What were the Developments of Architecture during the Sultanate Period?

1. Slave Dynasty:

The founder of the so called Slave Dynasty was Qutubuddin Aibak. Some of the most important Architectural examples of Slave Dynasty are as under: (0 Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque:

Qutubuddin Aibak constructed the First Mosque called ‘Quwaat-ul-Islam Mosque”. Some scholars say that its construction started in 1195 A.D. and was finished in 1199 A.D. Some scholars also say that this mosque was constructed by desecrating a Vishnu Temple whereas the other scholars hold that it was constructed hostily at the cite of Kila Rai Pithora. At this site many temples were being constructed before the coming of the Turks.

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After their victory in the battle, the Turks with the help of the existing building material and builders constructed pulpit made for the temple into a courtyard surrounded by the wall. The greatest speciality of this mosque is its great Maksura and connected Kibla Diwan. To decorate “The Maksura” inlays work in the form of straight lines or geometrical designs and flowers and leaves are used. In this building the strength and beauty of Islamic architecture are manifest.

It consisted of an open quadrangle enclosed by colonnades of which the western one constitutes the prayer chamber. Seen from within or without, the building, as originally designed, presented an essentially Hindu Appearance. Half of the plinth on which it stood was actually the basement of a Hindu temple and the rest of the structure was composed of materials from the 27 shrines of the Hindus.

In 1198, an arched screen of Muhammadan design was thrown across the whole front of the prayer chamber. It is pointed out that the screen is not an architectural success. It is obviously an after-thought and not an integral and organic part of the structure.

In 1230 A.D., Iltutmish more than doubled the area of the mosque by throwing out wings to the prayer chamber and screen and by adding an outer court. The new work was fundamentally Islamic in character and obviously designed, if not executed, by Muslim Craftsmen. Ala-ud-Din Khalji also enlarged the mosque.

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Qutub Minar:

Aibak began the construction of the second important building called Qutub Minar. According to some historians, this tower was being constructed basically to summon all the Muslims for the purpose of Namaz but other historians hold that it was connected with Turkish Achievements of victory.

They said that it was constructed to make their victory famous and the memory immortal like those at Chittor and Mandu. The credit for completing this building goes to Iltutmish. Only a portion of the first storey was constructed by Qutub-ud-Din Aibaq and the rest was completed by Iltutmish.

The tower was originally 71.4 metres or 225 feet high. Some historians hold that Iltutmish constructed this tower in the memory of popular Sufi saint Qutubuddin Bakhtiar Kaki. The circumference at the base is 15 meters reduced by just 3 metres at the top. In the time of Firuj Shah Tughlaq the Minar was struck by lightning and the fourth storey was dismantled and replaced by two smaller ones.

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Its height was also raised to 91.4 meters or 234 feet. In 1503, the Minar was again restored and its upper storey was repaired. At a small distance very beautiful carving is done on stones. At the end of each storey there is an enclosed space for being able to go round it. There are five storeys in all.

There is a balcony which makes each storey link separate from the other whereas inside the tower there is no special roof for each storey. It has been constructed of red sandstones totally. Percy Brown has praised its art highly. Dr. Nandlal Chatterji has written about it that the Qutub Minar has been constructed in Muslim style. Under the supervisions of Muslim builders the Hindu Artisans have made it in such a way that some characteristics of Hindu Style are also visible in it.

On the strength of certain short Nagari records in the interior, attempts have been made to prove that the Minar was originally Hindu and Muslims merely reserved the outer surface. This view is rejected by Sir John Marhsall who points out that the whole conception of the Minar and almost every detail of its construction and decoration is essentially Islamic. While towers of this kind were unknown to the Indians, those were familiar to the Muslims.

The calligraphic inscriptions and the elaborate stalactite corbelling beneath the balconies also point out to its Muslim origin. Fergusson was of the view that the Qutub Minar was the most perfect example of a tower known to exist anywhere. According to Sir John Marshall, “Nothing certainly could be more imposing or more fittingly symbolic of Muslim power than this stern and stupendous fabric; nor could anything be more exquisite than its rich but restrained carvings.”

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The Tomb of lltutmish

This tomb is unpretentious in its form and dimensions. It is a simple square chamber. However, its decoration is very elaborate. Almost the entire surface of the walls within is covered from floor to ceiling with Quranic texts.

(iv) The Sultan Ghar

This was built in 1231-32 A.D. Its plan is not like The Tomb of lltutmish or of any other tomb in India. It stands in the middle of a square fortress-like enclosure with round turrets at the four corners. Most of the enclosure is of grey granite, but the mosque and entrance portico and the exterior facing of the tomb are of white marble, (v) The Arhai-Din-Ka-Jhompra.

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This was built at Ajmer in 1200 A.D. by Qutb-ud-Din Aibaq. Probably it was also constructed by breaking a Buddhist monastery. Later on, lltutmish beautified it with a screen. According to Sir John Marshal it is so called because it was really built in 2’a days.

But according to Persy Brown here near a hut there used to be a fair for 2’a days that is why it is so called. The view that the building was originally built within two and a half days is not accepted and it is suggested that it might have taken two and a half years to construct it.

In style and construction, it closely resembles the Quwwat-ul-Islam at Delhi, but its area is more than double and several parts of it are more spacious and dignified. The architect at Ajmer has succeeded in creating a hall of really solemn beauty. However, it does not possess the delicate subtle beauty of Quwwat-ul-Islam. Its pillars, roof, stones and dome all show the use of Islamic Architectural Style.

The Tomb of Balban

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This is a simple structure comprising a square domed chamber, 38 inches across, with an arched entrance in each of its sites and a smaller chamber to the East and West.

Unfortunately, every trace of decoration has disappeared from the tomb and what is left is a mere shell. However, the presence of arches built on the scientific principles gives it great importance. It is a symbol of a reaction against the Hindu influences of the Hindu Artisans.

Turkish style Arches in India :

2. Khilji Dynasty:

Allauddin Khilji had a great love for architecture. It is said that he got buildings constructed right from the time of his accusation to his death. Some of the important constructions of his period are as under:

Siri Village :

Allauddin Khilji got a new city constructed in Siri village, a few kilometres from Qutub Minar, in about 1303. He made it his capital. Siri was constructed in order to protect the population of the suburbs of Delhi. Unfortunately nothing is left of this city now.

Only some fragments of the encircling walls of the city are now left. Zia-ud-Din Barani has called this city as Naya Nagar and has vividly described many of its buildings. Even the walls of the city throw some light on the military architecture of that period. Allauddin Khilji got the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque extended and built a grand doorway at its entrance.

It is said that Allauddin Khilji wanted to build another tower higher than the Qutub Minar but he died before its completion. (it) Alai Darwaza: Allauddin Khilji got another gateway constructed near Qutub Minar called Alai Darwaza. According to Sir John Marshal, “Allai Darwaza is an invaluable treasure of Islamic architecture.” It is built on a raised platform on which beautiful creepers etc. are carved.

On it there is a beautiful combination of red sandstone and marble. The engravings from Quran are beautifully engraved on it with unique balance in its arches. On top of it is a dome on which scientific method was rightly used for the first time. In spite of mutilations, the Alai Darwaza is one of the most treasured gems of Islamic Architecture. Like the tomb of Iltutmish, it consisted of a square hall roofed by a single dome, with arched entrances piercing each of its four walls. It is of red sandstone relieved by white marble.

It is freely adorned with bands of Quranic texts. In every feature, whether structural or decorative, the Alai Darwaza is incomparably better. Seen at a distance, its well-proportioned lineaments are accentuated by the alternating red and white colour of its walls. An added dignity is given by the high plinth on which it stands. If seen from very near, the harmony of forms and colour is increased by the wealth of lace-like decorations on its walls.

According to Sir John Marshall, “The key-notes of this building are its perfect symmetry and the structural propriety of its parts. Whoever the architect may have been, he was a man of irreproachable taste who was not satisfied merely with repeating traditional ideas but who set himself to think out and perfect every detail of his creation.”

Hauz Khas:

It is said that Allauddin Khilji got a tank constructed near Siri village which was called a Hauz-Khas or Hauz-i-Allai. This tank was spread over an area of more than seventy acres of land and was surrounded by a wall made of stone and lime mixture.

Probably later on it was filled with mud and was cleaned by Firoz Shah Tughlaq in 1354 A.D. On the basis of memoirs of Taimur it can be said that this tank supplied water to the city throughout the year, Jamaat Khana Mosque: Allauddin Khilji also constructed Jamaat Khana Mosque near the Dargah of Nizamuddin Aulia.

This is in the village of Malikpur near Old Delhi. Nasiruddin Mahmud, eldest son of Iltutmish, was buried here. It was constructed entirely in Islamic style. The bonds supporting the arch are inscribed with lotus (flower) and Quranic Aiats.

The Jamaat Khana Masjid is the earliest example in India of a mosque built wholly in accordance with Muslim ideas and with materials especially quarried for the purpose. It is of red sandstone and consists of three chambers. Originally, the building was intended not as a mosque but as a tomb for Shaikh Nizam-ud-Din and consisted of the central chamber only. The side wings were added in the beginning of the Tughlaq Dynasty when it was converted into a mosque.

4. Tughlaq Dynasty:

There was a change in the art of architecture under the Tughlaq Period. Lavish display of ornaments and richness of details gave place to puritanical simplicity. This change was due partly to the urgent need for economy and partly to the general revulsion of feeling against the excesses of the Khalji Regime.

The extreme religious bigotry of the Tughlaq Period was also responsible for the change. There was also a decay of skilled craftsmanship during the reign of Muhammad Tughlaq on account of the wholesale shifting of the population of Delhi to Daulatabad.

Many buildings were constructed during The Tughlaq Period. In these buildings there was more emphasis on simplicity and vastness in place of decoration of the buildings of the Khilji Period. According to historians the basic cause was the financial difficulties of the Tughlaq Sultans as also a feeling of resentment among the people against the heavy expenditure incurred by Khiljis. Some important constructions of Tughlaq Dynasty are as under: