Mughal Architecture

 Hello viewers! Welcome back to my blog. Let's continue to explore the Mughal Dynasty. Today we will explore about there architecture, which are now a landmark of our country. As we all know The Mughals are know for there Art and Architecture, so lets not waste our time and get started.

" Architecture is a visual art and the building speak for themselves".

Introduction

The Mughal architecture is a beautiful amalgamation influenced by the Persian, Turkish, Indian and some other provincial styles.

Even today, Mughal architecture is prevalent in a lot of historic Mughal Monuments,  palaces, tombs, and forts throughout the country; especially in the northern and central parts of India. The monuments built during this period were works of superior quality and refinement.

Some striking features of the Mughal art and architecture include the bulbous domes, large halls and minarets with cupolas at four corners. Almost all the Mughal rulers were great builders and each ruler had his own distinctive style.

The Prominent Architecture under each Mughal Ruler

• The Mughal dynasty was established with the crushing victory of Babur at Panipat in 1526. During his short five-year reign, Babur took considerable interest in erecting buildings, though few have survived.
•  Babur’s son Humayun was dissolute and wayward in his early years and the Mughal empire fell to the Suris in 1540. The tomb of Sher Shah Suri is an architectural masterpiece that was to have a profound impact on the evolution of Indo-Islamic funerary architecture.
•  Humayun reestablished the Mughal empire in 1555. His tomb at Delhi represents an outstanding landmark in the development and refinement of the Mughal style. It was designed in 1564, eight years after his death, as a mark of devotion by his widow, Haji Begum.
• Architecture flourished during the reign of Humayun’s son Akbar. One of the first major building projects was the construction of a huge fort at Agra. The massive sandstone ramparts of the Red Fort are another impressive achievement. The most ambitious architectural exercise of Akbar, and one of the most glorious examples of Indo-Islamic architecture, was the creation of an entirely new capital city at Fatehpur Sikiri.
• The monuments, Mughal art and Mughal paintings made during this time period were a beautiful combination of Indian Hindu, Muslim, Persian, Turkic and Central Asian styles.
• Some of the most stunning examples of the Akbari architecture include the Humayun’s tomb, Fatehpur Sikri, Buland Darwaza, Agra Fort and Akbar’s tomb.

Akbar’s Fort

Source – Pic Native Planet

• After the death of Akbar in 1605, his son, Prince Salim, ascended the throne and assumed the title of Jahangir, “Seizer of the World”. He was assisted in his artistic attempts by his able wife, Nur Jahan. 
• The Mausoleum of Akbar at Sikandra, outside Agra, represents a major turning point in Mughal history, as the sandstone compositions of Akbar were adapted by his successors into opulent marble masterpieces. 
• Jahangir is the central figure in the development of the Mughal garden. The most famous of his gardens is the Shalimar Bagh on the banks of Lake Dal in Kashmir.

                             

                                                                            Source: Wikipedia

The tomb of Itmad-ud-Daulah at Agra is yet another great example of architecture under Jahangir’s rule. This structure is built entirely using white marble and decorated using semi-precious jewels in mosaic style.

• The reign of Shah Jahan was a turning point for the Mughal architecture. We all know about the stunningly beautiful Taj Mahal that he built for his wife. However, Mughal architecture under Shah Jahan’s rule consists of a lot more than just the Taj Mahal. 
• This period is often referred to as the ‘Golden period of Architecture in India’. 
• The buildings created during his reign are believed to have unmatched exquisite beauty, grandeur and elegance. 
• White marble was the most preferred material for construction during this time.

Source: Encyclopedia Britania

• After Aurangzeb ascended the throne, the empire was in a state of insolvency. As a result, opportunities for grand architectural projects were severely limited. This is most easily seen at the Bibi-ki-Maqbara, the tomb of Aurangzeb’s wife, built in 1678. Though the design was inspired by the Taj Mahal, it is half its size, the proportions compressed and the detail clumsily executed. 
• After the death of Aurangzeb, the Mughal empire rapidly declined under a rapid succession of ephemeral rulers: various successor states gradually took its place.
• The remarkable flowering of art and architecture under the Mughals is due to several factors. The empire itself provided a secure framework within which artistic genius could flourish, and it commanded wealth and resources unparalleled in Indian history. The Mughal rulers themselves were extraordinary patrons of art, whose intellectual calibre and cultural outlook was expressed in the most refined taste.