Tomb of BalbanSultan Ghari

Qutub Minar

IRON PILLAR

Recap

The Delhi Sultanate was a Delhi-based Muslim kingdom that stretched

over large parts of the Indian subcontinent for 320 years (1206–1526).

Five dynasties ruled over Delhi Sultanate sequentially, the first four of

which were of Turkic origin and the last was the Afghan Lodi.

Delhi sultanate is also noted for being one of the few states to repel an

attack from the Mongol Empire.

The Delhi Sultanate declined thereafter, with continuing Hindu-Muslim

wars.

Raziya is famous for being the first female ruler of India.

Balban tomb is the first example of arches being used in Indian

architecture.

Sultan Giri is the first Islamic mausoleum to be built in 1231 AD.

Qutub Minar is the Worlds tallest brick minaret which was started by

Aybak and finished by Iltutmish. It has a circular stairway made of three-

hundred-seventy-nine steps to reach the top for a spectacular view.

Its first three stories are made of sandstone, next two of marble and

sandstone and Firoz Shah Tughlaq added marble to the top storey.

In addition to these elements, the complex also contains several smaller

buildings: the Tomb of Iltutmish, Ala al-Din Khalji's madrasa, and the

Imam Zamin Mosque.

Ar. Hena Tiwari

Assistant Professor

GCAD,Sonipat

Lecture-III

Architecture of Sultan in Delhi Region

(cont.)

The Khiljis

The Khilji Sultanate was a dynasty of Turkic origin who ruled

large parts of South Asia from 1290 - 1320.

They were the second dynasty to rule the Delhi Sultanate.

Led by their powerful ruler, Ala-ud-din Khilji, they are historically

notable for repeatedly defending India from Mongols attacks.

Alauddin Khalji, murdered his uncle Jalaluddin Firoze to gain

the throne.

City of Siri

Siri Fort, in the city of New Delhi, was built during the rule of Alaud

Din Khalji to defend the city from the onslaught of the Mongols.

It was the second of the seven cities of medieval Delhi built around

1303 (stated to be the first entirely constructed by Muslims).

Siri was created between 1297 and 1307 to defend

against Mongol invasions of India and Delhi.

The Fort served as the seat of his power during his campaigns to

enlarge his territory.

Extension to Qutab Complex

Alaudin Khilji extended Qutub complex to further to where Iltumish

left it.

Alaud-din enlarged the size of Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque by more

than six times.

This was achieved by throwing yet another asymmetrically

arranged cloister around the existing one.

In the centre courtyard of the extension on the northern side, he

laid the foundation of the Alai Minar.

ALAI DARWAZAIt is the southern gateway of the mosque, and is a gem of

Islamic architecture in India.

It was built by Alla-ud-din Khilji in 1311.

JALI WORK IN THE WINDOWS

It is 17.2m square and pierced by ached openings that echo

the contours of the covering dome.

The arch to the north is semicircular while the others are of

pointed horse shoe shape.

It has intricate carvings in red sandstone and marble.

It has red stone jalli screens.

ALAI MINAR

Ala-ud-Din wanted to build a second tower of victory twice as

high as Qutab Minar but when he died the tower had reached

only 24.5 meters and later no one was willing to continue his

over ambitious project.

It stands to the north of the Qutab Minar and the mosque.

It was to have ramps instead of stairs.

Windows are at regular quadrant heights, for a gradual ramp

to be made.

ALAUDDIN’S MADRASSA

It is on the south side of the court.

It is a square structure with no dome now.

There are only remains of a boldly projecting portico.

It is located in south west of the mosque.

It is built around a quadrangular court entry through a triple

gateway.

ALAUDDIN’S TOMB

Topic-III

Tughluq dynasty

Tughlaq Dynasty

The Tughlaq dynasty of started in 1321 in Delhi when Ghazi

Malik took the throne under the title of Ghiyath al-Din Tughluq.

They were the Muslim family of Turkic origin and the third

dynasty of the Sultanate of Delhi.

Their rule relied on their alliances with Turkic, Afghan, and

other Muslim warriors from outside South Asia.

There were eleven rulers from the Tughlak dynasty but only the

first three generations were interested in architecture-raising

mosques, caravan-sarais, madrasas and laying canals.

Tughlaqabad

It is considered to be one of the seven historical cities of

Delhi, which flourished during the time of the Tughlak

dynasty.

It was between 1321 and 1325 AD, that Tughlakabad was

founded, 8 kilometers from the Qutab and 15 kilometers away

from the city.

The fort was abandoned after 15 years of its construction

due to water scarcity.

Tughlaqabad Fort is a ruined fort in Delhi, stretching across

6.5 km

TUGHLAQABAD FORT

Its a massive structure that lies along the Mehrauli-Badarpur

road.

The pentagon shaped like plan is guarded

with parapet walls that support massive

cone-shaped bastions at every intersection.

The borderline walls are inclined inward and stand tall at a

height of 11.75 meters.

The arch shaped corridors and concave chambers stretch

along the interiors of the courts borderline wall.

The fort served the dual purpose of a defensive structure as

well as the imperial capital of Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq, the

founder of the Tughlaq dynasty.

There are a number of monuments within the precincts of this

massive fort.

Rampart Leading to the Fort Entrance

PARTS

Tughlaqabad is divided into three parts :

a palace section

a citadel and

a residential city.

The fort of Tughlaqabad was completed rapidly in a short

span of four years (1321–25).

It had huge walls, double-storied bastions, and gigantic

towers to house grand palaces, splendid mosques, and

audience halls.WALLS

The walls are thick, sloping and high, capable of withstanding

Mongol attacks.

Rubble masonry is used to make up the shape of the

structure, with huge sandstone blocks, probably quarried from

the surrounding hills, enveloping the rubble.

TOMB OF GHIYAS-UD-DIN TUGHLAQ

It is situated in the south of the fortress of Tughlaqabad

It was built by Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq in AD 1325 within an

unusual irregular pentagonal fortified enclosure.

The structure of this building is simple but elegant.

The tomb is connected to the fortress by a 228.6 m long

causeway, that is supported by 26 piers and arches.

FIROZ SHAH KOTLA

Built by the famous ruler, Sultan Firoz Shah Tughluq in the

year 1354, it is a typical structure of that era.

It was the grand royal citadel of the city.

The walls of the citadel are as high as 15 meters and have

a slight slope on the outside.

The entrance has a huge iron gate with a board that bears the

name of Feroz Shah Kotla.

The boundary walls of the fort, built as a stone masonry, are

15 meters high

The 13 mts high Ashoka Pillar stands tall on the top of a

pyramidal three-tiered structure was brought by Feroz Shah

Tughlaq from Ambala to Delhi.

PYRAMIDAL STRUCTURE

It is a three-storey building

which was specially

commissioned by Feroz Shah to

support the Ashoka pillar.

ASHOK

PILLAR

This monolith pillar is 13 meters high,

with a diameter of 65 centimeters at

the top and 97 centimeters at the

bottom.

It was crowned by a capital of colored

stones and a golden globe with a

crescent on top.

JAMI MASJID

Built inside Feroz Shah’s Kotla, Jami Masjid used to be one

of the largest mosques of the Tughlaq period.

It was built on a series of underground cells and made of

quartzite stone covered with lime plaster and surrounded by

a huge courtyard with cloisters and a Prayer Hall.

The entrance of Jama Masjid lies on the northern side and

was connected by a causeway to the pyramidal structure of

the Ashoka Pillar.

BAOLI

The circular Baoli, which means 'step well', lies towards the

north western side of the Ashokan Pillar.

This Baoli served as a summer retreat for the Royalties

where they spent time cooling off and bathing in the water of

this well.

KHIRKI MASJID

Entrance of khirki masjid is from south.

The word 'Khirki' prefixed to masjid is an Urdu word that

means "window" and hence is also called "The Masjid of

Windows"

The Masjid, which is in a quadrangular shape, was built as a

fortress with an unusual fusion of Islamic and

traditional Hindu architecture.

THE LAYOUT

Instead of one big open courtyard, the mosque has four

smaller square courtyards measuring 30 Ft x 30 Ft.

Another interesting aspect of this mosque is its design of the

terrace.

HAUZ

KHAS The name Hauz Khas in Urdu language is derived from the

words -

‘Hauz’: “water tank” (or lake) and

‘Khas’:“royal”- the “Royal tank”

The madrasa complex measures 76 metres 138 metres

The six individual domed pavilions are all scattered in the

gardens of the eastern part of the complex.

FIROZ SHAH’S TOMB

Entry to the tomb is through a passage in the south leading

to the doorway.

Three horizontal units laid over eight vertical posts that are

chamfered constitute the plinth.

The dome with a square plan – 14.8 m (48.6 ft) in length and

height – has a diameter of 8.8 m (28.9 ft).

Conclusion

The Delhi Sultanate was a Muslim kingdom that stretched over large

parts of the Indian subcontinent for 320 years (1206–1526).

Five dynasties ruled over Delhi Sultanate sequentially, the first four of

which were of Turkic origin and the last was the Afghan Lodi.

Qutub Minar is the Worlds tallest brick minaret.

Alaud-din enlarged the size of Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque by more than

six times.

Ala-ud-Din wanted to build a second tower of victory twice as high as

Qutab Minar but when he died the tower had reached only 24.5 meters

and later no one was willing to continue his over ambitious project. (Alai

Minar)

Tuglagabad fort has pentagon shaped like plan is guarded with parapet

walls that support massive cone-shaped bastions at every intersection.

The walls are thick, sloping and high, capable of withstanding Mongol

attacks.

The entrance to Feroz Shah Kotla has a huge iron gate with a board that

bears the name of Feroz Shah Kotla.

The boundary walls of the fort, built as a stone masonry, are 15 meters

high

The 13 mts high Ashoka Pillar stands tall on the top of a pyramidal

three-tiered structure was brought by Feroz Shah Tughlaq from Ambala

to Delhi.

“History never really says goodbye.

History says, 'See you later.'

Eduardo Galeano

Assignment

1. Describe in detail with appropriate sketches the layout of

Tughlaqabad Fort.

2. Explain in brief with sketches:

City of Siri

Feroz Shah Kotla

Baoli