Imperial Style-Tughlaq Dynasty

DELHI IMPERIAL STYLE -TUGLAQ DYNASTY :
• TUGHALAQ DYNASTY:-
• The Architecture of Delhi or imperial style under Tughlaq dynasty (AD
1320-1413)
• INTRODUCTION:This dynasty with 11 rulers ruled from Delhi for nearly 100
years .Only 3 of these rulers were interested in building art.
• Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq 1st (1320-1325 AD)
• His son, Mohammad-Shah Tughlaq (1325-1351 A.D.)
• Firuz Shah Tughlaq (1351-1388). He was most prolific in building activity.

GHIYAS-UD-DIN TUGHLAQ:
• He was first of the dynasty ,created a 3rd city of Delhi. This fortified city or
fortress city is known as city of Tughlaqabad. It stands at the highest point
of rock formation. It is described by the Chinese traveler IBEN-E-BATUTA.
There were Tughlaq’s treasurers and palaces, were built in golden bricks
which at sunrise, shone so dazzlingly, that one could not gaze upon it steadily.
• Today it is huge masses of broken masonry. The architecture is more of
utilitarian character than of architectural significance.
• .
• It is the great complex combining a city, a fort, a palace, residential and
military quarters. It serves as a prototype ,based on which later Indo-
Islamic cities and forts were built.
• There was influence of Roman fashion of city design. The city of
Tughlaqabad was designed in two parts, the city with outer wall or city
adjoining the outer wall or fortress wall and 2nd is citadel
• City wall: The city wall was influenced by the Arab camp cities. It has
battered or inclined wall with intermediate towers along the entire
length of wall. The length of this fortress wall is about 4 miles. The
ground plan of the city is irregular in outline following the topography of
rocky outcrop. It is a rough square of about 2200 yards side. Large
circular sloping, bastion walls, sometimes 2 storied high were provided at
regular intervals. Parapet of the bastions have embankments. The
sloping sides of the bastions were provided with opening for arches
about 52 gateways were provided consisting of wide openings flanked by
towers, approached by broad gateways elephants. The masonry of
fortress wall is massive consisting of rough, hewn boulders quarried on
site.
City of Siri by Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq
Citadel - It dominates the walled city surrounded by moat,
the citadel consists of the buildings such as palaces, royal
residences, the zanana ( residential buildings specially for
women), halls of audience. Some of the rooms were roofed
by wooden beams. The citadel consists of guarding walls and
entrances. One of the important buildings of outstanding
architectural character is a tomb of Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq.
3.TOMB OF GHIYAS-UD-DIN TUGHLAQ:
• It is the only building of the city which is in perfect condition today.
• Originally, standing within an artificial lake.
• Detached structure connected to the citadel by an elevated bridge which is
250 yards long.
• The tomb is a self contained miniature fortress intended as a last place for
resort i.e it could be easily used as a place of defense.
• Under the courtyard is a solidly built underground chamber used for
safekeeping of looted wealth.
• Exterior plan of this fortress tomb is an irregular pentagon, with sloping
bastions at each corner. The greatest length of the pentagon is 300ft. The
unusual shape is due to the small rocky island on which it was built.
• The courtyard is of unsymmetrical pentagon shape the tomb building is placed
diagonally at the widest part facing the direction of mecca.
• Interior of the tomb is a single chamber of 30 ft square side light is admitted
through 3 arched openings.
• Elevational composition:- Externally the building has a square base of side 61
ft. total height is over 80 ft. Most striking feature of the building is the shape of
outer wall.
The angle of inclination is 75 degree. In the center of each side of façade is
recessed a tall pointed arch, 3 of which contained the doorway, a forth
(western),side accommodates the Miharab. The elevational composition is
similar to Alai Darwaja i.e. Use of pointed horse shoe arch, spear headed
fringe,The arches have tudor outline with slight oggy curve at crown. Difference
of the arch from Alai Darwaja arch is that, lintel is placed at the base of the
arch. Here combination of the two principals of supporting for arch opening is
seen.(fusion of two systems,ie. trebeat and arcuate).
Dome:The domed ceiling is span 55’. Dome is supported on 4 squinched
arches (similar to Alai darwaja). Additional projecting stone brackets are used
for support. Dome is single shell type. The shape of the dome is tartar type.
This tartar shape is characteristic of Indo- Islamic style. Construction of dome:-
Headers and stretchers of marbles were attached to brick and cement core.
The marble was dowelled in with metal cramps. Headers were inserted by 1 ft
into the core. Dome was erected over temporary centering Dome were
crowned by finial (the top most portion) resembling the kalasha and Amalaka
of Hindu temple. The material used for the tomb is red sandstone for certain
areas and white marble for dome. Square shape building with sloping walls
gave the appearance of strength and solidity. Influence of sloping walls was
from the tomb of Shah Rukn-I-Alam at Multan, Punjab. This was built by
Ghiyas-ud-din tughalaq.
Tomb of Ghiyas-Ud-Din Tughlaq
BARA KHAMBA:-
• It is a private residence of a noble man of 15th century in Islamic India.
• Enclosed courtyard with a well and bathing facilities in the centre. Around the
courtyard were quarters for stables and servants.
• An inner staircase leads from the ground floor to large flat roof, used
extensively as terrace in hot weather.
• Corrected with the courtyard is a pillared compartment after which the
building is so named.
• This pillared pavilion has fine coffered ceiling.
• Out is a garden with a well and a Chabutara (platform).
• The building and the garden is contained within a high protective wall.
• The prominent feature of composition is 3 storied square tower accessible
from all the ground floor quarters.
• This area was used as sit out and had view of countryside all around.
• This tower has pyramidal roof.
• The enclosed form which was for defensive as well as for privacy reason is
the characteristic of life of that time.

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