This document summarizes Mughal architecture in India, with a focus on structures in Agra. It describes the architectural styles developed during the reigns of Akbar and Shah Jahan, including their use of domes, minarets, and ornamentation. Key structures discussed are the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri, Buland Darwaza, Akbar's Tomb, and Itmad-ud-Daula's Tomb. The Mughal period is highlighted for greatly enriching India with architectural masterpieces that remain appealing over time.

1. VISITING AGRA
AN EPITOME OF MUGHAL ART, CULTURE AND HERITAGE

2. INTRODUCTION
 ALL THE EARLY MUGHAL RULERS EXCEPT AURANGZEB WERE
GREAT BUILDERS.
 WITH THE COMING OF MUGHALS INDIAN ARCHITECTURE
WAS GREATLY INFLUENCED BY PERSIAN STYLE .
 THE MUGHALS CONSTRUCTED EXCELLENT MAUSOLEUMS,
MOSQUES,FORTS ,GARDEN AND CITIES WHICH SHOWED A
UNIFORM PATTERN BOTH IN STRUCTURE AND CHARACTER .
 MUGHAL ARCHITECTURE BEGINS WITH AKBAR WHO
SHOWED HIS PASSION FOR BUILDING BY PLANNING AND
CONSTRUCTING SPLENDID EDIFICES.

3.  During his reign Mughal architecture took on new
forms.
 Akbar made free use of both hindu and Persian
styles.
 The use of red sand stone inlaid with white marble
and painted designs on walls and ceiling are the
salient features of his buildings .
 Akbar constructed numerous forts ,towers , palaces,
mosques,mausoleums and gateways

4. CHARACTERESTIC FEATURES
 Bulbous domes
 Slender minarets with cupolas at four corners
 Large halls
 Massive vaulted gateways and delicate
ornamentation

5. Taj mahal

6. TAJ MAHAL
 A dream in white marble built by Shah Jahan as a
memorial to his beloved wife Mumataj Begum
 Started in 1632 AD and took 22 yrs to complete
 Planned by ISA , a Persian architect
 Marble from makrana and precious stones from
different parts of world were used in its construction.
 A mosques on the west and corresponding structure
on the east in red sand stones complete effect of
cemetery

7. AGRA FORT

8. AGRA FORT
 A greater part of the fort constructed by akbar starting in
1565 AD and completed in 1574 AD.
 It is 2.5 km long and 21 mts high circuitous wall of solid
red sand stone
 The stones are linked with iron rings so close that not
even a hair can pass through .
 Entrance to the fort is through two gateways
1) delhi gate- ceremonial entrance to the fort
2) elephant gate- also called as hathi pole

9. FATEHPUR SIKRI
MANNAT DHAGA FRONT VIEW CORRIDOR

10. FATEHPUR SIKRI
 Akbar’s greatest architectural achievement.
 Construction of this walled city started in 1569AD
and 1574AD
 The religious edifices worth mentioning are Jami
Masjid and Salim Chistis Tomb .
 It contains some of the most beautiful buildings –
both religious and secular which testify to the
emperor’s aim of achieving social, political and
religious integration

11. BULAND DARWAJA

12. BULAND DARWAZA
 This magnificent gateway was added to fatehpur sikri
later in 1571-72 AD to commemorade his conquest
of Gujarat.
 Built of red sand ston and marble it is said to be the
most perfect architectural achievemaents in whole of
india.
 Flight of steps lead to gateway which is about 53 mts
in ht. and 39 mts in wdth.

13. AKBARS TOMB- SIKANDARA

14. AKBARS TOMB- SIKANDARA
 THIS MAUSOLEUM OF AKBAR WAS STARTED BY
AKBAR AND COMPLETED BY HIS SON Jahangir in
1612 AD ,who changed the original design of his
father.
 Designed on the model of buddist vihara , it is said in
the centre of square garden
 The mausoleum has five terraces rising from the
basement ,one above the other , diminishing inside
as they ascend
 The red sandstone entrance gateway is the largest
and richily decorated with inlaid coloured stone work
.

15. ITMAD –UD-DAULA
MAKBARA FRONT VIEW RIVER VIEW

16. ITMAD-UD-DAULA’S TOMB
 The mausoleum of itmad-ud-daula ,the revenue
minister of Jahangir and Noor Jahan’s father was
started by Jahagir and completed by Noor Jahan in
1628 AD
 It is 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
 It does not show the masculinity of akbar’s solid red
stone construction and instead were marked by
quality ,feminity, grace and elegance

17. OTHER NOTABLE CONSTRUCTIONS
OF THAT ERA
 Humayun’s tomb in delhi
 Red fort in delhi
 Jama Masjid in delhi
 Bibi ka maqbara in Aurangabad

18. SUMMARY
 The mughal period in indian history is one of the glorious periods that
have enriched india in multi factorial ways .
 Art and architecture had received a great fillip during the Mughal period
that has gifted us with architectural gems that have defied the passage of
time in their appeal and splendor

19. THANK YOU
SHWETA TIWARI ARYA