ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE

TUGHLAQ DYNASTY
(1321- 1398 )

 Ghiyath Ud-din Tughlaq (1321-25) after ascending the

throne of Delhi, selected the Tughluqabad as the capital.

CITY OF TUGHLAQABAD
Consists of two parts- Citadel & the city
Irregular in plan because of the topography
Rough rectangle of approximately 2200 yards each
way.
For every 4 miles of the walls, there are circular

bastions.
52 gateways with broad ramps for the passage of
elephants.

CITY OF TUGHLAQABAD

CITY OF TUGHLAQABAD
Massive stone masonry
Surrounded by a moat
Fortress consists of casemates, embrasured
galleries, and guarded entrances.
Palace consists of royal residences, the zenana and

halls of audience.

 A bastion is an angular structure projecting outward

from the curtain wall of an artillery fortification.
Bastion fortifications offered a greater degree of
passive resistance and more scope for ranged defence

Inverted keyhole
embrasure, allowing
both arrow fire (through

the arrow slit at the top)

and small cannon fire
through the circular
opening

CITY OF TUGHLAQABAD
Some of the rooms have been roofed over with
wooden beams.
Long underground corridor with chambers opening
out of its sides, from which it is possible to pass in
and out of the citadel by means of a postern.

 Tughluqabad is divided into three parts;

1) the wider city area with houses built along a

rectangular grid between its gates
2) the citadel with a tower at its highest point known
as Bijai-Mandal and the remains of several halls and a
long underground passage

3) the adjacent palace area containing the royal

residences. A long underground passage below the
tower still remains.

View over Tughluqabad, the third city of Delhi from

the 'Bijai Mandal' towards the North with the Bah'
House of Worship at the horizon

 Ghiyath aldin tughluq tomb from

tughluqabad

TOMB OF GHIYASUDDIN
TUGHLAQ

TOMB OF GHIYASUDDIN
TUGHLAQ
Standing within an artificial lake
Detached structure but connected with the citadel by an
elevated causeway 250 yards long.
Entrance faced with a graceful doorway, which
constitutes a death-trap to those attempting to force it.

Within the courtyard are underground vaults.

TOMB OF GHIYASUDDIN
TUGHLAQ
Exterior plan is in the form of an irregular pentagon.
Length is less than 300 feet.
Tomb building placed diagonally at its widest part
A position is rendered in order to bring it into correct
orientation with mecca.
Building is of red sandstone with certain portions of
white marble.

TOMB OF GHIYASUDDIN
TUGHLAQ
Outer walls are inclined at an angle of 75 degree.

Square base is 61 feet side and the height is 80 feet.

In the centre of each side is a tall pointed archway,

three of which contain doorways, while the 4th is
closed to accommodate the mihrab in its interior.

TOMB OF GHIYASUDDIN
TUGHLAQ
Exterior is having the same character as in Alai Darwaza
with the horse-shoe shaped arch being modified into
tudor outline with slight ogee curve, at the crown.

Imposed a lintel across the base of the arch.

(combination of 2 systems- trabeate & arcuate)

Entrance of the Mausoleum of

Ghiyath al-Din Tughluq

TOMB OF GHIYASUDDIN
TUGHLAQ
Interior:
single chamber with 30 feet square and light
admitted through three arched openings.
Dome:
supported on 4 squinch arches with the angles

between the octagon and the 16 sided figure over

it filled by 3 projecting blocks of stone.

TOMB OF GHIYASUDDIN
TUGHLAQ
Dome:
no empty space between the inner and outer
surfaces.
Pointed or tartar shaped design.
55 feet span & is crowned by a finial.
The chief architectural character of the tomb is the
slope of its walls.

KHIRKI MASJID

KHIRKI MASJID
Built during the reign of Firoz Shah Tughlaq
(1375),situated at Jahanpanah
Whole structure raised on a substructure of arches
Projected entrances approached by fine flights of
steps (resembles Sultan Ghari)

Rounded bastions thrown out from each corner

Khirki windows (urdu ), so known as Masjid of
Windows.

KHIRKI MASJID
Fortress-like appearance
Sloped bastions/exterior
Arch & beam doorway
Designed on a cruciform
plan, produced by the two
main aisles crossing at
right angles
Shaded corridor

KHIRKI MASJID
Interior:
Corner of each supported on a
heavy pier with tudor arches

between
Each bay roofed by a cupshaped dome
Piers are short and thick,
composed of groups of two,
sometimes four plain
monolithic pillars