Mughal architecture

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Taj Mahal at Agra, the epitome of Mughal Architecture

Mughal architecture, an amalgam of Islamic, Persian[1][2] and Indian architecture, is the

distinctive style developed by the Mughals in the 16th and 17th centuries in what is now India,Pakistan,
and Bangladesh. It is symmetrical and decorative in style.

Some of the first and most characteristic examples that remain of early Mughal architecture were built in
the short reign (1540–1545) of emperor Sher Shah Suri, who was not a Mughal; they include a mosque
known as the Qila i Kuhna (1541) near Delhi, and the military architecture of the Old Fort in Delhi,
the Lalbagh Fort in Bangladesh, and Rohtas Fort, nearJhelum in present-day Pakistan. His mausoleum,
octagonal in plan and set upon a plinth in the middle of an artificial lake, is in Sasaram, and was
completed by his son and successor Islam Shah Suri (1545AD-1553AD).

[edit]Akbar

Main article: Akbari Architecture

Humayun's Tomb, Delhi built during the reign of Akbar.

The emperor Akbar (1556–1605) built largely, and the style developed vigorously during his reign. As
in the Gujarat and other styles, there is a combination of Muslimand Hindu features in his works. Akbar
constructed the royal city of Fatehpur Sikri, located 26 miles (42 km) west of Agra, in the late 16th
century. The numerous structures at Fatehpur Sikri best illustrate the style of his works, and the great
mosque there is scarcely matched in elegance and architectural effect; the south gateway which is
known as Buland Darwaza, from its size and structure excels any similar entrance in India. The Mughals
built impressive tombs, which include the finetomb of Akbar's father Humayun, and Akbar's
tomb at Sikandra, near Agra, which is a unique structure of the kind and of great merit.

Tomb of Itimad-ud-Daula, Agra

Under Jahangir (1605–1627) the Hindu features vanished from the style; his great mosque at Lahore is
in the Persian style, covered with enamelled tiles. At Agra, the tomb of Itmad-ud-Daula completed in
1628, built entirely of white marble and covered wholly bypietra dura mosaic, is one of the most
splendid examples of that class of ornamentation anywhere to be found. Jahangir also built the Shalimar
Gardens and its accompanying pavilions on the shore of Dal Lake in Kashmir. He also built a monument
to his pet deer, Hiran Minar in Sheikhupura,Pakistan and due to his great love for his wife, after his
death she went on to build his mausoleumin Lahore.
Architectural Panel, Mughal dynasty, late 17th century, India. This panel either hung in the doorway of a
palace or lined a nobleman’s tent.

[edit]Shah Jahan

Jama Masjid, Delhi.

The force and originality of the style gave way underShah Jahan (1627–1658) to a delicate elegance and
refinement of detail, illustrated in the magnificent palaces erected in his reign at Agra and Delhi, the
latter one the most exquisitely beautiful in India. The most splendid of the Mogul tombs, and the most
renowned building in India, is the Taj Mahal at Agra, the tomb of Mumtaz Mahal, the wife of Shah
Jahan.The Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque) in the Agra Fort and TheJama Masjid at Delhi are imposing
buildings, and their position and architecture have been carefully considered so as to produce a pleasing
effect and feeling of spacious elegance and well-balanced proportion of parts. In his works Shah Jahan
presents himself as the most magnificent builder of Indian sovereigns. He also built the mausoleum and
sections of the huge Lahore Fort that include the impressive Moti Masjid, Sheesh Mahal, and Naulakha
pavilion which are all enclosed in the fort. He also built a mosque after himself
in Thatta called Shahjahan Mosque. Another mosque was built during his tenure in Lahore called Wazir
Khan Mosque, by Shaikh Ilm-ud-din Ansari who was the court physician to the emperor.

[edit]Taj Mahal
Main article: Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal, the "teardrop on the cheek of eternity" (Rabindranath Tagore), was completed in 1648
by the emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Its longest plane of symmetry runs
through the entire complex except for the sarcophagus of Shah Jahan, which is placed off center in the
crypt room below the main floor. This symmetry extended to the building of an entire mirror mosque in
red sandstone, to complement the Mecca-facing mosque place to the west of the main structure.

The Taj Mahal (1630–1648) in Agra, India and the Shalimar Garden (1641–1642) in Lahore, Pakistan,

are two sites which are on the world heritage list of UNESCO. One can see the architectural similarities
and the love for water that the Mughals expressed in many of their buildings.

The Taj is considered to be one of the most beautiful monuments of love and is one of the Seven
Wonders of the World, when it comes totourism.
[edit]Aurangzeb and later Mughal architecture

A view of a pavilion in Shalimar Garden, Lahore, Pakistan

Lalbagh Fort, constructed in the mid-17th century in Dhaka during the reign of Aurangzeb

In Aurangzeb's reign (1658–1707) squared stone and marble gave way to brick or rubble
withstucco ornament. Srirangapatna and Lucknow have examples of later Indo-Muslim architecture. He
also added his mark to the Lahore Fort. He also built one of the thirteen gates, and it was later named
after him, Alamgir. The most impressive building of Aurangzeb's reign, is the Badshahi Mosque which
was constructed in 1674 under the supervision of Fida'i Koka. This mosque is adjacent to the Lahore
Fort. Badshahi Mosque is the last in the series of great congregational mosques in red sandstone and is
closely modeled on the one Shah Jahan built at Shahjahanabad. The red sandstone of the walls contrasts
with the white marble of the domes and the subtle intarsia decoration. The materials depart from the
local tradition of tile revetment that is seen in the Wazir Khan Mosque. According to Blair and Bloom,
the cusped arches and arabesque floral patterns inlaid in white marble give the building, despite its vast
proportions, a lighter appearance than its prototype.Additional monuments from this period are
associated with women fromAurangzeb's imperial family. The construction of the elegant Zinat al-
Masjid in Daryaganij was overseen by Aurangzeb's second daughter Zinat al-Nisa. The delicate brick
and plaster mausoleum in the Roshan-Ara-Bagh in Sabzimandi was for Aurangzeb's sister Roshan-Ara
who died in 1671. Unfortunately, the tomb of Roshanara Begum and the beautiful garden surrounding it
were neglected for a long time and are now in an advanced state of decay.Bibi Ka Maqbara a
mausoleum was built by Prince Azam Shah, son of Emperor Aurangzeb, in the late 17th century as a
loving tribute to his mother, Dilras Bano Begam in Aurangabad,Maharashtra.The Alamgiri Gate, built
in 1673 A.D., is the main entrance to the Lahore Fort in present day Lahore, Pakistan. It was constructed
to face west towards the Badshahi Mosquein the days of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. The
monumental gateway is an imposing vestibule flanked by two semi-circular bastions that have boldly
fluted shafts and lotus petalled bases and are crowned with domed pavilions.

Another construction of Mughal era is the Lalbagh Fort (also known as "Fort Aurangabad"),

aMughal palace fortress at the Buriganga River in the southwestern part of Dhaka, Bangladesh, whose
construction started in 1678 during the reign of Aurangzeb.[3]

[edit]Mughal gardens

Main article: Mughal Gardens

Mughal gardens are a group of gardens built by the Mughals in the Islamic style of architecture. This
style was influenced by Persian gardens and Timurid gardens. Significant use of rectilinear layouts are
made within the walled enclosures. Some of the typical features include pools, fountains and canals
inside the gardens. The famous gardens are the Char Bagh gardens at Taj Mahal, Shalimar
Gardens of Lahore, Delhiand Kashmir as well as Pinjore Garden in Haryana.

[edit]Characteristic elements of Mughal architecture

 Jharokha
 Chhatri
 Chhajja
 Jali
 Charbagh
 Symmetry

Babur (1526-30 A.D.), the founder of the Mughal dynasty in India, also made a modest beginning of
the architectural style which was later developed, on a massive scale, by his grandson Akbar (1556-
1605) and Akbar's grandson Shah Jehan (1628-58). This dynasty is popularly called "MUGHAL',
though Babur descended as a Miranshahi-Timurid and, racially, he was a Chaghtai-Turk. Their
architectural style, and other art styles, also bear the dynastic appellation : MUGHAL.
With its own constructional and ornamental techniques, norms and concepts, grown from a sound
historico-cultural and geo-physical background, and a transparent evolutionary process, Mughal
Architecture was a fully developed style and a perfect discipline, as none was prior to it, in medieval
India. It had a time-span of 132 years, practically from 1526 to 1658, and Agra-Fatehpur Sikri, Lahore-
Kashmir- Kabul, Delhi, Allahabad, Ajmer, Ahmedabad, Mandu and Burhanpur are its major centres.
Nearly 400 monuments of this style have survived, including city-walls and gates, forts, palaces, tombs,
mosques, hammams, gardens, minarets, tanks, step-wells, sarais, bridges, kos-minars and, of course, the
Taj Mahal which marks that zenith of an art from where it could only decline.

The Mughal architecture flourished in the Indian subcontinent during the Mughal rule (1526-1857). It
was a combination of Indo, Islamic and Persian style of art. This new style combined elements of
Islamic art and architecture, which had been introduced to India during days of Sultanate of Delhi, with
features of Persian art and architecture.
The Mughals built magnificent forts, palaces, gates, public buildings, mosques, water tanks and many
more buildings. The use of running water in their palaces and pleasure resorts was a special feature of
the Mughals. The Mughal Gardens introduced by Babur to India was used extensively used to decorate
the surrounding of these buildings.
Akbar was the first Mughal ruler who undertook constructions on a large scale and the first great
Mughal monument was the mausoleum to Humayun. Most notable of Akbar's buildings was the palace-
cum-fort complex at Fatehpuri Sikri. Native red sandstone was inlaid with white marble and all the
surfaces were ornately carved on the outside and sumptuously painted inside. Extensive use was made of
the low arches and bulbous domes that characterize the Mughal style during his period. Soon this style
of architecture was used extensively by the nobles and common people.
With the firm establishment of the Mughal Empire, the Mughal architecture reached its zenith. At the
end of Jahangir’s reign, the practice, of putting up buildings entirely of marble and decorating the walls
with floral designs made of semiprecious stones was established. The use of this style of decoration was
called ‘pietra dura’.
The crowning glory of Mughal architecture is the Taj Mahal built by Shah Jahan. Red Fort in Delhi is
another great achievement.
Under the orthodox Aurangzeb, the Mughal Architecture saw its decline. Pearl Mosque in Delhi is his
lone contribution.
The Mughal architecture incorporated many Indian styles, due to the religious tolerant nature of some
Mughal emperors like Akbar. Another major influence in the architecture style was the construction of
palaces and forts keeping in mind the hot climate of North India. The gardens, built by the Mughals, had
flowing water streams, taking into consideration the hot weather. The buildings were also built in a
manner to take advantage of the breeze.
The Mughal architectural style, greatly influenced the forts and palaces belonging to other kingdoms and
provinces. This influence can be greatly seen in the construction of the famous Golden
Temple of Amritsar. The temple is built on the arch and dome principle and incorporated many features
of the Mughal traditions of architecture.

Mughal architecture, 

Mughal architecture building style that flourished in northern and central India under
the patronage of the Mughal emperors from the mid-16th to the late 17th century. The Mughal period
marked a striking revival of Islāmic architecture in northern India. Under the patronage of the Mughal
emperors, Persian, Indian, and various provincial styles were fused to produce works of unusual quality
and refinement.

The tomb of the emperor Humāyūn (begun 1564) at Delhi inaugurated the new style,
though it shows strong Persian influences. The first great period of building activity occurred under the
emperor Akbar (reigned 1556–1605) at Āgra and at the new capital city of Fatehpur Sīkri, which was
founded in 1569. The latter city’s Great Mosque (1571; Jāmiʿ Masjid), with its monumental Victory
Gate (Buland Darzāwa), is one of the finest mosques of the Mughal period. The great fort at Āgra
(1565–74) and the tomb of Akbar at Sikandarā, near Āgra, are other notable structures dating from his
reign. Most of these early Mughal buildings use arches only sparingly, relying instead on post and lintel
construction. They are built of red sandstone or white marble.

Mughal architecture reached its zenith during the reign of emperor Shāh Jahān (1628–
58), its crowning achievement being the magnificent Tāj Mahal. This period is marked by a fresh
emergence in India of Persian features that had been seen earlier in the tomb of Humāyūn. The use of
the double dome, a recessed archway inside a rectangular fronton, and parklike surroundings are all
typical of Shāh Jahān period buildings. Symmetry and balance between the parts of a building were
always stressed, while the delicacy of detail in Shāh Jahān decorative work has seldom been surpassed.
White marble was a favoured building material. After the Tāj Mahal, the second major undertaking of
Shāh Jahān’s reign was the palace-fortress at Delhi, begun in 1638. Among its notable buildings are the
red-sandstone-pillared Dīvān-e ʿĀmm (“Hall of Public Audience”) and the so-called Dīvān-e Khāṣṣ
(“Hall of Private Audience”), which housed the famousPeacock Throne. Outside the citadel is the Great
Mosque (1650–56; Jāmiʿ Masjid). The impressive mosque sits on a raised foundationand is approached
by a majestic flight of steps, with an immense courtyard in front.
The architectural monuments of Shāh Jahān’s successor, Aurangzeb (reigned 1658–1707), represent a
distinct decline, though some notable mosques were built before the beginning of the 18th century.
Subsequent works lost the balance and coherence characteristic of mature Mughal architecture

One of the most enduring achievements of Indian civilization is undoubtedly its architecture, which
extends to a great deal more than the Taj Mahalor the temple complexes of Khajuraho and Vijayanagara.
Though the Indus Valley sites of Harappa, Mohenjo-daro, and Lothal provide substantial evidence of
extensive town planning, the beginnings of Indian architecture are more properly to be dated to the
advent of Buddhism in India, in the reign of Ashoka (c. 270-232), and the construction of Buddhist
monasteries and stupas. Buddhist architecture was predominant for several centuries, and there are few
remains of Hindu temples from even late antiquity. Among the many highlights of Buddhist art and
architecture are the Great Stupa at Sanchi and the rock-cut caves at Ajanta.

Gopuram of a South Indian temple

By the eighth century, with the consolidation of Hindu kingdoms, the southern Hindu school of
architecture was beginning to flourish. The most notable achievements of the Pallavas were the rock-cut
temples ofMahabalipuram and the temples of Kanchipuram. The subsequent history ofSouth Indian
temple architecture takes us, over the next eight centuries, to Thanjavur (Tanjore), to the brilliant
achievements of the Hoysalas (as seen in the temples at Belur and Halebid), and the temple complexes,
which represent the flowering of the Vijayanagara empire, of Kanchipuram, Thiruvannamalai, and
Vellore. The most stellar achievement of the later Vijayanagara period may well be the Meenakshi
temple in Madurai. In Kerala, however, a distinct style of architecture took shape. In Ellora in western
India, Hindus added a new series of temples and carvings at what had once been Buddhist caves,
culminating in the majestic Kailasa temple, constructed in the reign of the Rashtrakuta monarch Krishna
I (757-73), while the rock-cut caves in Elephanta and Jogeshvari, in the proximity of Bombay, were
most likely executed in the sixth century.

In north India, meanwhile, architecture was to be a more contentious matter. The fabled temple at
Somnath, renowned for its purported riches, is said to have been destroyed by the Muslim invader
Mahmud of Ghazni, and after the attainment of Indian independence, the restoration of this temple
became a matter of national pride for more ardent defenders of the faith. The story of Somnath points to
the manner in which histories, whether political, cultural, or architectural, have become communalized.
But the period from 1000-1300 was, in any case, a time when Hindu architecture flourished throughout
India. In central India, the Chandellas built a magnificent complex of temples at their capital, Khajuraho,
between 950-1030 A.D. These temples, which show Vaishnavite, Shaivite, and Tantric influence, have
acquired a renewed reputation today as indices of India's libertine past, allegedly indicative of India's
relaxed sexual mores before puritanical Muslims made India a sexually repressed society. The sexual
postures depicted in many of the sculptures that adorn some of the temples appear equally on the posters
of the Government of India's Tourist Office and the pages of gay and lesbian magazines. The cultural
politics of Khajuraho, as indeed of Indian architecture, still remains to be written. In the north-west, the
Solanki kings spent lavishly on buildings, and the Surya or Sun temple in Modhera, some 3 hours from
Ahmedabad, stills provides striking testimony to their achievements. More stupendous still is the Surya
temple at Konarak, built by Narasimha-deva Ganga (c. 1238-64), though masterpieces of Orissan
architecture from the reign of the Gangas are to be found in Bhubaneshwar and Puri as well. The
weakness of Muslim dynasties in the north enabled Rajput kings to assert their independence; the results
of this Hindu revival are to be seen in Chittor, and elsewhere in Rajasthan where massive forts dot the
landscape.

Fort at Gwalior

The Mughal emperors of India, most particularly

Humayun, Akbar,Jahangir, and Shah Jahan, were
heavily invested in monumental architecture and
spent lavishly on the construction of mosques,
mausoleums, forts, palaces, and other buildings. The
principal sites of Mughal architecture are Lahore,
Delhi, Agra, andFatehpur Sikri, though dazzling
specimens of Mughal architecture are to be found
elsewhere. Shah Jahan constructed a new capital,
then to be known as Shahjahanabad, and now a part
of Old Delhi. Its most famous buildings include the
Jama Masjid, one of the largest mosques in the
world, and the Red Fort (Lal Qila), which over the
last four hundred years has become uniquely
emblematic of state power. Akbar likewise built a
new capital at Fatehpur Sikri, a few miles outside
Agra, but it was abandoned on account of
insuperable difficulties in obtaining a water supply.
Some have described the complex of buildings at
Fatehpur Sikri, which include the majestic Buland
Darwaza and Salim Chisti's tomb, as the most
splendrous accomplishment of Mughal architecture.
Among the most exquisite of the Mughal works of
architecture are various mausoleums, including
Humayun's Tomb in Delhi, Akbar's Tomb in Sikander on the outskirts of Agra, and the Taj Mahal, an
edifice of such ravishing beauty that it has now become iconic of India itself. Mughal emperors also laid
down elaborate gardens, the finest of which are to be found in Srinagar, and built elaborate forts,
principally at Agra (1564-), Ajmer (1570-), Lahore (1580), and Allahabad.

Unlike the Mughals, the British contributed little to India's architectural history. Their rule is associated
mainly with monumental civic buildings, such as the Victoria Terminus in Bombay, or commemorative
exercises typified by the Victoria Memorial in Calcutta. There are some notable specimens of church
architecture, such as St. James's Church in Delhi, but the principal regal contribution of the British
appears to be the construction of a new capital in Delhi. Meanwhile, indigenous styles of architecture
did not entirely suffer a demise, andstep-wells continued to be built in Gujarat throughout the nineteenth
century. In Rajasthan rich merchants constructed large havelis or residences in which the window work
defies description. The most striking of these havelis are to be found in Jaisalmer, also notable for
Rajasthan's finest, certainly most romantic, fort. (See alsofort architecture.) Though few people associate
India with modern architecture, the work of many Indian architects, such as Charles Correa and
Balkrishna Doshi, is renowned internationally. Other prominent architects include Satish Gujral, also
known as a painter, and Laurie Baker, an Englishman settled in India who first became known for
designing low-cost housing and using only local materials. It is also noteworthy that the city of
Chandigarh was designed by Le Corbusier.

Mughal art and architecture a characteristic Indo-Islamic-Persian style that flourished on the Indian
subcontinent during the Mughal empire (1526-1857). This new style combined elements of Islamic art
and architecture , which had been introduced to India during the Delhi Sultanate (1192-1398) and had
produced great monuments such as the Qutb Minar , with features of Persian art and architecture .
Mughal monuments are found chiefly in N India, but there are also many remains in Pakistan. This
article discusses these distinctive forms of art and architecture as they developed under a succession of
Mughal emperors. 

Humayun 

The school of Mughal painting began in 1549 when Humayun (1530-56) invited two Persian painters to
his court, then at Kabul. They came to direct the illustration of the Amir Hamza, a fantastic narrative of
which some 1,400 large paintings were executed on cloth. 

Achievements under Akbar 

In architecture the first great Mughal monument was the mausoleum to Humayun, erected during the
reign of Akbar (1556-1605). The tomb, which was built in the 1560s, was designed by a Persian
architect Mirak Mirza Ghiyas. Set in a garden at Delhi, it has an intricate ground plan with central
octagonal chambers, joined by an archway with an elegant facade and surmounted by cupolas, kiosks,
and pinnacles. At the same time Akbar was building his fortress-palace in his capital, Agra. Native red
sandstone was inlaid with white marble, and all the surfaces were ornately carved on the outside and
sumptuously painted inside. 

Akbar went on to build the entire city of Fatehpur Sikri (City of Victory) in which extensive use was
made of the low arches and bulbous domes that characterize the Mughal style. Built in 1571 the choice
of the site of Sikri reflected Akbar's gratitude to a Muslim saint at Sikri for the birth of his son. Courtiers
soon followed suit and built homes surrounding the palace and mosque. The new city became the capital
of the empire, but in 1585 it was abandoned. 

Under Akbar, Persian artists directed an academy of local painters. The drawings, costumes, and
ornamentation of illuminated manuscripts by the end of the 16th cent. illustrate the influence of Indian
tastes and manners in the bright coloring and detailed landscape backgrounds. Modeling and perspective
also began to be adapted from Western pictures. Basawan, Lal, and Daswanth were Akbar's most
famous painters. 

Jahangir 

Jahangir (1605-27) favored paintings of events from his own life rather than illustrated fiction. He
encouraged portraiture and scientific studies of birds, flowers, and animals, which were collected in
albums. Mansur and Manohar were among his famous painters. Jahangir, who resided at Lahore, built
less than his predecessors but effected the significant change from sandstone to marble. 
Shah Jahan 

It was Shah Jahan (1628-58) who perfected Mughal architecture and erected at Agra its most noble and
famous building, the tomb of his favorite wife, which is known as the Taj Mahal . A huge white marble
building of simple, symmetrical plan, it is inlaid with colorful semiprecious materials and is set in an
equally beautiful and symmetrical garden. The Taj Mahal continues the tradition of Mughal garden
tombs, of which Humayun's tomb was the first. Shah Jahan established (1638) Delhi as his capital and
built there the famous Red Fort, which contained the imperial Mughal palace. Painting also flourished
during Shah Jahan's reign. Portraiture was most highly developed at his sophisticated court, and ink
drawings were of high quality. 

Decline under Aurangzeb 

Under the orthodox Aurangzeb (1659-1707) the decline of the arts began, although his ornate Pearl
Mosque (1662) at Delhi is worthy of mention. During his reign the Mughal academy was dispersed.
Many artists then joined Rajput courts, where their influence on Hindu painting is clearly evident. 

Introduction:

In the fifteenth century the political condition of India had deteriorated and there was no powerful
kingdom in northern India. The last ruling dynasty was that of the Lodis with a considerably weakened
position. Such a situation invited invasions from the northwestern borders of India. Babur's invasion and
subsequent conquests were indeed its results. 
Zahiruddin Muhammad Babur founded the Mughal Empire in India. Babur was a descendant of the
Timur dynasty. He inherited the small state of Farghana in A.D. 1494. In order to expand his empire and
to strengthen his position in central Asia, he invaded India five times. In the fifth expedition he defeated
Ibrahim Lodi, at Panipat in A.D. 1526. At this the Afghans and the Rajputs shared the political power of
north India. Babur's conquest of northern India was incomplete till he defeated Rana Sanga, the king of
Mewar and the greatest Rajput king of the period. Consequently a decisive battle took place on 16,
March 1527 and Rana Sanga was defeated. But he was not destined to enjoy the fruits of his victory as
he died in Agra in A.D. 1530. Babur's eldest son Humayun succeeded him as the king.

1526AD-1857AD

India had been without a major empire for almost a thousand years now, it had not been since the Gupta
Dynasty that an all India empire had been created. The Mughal Dynasty was the last great empire of
Indian history. Such was their greatness that not only did they leave a lasting impact on Indian history,
the English word Mogul (derived from Mughal) means a powerful person. The Mughals were a
remarkable dynasty, and at their peak they produced a successive set of capable rulers. It was also
during their reign that some of the finest monuments of India were built, most notably one of the seven
wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal.

The Mughal dynasty was founded by Babur, who was a ruler of a kingdom near Persia (modern day
Iran). Babur a Turk, was related to the great Mongol conqueror, Chengiz Khan and the Turkish invader
Timur. The increasing power of the Uzbeks of Central Asia, was a cause for Babur to want to leave his
country. The Delhi Sultanate around this time existed merely in name, and the political scene was in
total disarray. The Sultan in power was Ibrahim Lodi, but the nobles commanded a major portion of
power. The entire system was very unstable, and finally it cracked. Daulat Khan, a powerful noble who
was dissatisfied with Ibrahim Lodi actually requested Babur to come and invade India. Babur had long
cherished a desire to conquer India, and he immediately grabbed the opportunity. He first conquered
Afghanistan and then descended into India. His campaigns though initially faced some hiccups, turned
out very successful and he captured a large section of North Western India. He then proceeded to Delhi
where he fought the last remaining Sultanate ruler, Ibrahim Lodi at Panipat. Ibrahim Lodi possessed a
much larger army, but Babur had greater amount of weapons and artillery as well as superb strategy and
leadership. In just half a day, he defeated the Sultan and captured Delhi and its surrounding areas. The
victory over Ibrahim Lodi however had only a nominal value, for the Sultanate was not a very powerful
force in the country. Babur had to face many challenges from various Afghan, Turkish and native Indian
rulers before finally he was able to assert his authority over a fairly large area, establishing the
foundation of the Mughal empire. In the brief four years that he ruled he set the stage for the great
empire. The Mughal empire was not firmly established in his time, in fact shortly after his son Humayun
succeeded him, Sher Shah, temporarily threw out the Mughal power and set up his own empire. Upon
his death however Humayun returned and re-established the Mughal empire. The greatest Mughal king,
Akbar followed and he took the empire to its peak. When we talk of the Mugahl empire we usually refer
to the reign of the greater Mughals: Babur, Humayaun, Akbar, Jehangir, Shah Jehan and Aurangzeb.
The Mughal empire began to disintegrate during the reign of Aurangzeb and the Mughal emperors after
him are collectively referred to as the later Mughals. The Mughal empire would be an important part of
Indian history for the next two hundred years, before its disintegration would pave the way for the rise
of the British in India.