Architecture During Sultanate Period

ARCHITECTURE DURING SULTANATE PERIOD

Architecture During Sultanate Period

All fine arts, viz, painting, music and dance are denounced in Islam but architecture progressed during this period. Fine arts were patronized by the provincial rulers. As the sources of income of the provincial rulers were not as extensive as those of the Sultans of Delhi Sultanate, architecture progressed very much in comparison to fine arts.

The historians hold divergent opinions regarding the character of architecture during this period. Fergusson has remarked that this architecture is ‘Indo-Saracenic’ or ‘Pathan’, E.B. Havell is of the view that it is entirely Indian in ‘soul and body’. Both these opinions are hyperbolic and the truth lies somewhere between the two.

Before the commencement of Islam in India, Brahmanical, Buddhist and Jain styles were prevalent here. Muslims brought their own style from Western and Central Asia. Owing to mixture of all these styles a new style emerged in India during the Delhi Sultanate; hence, art specialists have found many things common in the construction of temples and mosques, such as, the open court encompassed by chambers of colonnades, decorations and ornamentation.

The following were the prominent buildings of this period.

Building of Slave Sultans

Quwat-ul-Islam mosque and Dhai Din Ka Jhonpra were the famous mosques built by Qutbuddin Aibak in Delhi and Ajmer respectively. The former was constructed on the ruins of ta temple and the latter on the remnant of a Sanskrit school. Hence, the touch of Hinduism is visible in the construction of both the buildings. Aibak also planned the construction of Qutub Minar but owing to his premature death he could not complete it and it was completed by Iltutmish. Qutub Minar is an impressive building and Fergusson, a prominent art specialist, has regarded it ‘as the most perfect example of a tower known to exist anywhere in the world’. Besides it, Iltutmish constructed Sultan Ghari, Hauz-a-Shamsi, Shams-i-idgah, Jami Masjit at badaun and the Atarkin Ka Darwaza at Nagpur (Jodhpur).

The tomb of Balban and the Red Palace at Delhi are also remarkable buildings of the time of Balban. The tomb of Balban is the best specimen of Indo-Islamic architecture.

Buildings of Khalji Sultans

Dr. K. S. Lal observes that with the enthronement of Alauddin Khalji, a new era was ushered in, in architecture in Hindu-Muslim style. The contribution of Jalaluddin Khalji was almost nil in the field of architecture but Alauddin Khalji proved to be a great builder owing to his sound economic position, he spent a lot of money on the construction of these buildings. He built Jamait Khana mosque at the shrine of Nizamuddin Auliya and also constructed Alai Darwaza at the Qutub Minar. Marshall writes, “Alai Darwaza is one of the most treasured gems of Islamic architecture.’ Percy Brown remarks, “this entrance gateway to the mosque of Alauddin Khalji occupies a key position in the evolution of Islamic Architecture in India.” Besides this, the Hauz-i-Alai or Hauz-i-Khas, city of Siri and the palace of thousand pillars, Hazar Situn, were fine specimens of architecture of this period.

Buildings of Tughluq Rulers

The buildings of the Tughluq period were different from those of the Khalji age from the point of view of architecture. The decoration and splendor of Khalji period were replaced with simplicity and solidity. The chief reasons of this change may be the weak economy of the Sultans of Tughluq dynasty.

Among the buildings of this period Ghiasuddin built the city of Tughluqabad and his own tomb which is praised by Sir John Marshall in these words, “Few strongholds of antiquity are more imposing in their ruins than Tughluqabad.” The palace of Sultan Ghiasuddin is also very impressive. Ibn Batuta has written about it, “The Palace of the Sultan was built of golden bricks, which shone so dazzlingly in the sun that no one could gaze at it steadily.”

Muhammad Tughluq built the fort of Adilabad. It did not prove durable as the material of very inferior quality was used in its construction. He founded the city of Jahanabad. The Satpula Dam and Bijli Palace were also built by the Sultan. We know that Muhammad Tughluq transferred his capital from Delhi to Daulatabad and it is just that he might have constructed some buildings there also but we have no evidence thereof.

Firoz Tughluq was a great builder. He built various buildings. According to Ferishta he built 4 tombs, 30 palaces, 5 reservoirs, 200 caravanserais, 100 tombs, 10 monumental tombs, 1000 bridges and 10 baths. He also founded the city of Fatehabad, Jaunpur and Hissar Firoza and some other towns. He has himself written in his autobiography, “Among the many gifts which god bestowed upon me was desire to erect public buildings.”

Buildings of Sayyid and Lodi Sultans

The Sultanate of Delhi crumbled due to invasion of Timur. Owing to their weak economy the rules of Sayyid and Lodi dynasty could not pay much attention to the construction of buildings; however, some tombs and palaces were built during this period, which highlight the architectural interests of the Sultans of this period. The tombs of Mubarak Shah, Mahammad Shah, Sikandar Lodi, Bara Khan, Chhote Khan, the Bara Gumbad, the Shish Gumbad and others are worth mentioning. Moth Ki Masjid is the best specimen of architecture.

Although most of the buildings built during the period of Delhi Sultanate do not exist now, yet some tombs, mosques and other ruins which are available prove that these were the best specimens of Indo-Islamic architecture.

Milan Tomic

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