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Medieval Indian Architecture

History of medieval India begins with the invasion of Turks in India after Rajput period. The successful resistance of Muslim invasions from 7th century to 11th century was done by the Rajput kings of India. But after the third war of Tarain, the first specimen of Muslim architecture in India starts from the time of Qutb-ud-din Aibak. However, in the beginning of the history of medieval India, the same pattern of architecture is found in ancient India. For example, Sun Temple of Konark  establishment of Hindu empires like the heroes and the Vijayanagara empire, and the rebuilding of these temples led to them becoming more grand. The Meenakshi Temple of Madurai was completely demolished, but after the reconstruction of it, the form it is made today is unique in the world.


From 12th to 13th century Indian architecture flourished not only in India but also outside of India. The Khmer Empire was a Hindu and Buddhist empire. During this period, the Vishnu temple was built in Angkor Wat in Cambodia, which is the largest worship place of the whole world. Borobudur, Indonesia's Buddhist Temple is the world's largest Buddhist temple built in the 9th century.

 

Sultanate era

In the Sultanate period, a sample of Muslim architecture is found in architecture. In this, construction of mosque, construction of tower, dome construction is the main. In India, the dome building Iltutmish started.

Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque- Qutb-ud-din Aibak replace Fort Prithviraj Chauhan built ability-ul-Islam mosque. It is located in Delhi.

Qutab Minar - construction Khwaja be launched Qutubuddin Aibak in memory of Qutbuddin Bakhtiar Kaki. Although it was completed by Iltutmish

Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra- it is a mosque Ajmer. This place was the Saraswati temple. Originally a Sanskrit college with a temple of Saraswati within it, it was converted into a mosque by Qutb-ud-Din-Aibak, on the orders of Muhammad Ghori, in 1192 CE. However, the new mosque retained most of the original Hindu and Jain features, especially on the ornate pillars, with only the effigies of Hindu Gods and Goddesses removed neatly. 

Badaun's Jama Masjid- It was built by Iltutmish. This is the largest mosque of its time.

In addition, Nasir ud-Din Mahmud's Tomb and Iltutmish's Tomb were built by Iltutmish. Iltutmish also built the Dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti. Jamaat Khan Mosque, Alai mosque built by Alauddin Khilji near Chishti’s Dargah. The tomb of Ghiyath al-Din is an example of a blend of Muslim and Hindu architecture. Alauddin Khilji constructed Hauz Khas, Seari Fort, Alai door. Sultan Firuz Shah Tughlaq was a lover of architecture. He had established several cities like Hisar, Firozabad, Fatehabad, Firoz Shah Kotla, Jaunpur. The tomb of Firoz Shah is located near Hauz Khas in Delhi. The window mosque and the Kali Mosque were built by Junna Shah. Babel Lodi's mausoleum was built by Sikandar Lodi and Sikandar Lodi's mausoleum was built by Ibrahim Lodi.


South Indian mid - term 

architectural art


Alauddin khilji in southern India and then the forces of Muhammad bin Tughluq attacked. Due to the incompetence of Muhammad bin Tughluq, South India became independent and the Bahmani and Vijayanagar empire was established.

Bahmani Empire and South Indian Muslim Sultanate

The Bahmani empire was established in 1345.

The Fort of Gulbarga was built during the Bahmani Empire. Its mosque is a unique specimen of architecture. Apart from this, many tombs were created in the Bahmani empire.

In time, the Bahmani empire was broken down into five Sultanates - Ahmednagar, Bijapur, Golkonda, Ahmadnagar, Bidar. All these are known for their own architecture.

  • Gawilgarh Fort was built by Fathullah Imad-ul-Mulk, ruler of the Berar Sultanate. The tomb of the Qutub Shahi Sultanate is located in Golkonda. Among them are the tomb of Sultan Ibrahim Qutub Shah, Ibrahim Kuli Qutubshah, Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, Hayat Bakshi Begum, Fatima Sultana, Kulasum Begum, Nizamuddin Ahmad. All of them are located in one place. The Charminar built in Hyderabad was built by Muhammad Quli Qutub Shah in 1591. There are four doors in it. Other examples of architecture of Golkonda are the Mecca Masjid, Khairabad Masjid (made by Khairunnisa Begum), Hyatt Bakshi Mosque, Taramati Baradari, Toli Mosque etc.
  • There was a lot of development of architecture in the Adil Shahi Sultanate of Bijapur. In it, the tomb of Muhammad Adil Shah is the most prominent, it took 30 years to build it. This tomb is known as round dome.
  • The fort of Bidar, the mausoleum of Bidar Shahi kings, the architectural tradition of the Bidar Sultanate.

 

Medieval Hindu Temple

Many Hindu temples were also built in Medieval India. Among these, the most prominent Meenakshi Temple is located in Madurai. It has been called Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple. There was an old temple which was destroyed by Malik Kafur. It was reconstructed by Nayak Raja Vishwanath Nayak in the 16th-17th century. It is dedicated to Shiva's form Sundareswarar and Meenakshi as Parvati.

  • Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple- This is located in Tiruchirapalli of Tamil Nadu. It is India's largest temple. The old temple here was destroyed by Allauddin Khilji's commander Malik Kafur.
  • Padmanabhaswamy Temple - It is located in Thiruvananthapuram.

 

Rajasthani architectural art

In the Sultanate and Mughal times, many grand forts, temples were built in Rajasthan. Some important examples are as follows:

Jaisalmer Fort

It was built by Rajput King Rawal Jaisal in 1155 AD. It is 1500 feet tall and 750 feet wide fort. Even today people of Jaisalmer live in it. It is one of the world's number one Living Fort. There are 7 Jain temples, Lakshminath temple heads.

Chittorgarh Fort

The history of Chittorgarh fort starts from the 7th century. This fort was invaded several times - invasion of Allauddin Khilji (1303), invasion of Bahadur Shah (1535), the circle of Akbar's Chittoor (1567-68). There are many temples in this fort. In it, the victory pillar built by Rana Kumbha is what they built as the symbol of victory over the Sultan of Malwa Muhammad Shah I. The palace of Kirti Column and Queen Padmini is also here.

Kumbhalgarh Fort

Kumbhalgarh fort was built by Rana Kumbha. It is located in Rajasthan's Rajsamand district. It is in UNESCO World Heritage. This is the birth place of Maharana Pratap.

Aamer Fort

It is located in Jaipur. It was built by King Man Singh. It was built in 1592. It is also one of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Air mahal

Air Mahal is located in Jaipur. It was completed in 1799.

 

Mughal architecture, art

Architecture is also developed in the Mughal period. In Shahjahan's time, architecture was on the climax.

  • Babar built Jama Masjid in Sambhal. In addition, he built a mosque of Kabuli Bagh in Panipat. In 1528, his commander Mir Baqi broke the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and created the disputed Babri structure.
  • Humayun's tomb was constructed by Akbar in Delhi. Marble was first used in it.
  • Akbar built the Red Fort of Agra. He shifted his new capital from Agra to Fatehpur Sikri 27 Causes Here he built Buland Darwaza, Panchmahal, Diwan-i-Aam, Diwan-i-Khas.
  • Akbar built the Jama Masjid, Mary Kothi and Salim Chishti's tomb in Fatehpur Sikri.
  • Akbar's tomb was built by Jahangir in Sikandra in Agra.
  • The tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah built in Noor Jahan in Agra.
  • Jahangir's mausoleum was constructed by Noor Jahan in Shahdara near Lahore.

The period of Shah Jahan is called the golden age of architecture. He built a red fort in Delhi, and Taj Mahal in Agra. The architect of the Taj Mahal was Ustad Ahmad Lahauri. In addition, he built the Moti Masjid in Delhi and Jama Masjid, India's largest mosque. Aurangzeb built a Tomb of Bibi in Aurangabad, which is considered to be a fake copy of the Taj Mahal.

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