperor to sit in
audience with his ministers and listen to disputes and discussions. A novel structure,
it is a large hall with a giant monolithic pillars in the centre with a circular railed
platform on top like a cup which is supported by a circular array of beautifully
carved brackets. From the Central platform branch out four diagonal railed galleries
symbolizing Akbar’s supremacy over his dominions. The gallery is continued on all
four sides of the hall. The audience sat in the galleries and in the hall below giving
it the effect of a two-storey building. Sitting in the centre, Akbar heard discourses
and discussions on religions.

28. Sher Shah built the Purana Quila in Delhi. Started by him, it was
completed by Humayun. Built of red and buff sand-stone, it is
ornamented with black and white marble and coloured tiles. A
beautiful mosque inside the Quila with ornamental arches, decorative
panels, geometrical designs and inscriptions is an example of the
development of architecture and ornamentation during Sher Shah's
reign.

29. A greater part of the fort at Agra was constructed by Akbar starting in 1565 AD
and completed it in 1574 A.D. Situated on the bank of the river Jamuna, it is a
massive and grand structure. The special feature of this fort is the 2.5 kms. long
and 21 metres high circuitous wall of solid red sand stone.

30. Jama Masjid
The Jami Masjid of Ahmedabad is one of the biggest and oldest mosques of India, built by a Bahmani ruler
Ahmed Shah I (1411-1442), the founder of Ahmedabad, in 1423. One of the major tourist attractions of
Gujarat, Jami Masjid is known for its fine and amazing architecture. The Mosque has a total of 260 pillars
supporting 15 domes at different elevations. The Jami Masjid also had tall minarets, which were destroyed in
an earthquake.

31. Jama Masjid
The mosque was the result of the efforts of over 5,000 workers, over a period of
six years. The mosque faces west. Its three sides are covered with open arched colonnades, each having
a lofty tower-like gateway in the centre. The mosque is about 261 feet (80 m) long and 90 feet (27 m)
wide, and its roof is covered with three domes with alternate stripes of black and white marble, with its
topmost parts covered with gold. The courtyard of the mosque can be reached from the east, north and
south by three flights of steps, all built of red sandstone.

32. Did you know
• The Mughal Empire
originated in Pakistan
and Afghanistan
• First Army
Headquarters was
first housed in
Red Fort, Delhi
• From the top of Jama
Masjid's
minaret, there is an
amazing
view of the sprawling city
of Delhi

33. Humayun’s tomb was built by his widow Haji Begum in 1565 A.D. in Delhi
in 1569A.D., fourteen years after his death. The mausoleum stands in the
centre of a square enclosed garden. The garden is divided and sub-divided
into squares, typical of Mughal gardens. The lofty double storeyed
structure is built on a huge high platform terrace which has a row of calls
with arched openings.
The Mausoleum of Akbar at Sikandra near Agra was started by Akbar and completed by his
son Jahangir in 1612 A.D. who changed the original design of his father. Designed on the
model of a Buddhist Vihara, it is set in the centre of a square garden.

34. Itmad-ul-Daula
The Mausoleum of Itmad-ud-Daula, the revenue minister of Jahangir and Nur Jehan’s father was
built in Agra on the banks of the Jamuna. Started by Jahangir it was completed by Nur Jehan in 1628
A.D. A small rectangular structure in white marble, inlaid with semi-precious stones and coloured
glass, it is a delicate and beautiful piece of architecture. It is the first pure marble monument and
differs from the typical massive, red sand-stone structures of earlier Mughals. Situated in a garden
amidst fountains, it has a square lower storey with four minarets in the four corners. A traceried
pavilion forms the second storey.

35. Sher Shah’s Tomb
Sher Shah's tomb at
Sasaram in Bihar built in 1549 is in the centre of a large
square tank and rises
at 46 metres high. It is a two storey construction on a
terraced platform. The upper terrace has pillared domes and
the two storeys above have a pillared kiosk at the four
corners. The base of the large central dome has thirty two
sides. The tomb is decorated with coloured tiles, very few of
which remain
now. Entrance to the
tomb is through a
domed structure

36. Qutup Minar
The Qutub Minar is 72 meters high (237.8
ft) with 379 steps leading to the top. The
diameter of the base is 14.3 meters wide
while the top floor measures 2.75 meters in
diameter. Surrounding the building are
many fine examples of Indian artwork
from the time it was built in 1193. A second
tower was in construction and planned to
be taller than the Qutub Minar itself

37. Qutup Minar
The purpose for building this monument has been variously
speculated upon. It could take the usual role of a minaret, calling
people for prayer in the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque, the earliest
extent mosque built by the Delhi Sultans. Other possibilities are a
tower of victory, a monument signifying the might of Islam, or a
watch tower for defense.

38. The Taj Mahal is so
proportionately constructed,
one never imagines that it is
taller than the Qutb Minar, the
tallest minaret in the world!
The Taj is 243½ ft. in height
while the Qutb Minar is only
239 ft.
The Mughals made use of the ancient Indian decorative
technique of carving and sculpture and freely utilized
glazed-tiling, painting, stucco, mosaic and inlay arts. They
liberally employed all types of motifs and designs which
were in vogue in the Orient. The Mughal decorative art is
not an expression in isolation, it is a link in the continuous
growth of the art of the people.

39. MUGHAL MUSIC
• During the Mughal period, especially under Akbar's reign,
temple music took a backseat and durbar sangeet came
into being.
• Music was composed mainly to sing praises of the masters.
There were numerous musician irrespective of gender or
religion.
• The main instruments were Sarmandal, bin, nay, karna and
tanpura.
• The musicians came from far and wide and the music was
rich and varied.
• Akbar’s court was witness to a complete fusion of the
Persian and Indian music systems. But Aurangzeb was a
puritan thus did not support any type of art or
architecture

40. MUGHAL MUSIC

41. Fashion designing or embroidery
Other arts popular at the mughal
court were Jewellery, Fashion
designing or embroidery, writing,
perfumery and so on.