The birth of Indo-Islamic Architecture

The Birth of Indo-Islamic Architecture: Indo-Islamic architecture is the architecture of the Indian subcontinent produced by and for Islamic patrons and purposes. Despite an initial Arab presence in Sindh, the development of Indo-Islamic architecture began in earnest with the establishment of Delhi as the capital of the Ghurid dynasty in 1193.

The coming of Muslim rulers to India saw the birth of a new style of art and architecture that came to be known as the Indo-Islamic style. Indo- Islamic architecture was a blend of the local Indian style with the Islamic style. Since Islamic art itself was a composite of various influences—Turkish, Afghan, Persian and Arabi—Indo-Islamic architecture showcased a wide variety of style. In Delhi, Islamic influences dominated, while in the Deccan, local styles were more prominent in the buildings. In Bengal, the local practice of using bricks for building continued.

Indo-Islamic architecture was also influenced by the fact that the Muslim rulers often had to use Indian craftsman, who were trained in the local style. Buildings were simple, with symmetrical and beautiful lines. They now featured Islamic elements such as arches and domes. Islam discourages the depiction of human figures in art. Therefore much of Islamic art consist of geometric designs, Horal patterns and calligraphy. Calligraphy is the art of beautiful writing. It was developed into a fine art by Islamic artist, who used it to copy out portions of the Quran.

The types and forms of large buildings required by Muslim elites, with mosques and tombs much the most common, were very different from those previously built in India. The exteriors of both were very often topped by large domes, and made extensive use of arches. Both of these features were hardly used in Hindu architecture temple and other indigenous Indian styles. Both types of building essentially consist of a single large space under a high dome, and completely avoid the figurative sculpture so important to Hindu temple architecture.

Islamic buildings initially adapted the skills of a workforce trained in earlier Indian traditions to their own designs. Unlike most of the Islamic world where brick tended to predominate, India had highly skilled builders well used to producing stone of extremely high quality.Alongside the architecture developed in Delhi and prominent centres of Mughal culture such as Agra, Lahore and Allhabad, a variety of regional styles developed in regional kingdoms like the Bengal, Gujrat,Deccan,Jaunpurand Kashmir Sultanates . By the Mughal period, generally agreed to represent the peak of the style, aspects of Islamic style began to influence architecture made for Hindus, with even temples using scalloped arches, and later domes. This was especially the case in palace architecture. Following the collapse of the Mughal Empire, regional nawabs such as in Lucknow, Hyderabad and Mysore continued to commission and patronize the construction of Mughal-style architecture in the princely states.

Indo-Islamic architecture has left a large impact on modern India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, as in the case of its influence on the Indo saracenic Revivalism of the late British Raj. Both secular and religious buildings are influenced by Indo-Islamic architecture.

Chapters

Tracing Changes Through Thousand Years - I

Tracing Changes Through Thousand Years - II

Kings and Kingdoms

Delhi 12th to 15th Century I

Delhi 12th to 15th Century II

The Mughals 16th-1 Century I

The Mughals 16th-1 Century II

Rulers and Buildings I

Rulers and Buildings II

Towns Traders and Craftsperson I

Towns Traders and Craftsperson II