Mughal Architecture

• The plan of the whole conception takes the form of a

The Taj Mahal - Agra
rectangle aligned north and south and measuring 1900 feet
by 1000 feet with the central area divided oft into a square
garden of 1000 feet side.
• This apportionment leaves at each end of the rectangle an
oblong space, that on the south side being laid out in system
of roads and service dwellings, while that on the north
consists of a raised terrace containing the white marble tomb
building with certain supplementary structures, all overlooking
the river below.
• The entire garden portion, including the tomb terrace, is
enclosed within a high boundary wall having broad octagonal
pavilions at each comer, and a monumental entrance
gateway in the centre of the southern side.
• Beyond the entrance are courtyards, stables, outhouses
and other edifices, with the addition of a "bazar" for supplies;
in its composition nothing has been omitted, and one of the
most striking facts in connection with the architectural
projects of this period is the amount of preliminary thought
that must have been expended on them before the actual
construction was began.
• The building art as practised by the Mughals permitted no
subsequent amendments or afterthoughts, each undertaking
was initially perfected in its parts with every need
anticipated. Mughal Architecture
 The Taj Mahal - Agra
• The architectural portion of the conception which
is of most significance are the structures on the
terrace occupying the northern end of the
enclosure consisting of the tomb building in the
centre and two detached subsidiary edifices, one
on each side.
• Of the two subsidiary buildings that on the west is
a mosque, while that on the east is a replica of the
mosque but without its religious purpose, being
introduced into the composition
for the sake of symmetry.
• This ‘jawab’ or "answer," as the replica is called,
had its uses as it formed a kind of reception hall or
guest house.
• The building which gives the main character to
the whole is the white marble tomb structure in
the middle of the terrace, the focal point of the
entire scheme.
• This, the mausoleum itself, is elevated on a plinth
22 feet high, is square in plan and 186 feet
side with its angles chamfered; this shape is
carried up so as to form a building 108 feet in
height, having a marble cupola above each comer,
while over the centre, towering to a complete
height of 187 feet, is the great bulbous dome. Mughal Architecture
 The Taj Mahal - Agra
• To extend and distribute the architectural effect a
minaret in three stages and crowned by a kiosk rises
from each comer of the plinth to a height of 137 feet. It
will be seen therefore from the main elements forming
this structure that its design was by no means complex, it
is a comparatively simple composition worked out in plain
forms, but with the accomplishment of a master mind.
• Its proportions also are as simple as its shape, for
instance the entire width is equal to the height, and the
height of the facade in the centre is the same height as
the dome, in other words, the top of the parapet above
the large alcove is the middle point in the whole
elevation.
• Although all these factors have been carefully
considered, it is the simple grouping, rhythmical disposal,
and skilful interrelation of each part in the total unity that
cause the appearance of this building to be aesthetically
pleasing.
• But the crowning glory of its elevation lies in the shape
and volume of the dome, derived from a Persian source.
When analysed, the body of this feature is seen to be a
globe. Its lower part truncated by the drum, while its
upper curves. produced tangentially, rise up to form the
foliated base of the final.
Mughal Architecture
• The smaller cupolas at the foot of the dome
The Taj Mahal - Agra
unconstricted at their base, are indigenous.
• In some respects the subtle contrast thus produced
may be likened to a change of key in the rhythmic
treatment of the whole.
• In the interior a octagonal central hall with subsidiary
chambers in the angles, and all are connected by
radiating passages.
• Reproducing the two storied treatment of the exterior.
the main hall is also in two stories of arcades, over which
is a semi-circular vault forming the inner shell of the
double dome, as there is a large void above this ceiling
equal in area to the hall itself.
• As to the decoration which has been applied to the
architecture of this monument, except for some carving
on the dados and the exquisite treatment of the
perforated screen enclosing the cenotaphs most of the
mural enrichment consists of inlaid patterns distributed
with considerable restraint over the fiat surfaces reserved
for the purpose.
• Much of the building’s charm is produced by the quality
and texture of the material used in its construction. This
marble from Markrana is of such a nature that it takes on
incredibly subtle variations of tint and tone, according to
the changes in the light, thus picturing the passing colour Mughal Architecture
of the moment.
 The Taj Mahal - Agra

The Taj Mahal complex can be conveniently divided into 5 sections:

1. The 'moonlight garden' to the north of the river Yamuna.
2. The riverfront terrace, containing the Mausoleum, Mosque and Jawab.
3. The Charbagh garden containing pavilions.
4. The jilaukhana containing accommodation for the tomb attendants and two subsidiary
tombs.
5. The Taj Ganji, originally a bazaar and caravanserai only traces of which are still
preserved.
The great gate lies between the jilaukhana and the garden.
Levels gradually descend in steps from the Taj Ganji towards the river.
Mughal Architecture
 The Taj Mahal - Agra

Mughal Architecture
 The Taj Mahal - Agra

Mughal Architecture
 The Taj Mahal - Agra

Mughal Architecture
 The Taj Mahal - Agra

Mughal Architecture
 The Taj Mahal - Agra

Mughal Architecture
 The Taj Mahal - Agra

PIETRA DURA: pictorial mosaic work

using semi-precious stones, typically for
table tops and other furniture. It has been
used here for decorating the façades and
the interiors.

Mughal Architecture
 The Taj Mahal - Agra

Mughal Architecture
 The Taj Mahal - Agra

Mughal Architecture
 The Taj Mahal - Agra

Mughal Architecture
 Red Fort- Delhi
• One of the first projects undertaken by Shahjahan
was the result of the emperor's resolution tobtransfer
the seat of the empire from Agra to its original position
at Delhi where in 1638 he began to layout the city of
Shahjahanabad on a site on the west bank of the river
Jumna.
• The principal feature of this project consisted of a
palace fortress now known as the Red Fort due to its
sandstone colour. This was meant to be Shahjahan’s
own accommodation on a larger, and more
comprehensive scale than any previously produced,
thus forming a city within a city.
• The Red fort of Delhi in plan approximates an oblong
3100 feet long and 1650 feet in width and is aligned
from north to south. The fort is octagonal, with the
north-south axis longer than the east-west axis.
• The Red Fort has an area of 254.67 acres (103.06
ha) enclosed by 2.41 kilometres (1.50 mi) of defensive
walls, punctuated by turrets and bastions and varying
in height from 18 metres (59 ft) on the river side to 33
metres (108 ft) on the city side. The fort was enclosed
within a high and strongly fortified wall in which there
are two main gateways, one in the middle of the long
side on the west and another on the south side.
Mughal Architecture
 Red Fort- Delhi
• The west gate is the principal and ceremonial
entrance, while the south gate is for more private
use. From these gateways two thoroughfares lead into
the fort interior, intersecting one another at right angles
towards the centre of the composition The main
approach from the western entrance, or Lahore Gate,
takes the form of a broad vaulted arcade, which is a
most imposing introduction to the inner precincts.
• These two thoroughfares communicate directly with a
large rectangular area occupying nearly two-thirds of
the whole space, and itself contained within
surrounding walls, in a word an enclosure within an
enclosure.
• This inner area measures· 1600 feet by 1150 feet, its
further side is aligned along the eastern rampart
overlooking the wide expanse of the river bed. It
accommodates the whole of the private and royal
apartments.
• Outside this, and within the rectangular space
remaining are the service quarters and other edifices
of a miscellaneous order.
• It is in the royal enclosure, therefore, that the palaces
and pavilions are located, and here the finest
architecture is to be found, this portion has been
planned according to the most palatial ideals. Mughal Architecture
 Red Fort- Delhi
• This palace enclosure which is nearly symmetrical in
its arrangements resolves itself into four parts,

(I) a large central quadrangle containing the

Diwan-i-Am or Hall of Public Audience; on each side of
this are

(2) and (3) consisting of two square open spaces

designed in the form of ornamental
gardens and courtyards, while

(4) is the range of marble palaces, one side facing the

gardens and the other commanding
an open view of the river. The imperial apartments
consist of a row of pavilions, connected
by a water channel known as the Stream of Paradise
(Nahr-i-Bihisht).

• Every feature of this plan is regular and formal, most

of it being laid out in squares, there is
hardly any oblique line or curve in the entire scheme.
• The finest art was employed lavishly on all the
palaces located along the eastern wall. One
can guess from this that during its prime no series of
buildings could have been more Mughal Architecture
resplendent than these fort-palaces.
 Red Fort- Delhi

Mughal Architecture
 Red Fort- Diwan-i- Aam Delhi
• Red Fort at Delhi Diwan-i-Aam, or Hall of Public
Audience, which although not so decoratively
treated as the palaces, was designed in such a
manner as to be admirably suited to the purpose it
served.
• For it was not a pleasure resort, as were the
marble pavilions at its rear, but a place for the
transaction of official business, so that there is a
certain restrained stateliness in its architectural
character.
• As originally planned the complete scheme
consisted of a square courtyard surrounded by a
colonnade with this open pillared hall on its eastern
side, but all these supplementary structures have
since disappeared.
• What remains is the hall itself, a sandstone
building measuring 185 feet by 70 feet its facade
formed of an arcade of nine arches with double
pilIar between each arch and a group of four at the
corners.
• Three aisles of pillars with engrailed arches form
the interior, aggregating some forty pillars in all,
while there is a capacious oblong recess in the plain
back wall. Mughal Architecture
 Red Fort- Diwan-i- Aam Delhi

• Although this structure is sandstone, it seems that

when first erected every part of the masonry was
covered with an overlay of shell lime plaster, ivory
polished, the preparation of this exceedingly fine
chunam and its application being a technical process
carried to great perfection by craftsmen from
Rajputana.
• Such a procedure made this hypostyle hall of
audience outwardly in accord with the marble
palaces with which it was connected, the entire
complex of buildings standing out in brilliant white,
an effect evidently desired by the emperor and a
pronounced characteristic of the style.
• A significant feature of the interior of the Audience
Hall was the alcove in the back wall where the
emperor sat in state.
• Here on ceremonial occasions the famous Peacock
Throne was installed.
• The decoration on the walls of this alcove above
the throne has a special interest, consisting of a
series of designs in pietra dura which in subject
matter and in technique have important implications.
Mughal Architecture
 Red Fort- Diwan-i- Aam Delhi
At the back of the canopy the wall is faced with beautiful panels inlaid with
multi-coloured stones, representing flowers and birds. These panels are said to
have been executed by an Italian jeweller. In the central panel on the top is
shown the Greek God Orpheus with his lute.

Mughal Architecture
 Red Fort- Rang Mahal Delhi

• The Rang Mahall or "Painted Palace, "Red Fort at

Delhi Rang mahal. In plan the dimensions of
the Rang Mahall are 153 feet by 69 feet and it
consists of a main central hall with smaller
compartments at each end.
• This central hall is divided up into fifteen bays
each twenty feet square by means of ornamental
piers, the general effect being that of a pavilion or
loggia of elegant proportions
with all its parts admirably spaced.
• The structure takes the form of an open pavilion in
one storey, their facades of engrailed arches
shaded by a wide eave, or chajja, above which rises
a parapet and from each comer a graceful kiosk.
The building's interior was once richly painted and
decorated.
• Originally its exterior arches appear to have been
filled in with perforated marble screens. and
there were triple arches of lattice work placed
across the centre of each side, so that its
privacy was complete.

Mughal Architecture
 Red Fort- Rang Mahal Delhi

• The interiors also consist of engrailed arches in

intersecting arcades which divide the whole
space into square or oblong bays, each bay having
a cornice and a flat highly decorated ceiling.
• There are no pillars, their place being taken by
massive square or twelve-Sided piers, a formation
which also gives a spacious soffit to the arches.
• When viewed from any angle, owing to the double
and sometimes four-form outlining of the
underside of the arches, these interiors present a
perspective of flowing curves and arcuate
shapes, the ornamentation distributed over every
portion, of gilt, coloured, and inlaid patterns.
• Through the center of the marble palace, a shallow
canal called the Stream of Paradise (Nahri-
Bihist) flowed into a marble basin carved into the
floor. Under the Rang Mahal was a basement
(tehkhana), which women would use on hot summer
days.

Mughal Architecture
Red Fort- Rang Mahal Delhi

Mughal Architecture
 Red Fort- Diwani Khas Delhi
• Red Fort - Diwani khas. It is formed of one large
hall 90 feet by 67 feet and its facade consists of an
arcade of five equal arches with others of varying
sizes skilfully disposed on its shorter sides, thus
providing a cool and airy interior, as no parts are
enclosed.
• The structure takes the form of an open pavilion in
one story, their facades of engrailed arches shaded
by a wide eave, or chajja, above which rises a
parapet and from. each comer a
graceful kiosk.
• The interiors also consist of engrailed arches in
intersecting arcades which divide the whole
space into square or oblong bays, each bay having
a cornice and a fiat highly decorated
ceiling.
• There are no pillars, their place being taken by
massive square or twelve-Sided piers, a
formation which also gives a spacious soffit to the
arches, a factor having no little influence on
the effect. and its foliated arches picked out in gold
and colours, a textural effect causing the whole
interior to be illumined by a soft mellowness.
Mughal Architecture
 Red Fort- Diwani Khas Delhi
• When viewed from any angle, owing to the double
and sometimes fourform outlining of the underside
of the arches, these interiors present a perspective
of flowing curves and arcuate shapes, of volutes
and crescentic forms, expressive of the soft
luxurious use to which these structures were
applied.
• This interior is divided into fifteen wide bays by
means of engrailed arches supported on square
marble piers, while the eastern side overhanging
the rampart has arched window openings and
elegant perforated tracery.
• With its pavement of "polished marble. reflecting
the massive piers enriched with inlaid flowers.

Mughal Architecture
 Red Fort- Mumtaz Mahal Delhi

• The Mumtaz Mahal is one of the six main

palaces that were situated facing the Yamuna
River. The emperor, Shah Jahan constructed this
palace in the memory of his 3rd and favorite wife,
Mumtaz. The date of its construction is 1639-48.
• All six palaces were connected by the Stream of
Paradise (Nahr-i-Bishisht), a waterway which ran
through them.
• It was used as the emperor's drawing room and
was named ‘Chhoti Baithak’ because of this.
• It measures 26.9 meters by 25 meters east to
west. It was topped by gilded chhatris on the
four corners, they have now disappeared.
• The chajja or parapet, reconstructed in 1911
remains.
• The building was constructed with white marble
in the lower half of its walls and pillars. It
consists of six apartments divided by arched
piers.

Mughal Architecture
 Red Fort- Mumtaz Mahal Delhi

• Originally it was profusely adorned with

intricately multi-hued floral scrollwork,
exquisitely designed paintwork and dexterously
crafted mirror work adornments, in delicate
conjugation with glittering gold paint.
• Today its interiors are lime washed but traces
of some of the old painted and glass
decoration, with which the building was formerly
adorned are exposed.
• The Mumtaz Mahal was part of the Zenana
(women’s quarters). After the British occupied
the fort, it was used as a prison camp.
• The building currently houses an exhibition of
the Red Fort Archaeological Museum,
consisting largely of exhibits of the Mughal
period.

Mughal Architecture