Architecture during Mughal Period

Architecture during Mughal Period

Architecture during Mughal Period

The Mughal were great builders. They built a large number of buildings. In fact, these are masterpieces of architecture, and although these are lying in ruins except a few, these command the admiration of the best architects. Havell criticized this view and contended that India had connection with foreign countries from time immemorial, and Indian culture had absorbed foreign elements. The art and culture of foreign countries did influence the art of Indian but the inspiration of the Indian master-builders was not foreign. There was good deal of fusion of cultures under the Mughals. Sir John Marshal holds the opinion that in a country like India, architecture could not conform to any one standard. Much depended on the personal tastes of the Emperors.

After Babur, Persian influence on Indian art increased and continued till the end of Humayun’s reign. With the accession of Akbar, the Indian architecture became essentially Indian. Mughal architecture has been known for its decoration and delicacy. Round domes, high minarets, mihrabs, pillars of varied types, open courtyards etc. were the chief characteristics of the Mughal buildings. Red stone was used by the early Mughal rulers for the construction of their buildings but Jahangir and Shahjahan later on made use of white marble and colored stones for the decoration of their buildings.

Babur ruled in India for only four years which was not a long period for the construction of palatial buildings, however, owing to his interest in architecture he got some buildings constructed out of which two, a mosque in Kabul Bagh and Jami Masjid at Sambhal, have survived to express his love towards architecture. Actually Babur was very much impressed by the large number of workers and stone-cutters available in Agra and Fatehpur Sikri and he has referred to the same in his memoirs.

Humayun could not find much time to indulge in this luxury on account of a stormy life that he led. Yet we have come across a building of his time at Fatehabad in the district of Hissar. It is decorated in Persian style. As Din Panah was constructed in a hurry and destroyed by Sher Shah, we do not have any remains of it. His mosques of Agra and Fatehabad are the only specimens of his love towards architecture.

After Humayun, the Surs came into power. They were also great builders. Sher Shah’s outstanding buildings are the Qila Kohna (Old Fort) near Delhi and the tomb of this mighty monarch at Sasaram. It has been praised thus by a prominent historian, “The tomb is one of the best designed and most beautiful buildings in India, unequalled among the earlier buildings in the northern provinces for grandeur and dignity….”

Akbar showed keen interest in architecture and built a large number of buildings. He favored Hindu style in his palaces. Humayun’s tomb, palaces at Fatehpur Sikri, Jama Masjid, Buland Darwaza, Mausoleum of Shaikh Salim Chisti, Panch Mahal and residential palaces of various officials and queens are his famous buildings. His architecture seems to speak for his statesmanship aiming at Hindu-Muslim unity. The forts of Agra and Lahore were planned and constructed under his own supervision. Unfortunately many of his monuments were pulled down by his grandson, Shahjahan, whose principles of architecture differed from those of his grandfather. Akbar used red stone in the construction of Fatehpur Sikri which has been praised thus by V.A. Smith, “Nothing like Fatehpur Sikri ever was created before or can be created again. It is a romance in stone.”

Jahangir was not much interested in architecture. He liked painting most. However, some buildings were constructed during his times. Noorjahan, the renowned queen of Jahangir, built the beautiful tomb of her father Itmad-ul-Daula at Agra. Percy Brown mentions that this building is richly decorated and displays rare craftsmanship. She also got built the tomb of Jahangir on the bank of the Ravi at Lahore. The tomb of Akbar at Sikandara was also completed during his regime and he spent a lot of time and wealth in its completion. It is a four-storey building in which only white marble has been used. E. B. Havell mentions about it, “Akbar’s tomb is a worthy monument of one of the greatest of Indian rulers.”

Mughal architecture reached its zenith during the reign of Shahjahan. He was the most magnificent builder among the Mughals. Architecture seems to have reached into his blood, hence he could build wonderful buildings. He made extensive use of white marble in his buildings. It seemed as if he had made use of the skills of the jeweler and the painter in making his buildings and hence they come out to be the best specimens of architecture.

The Taj Mahal is the finest specimen of Mughal architecture which was built by Shahjahan at Agra in the memory of his beloved queen Mumtaz Mahal. Dr. R.C. Majujdar mentions, “The Taj Mahal, a splendid mausoleum, built by Shahjahan at a cost of fifty lakhs of rupees over the grave of his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal, is rightly regarded as one of the wounders of the wourld for its beauty and magnificence.” S. K. Saraswati has also written about its beauty and splendor, “By its stately and perfect proportions, the delicacy and purity of its lineaments, its milk-white texture assuming different hues and tones at different times and under different conditions, the flawless execution of the structure and of its varied ornaments, and, lastly, by its picturesque setting aided by the ingenuity of man, the Taj Mahal at Agra stands as a creation of super beauty and magnificence, not only in Mughal architecture but in Indian architecture as a whole.” E.B. Havell praises in aptly, “It is a great ideal conception which belongs more to sculpture than to architecture.”

The other buildings of the reign of Shahjahan are Moti Masjid, Jama Masjid, Diwan-i-Aam, Diwan-i-Khas and Rang Mahal. These buildings, specially the Diwan-i-Khas, are very highly ornamented. Precious stones have been freely used in their decoration. The Jama Masjid is very impressive. It was designed to attract the eye of the faithful from afar and to proclaim the glory of Islam. Thus seeing the beauty and magnificence of the buildings of Shahjahan, it would not be improper to call his period a golden age at least from the viewpoint of architecture.

The accession of Aurangzeb proved harmful to all arts. Shahjahan was the last Mughal ruler who not only patronized different arts but also helped architecture to reach its zenith. His son Aurangzeb being a staunch Sunni, built only a few buildings and those too were not fine specimens of architecture. Tomb of Rabia-ud-Daurani also known as Bibi-ka-Makbara is the only building worth mentioning which was constructed by Aurangzeb for his wife Rabia. No doubt it was the only contribution of Aurangzeb worth mentioning in the sphere of architecture. People also know this building as second Taj Mahal but, in fact, it is far behind in beauty and splendor of the Taj Mahal of Shahjahan. Aurangzeb also constructed a big Badshahi mosque in Lahor on the patter of Jama Masjid but it lacks in beauty although its size is bigger than Jama Masjid.

Man Mandir in Gwalior, Govindadeva Temple in Vrindavan, Hawa Mahal in Jaipur, Gold Gumbad in Bijapur and the Golden Temple in Amritsar are buildings which were built by the provincial subedars and are the best specimens of Hindu architecture which developed during the Mughal period.

Milan Tomic

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