Module 3

Islamic architecture under

Imperial style

Dr. Binumol Tom

Professor
Dept. of Architecture,
College of Engineering,
Trivandrum

Islamic architecture under Imperial style

Slave, Khalji, Tughlak, Sayyid, Lodi and Sher

Shah Suri- Minarets, Tomb, Mosques in
Afghanistan, Delhi and Sasaram;

Islamic architecture under Imperial style

The Delhi or the Imperial Style of Indo-Islamic architecture

flourished between 1191-1557 AD and covered Muslim
dynasties viz.,
Slave (1191-1246),
Khalji (1290-1320),
Tughlaq (1320-1413),
Sayyid (1414-1444) and
Lodi (1451-1557).
The first Islamic sultanate structures were built of disparate
dismantled pieces of Hindu temples, after which came an era
of carefully planned structures and precincts, later
assimilating and incorporating Hindu elements and
workmanship.

Slave Dynasty - 1206 to 1290.

First Muslim dynasty to rule India.
Muhammad Ghori
Qutub-ud-din Aibak descended the throne.
The first ruler of the slave dynasty was Qutub-ud-din Aibak who ruled from 1206 to 1210. He
established his capital at two places, first at Lahore and then shifted it to Delhi. It was during his
reign that the construction of the famous Qutub Minar started. He was succeeded by his son
Aram Shah but due to his incompetence, he was defeated in just one year by Iltumish.
Iltumish - 1211 to 1236.
Under his strong governance, the slave dynasty was able to find a strong footing and establish
itself as an important kingdom. It was during his reign that the construction of Qutub Minar got
completed. After ruling successfully for a period of 25 years, he died, but nominated his daughter
Raziya Sultan as the heir to the throne. She was an able ruler, but since she was a woman, she
faced stern opposition from nobles who got her murdered.
Ghiyasuddin Balban
The last effective emperor of the slave dynasty was Ghiyasuddin Balban. He ruled from 1266 to
1286. During his reign, the administration was strengthened and he paid much attention to
governance in his empire. The army was trained effectively to use weapons and the production of
arms and other war weaponry was at its peak. This is what helped them fight against attacks by
the Mongols. He died in 1286 and after him the slave dynasty collapsed.

Qutb Minar
Qutb-Minar in red and buff
standstone is the highest stone
tower in India.
It has a diameter of 14.32 m at
the base and about 2.75 m on
the top with a height of 72.5 m.
Qutbu'd-Din Aibak laid the
foundation of Minar in AD
1199 for the use of the mu'azzin
(crier) to give calls for prayer
and raised the first storey, to
which were added three more
storeys by his successor and
son-in-law, Shamsu'd-Din
Iltutmish (AD 1211-36).

Base 47ft diameter

Top 9ft
Central staircase 360 steps
circle and star edged projections
circle projections
stellar
plain circle

 All the storeys are

surrounded by a
projected balcony
encircling the minar
and supported by
stalactite pendentive
stone brackets, which
are decorated with
honey-comb design,
more conspicuously
in the first storey.
360 steps

Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque
Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque, to the north-east of minar was
built by Qutbu'd-Din Aibak in AD 1198.
It is the earliest extant mosque built by the Delhi Sultans.

Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque
It consists of a
rectangular courtyard
enclosed by cloisters,
erected with the
carved columns and
architectural
members of 27
Hindu and Jaina
temples which were
demolished by
Qutbu'd-Din Aibak
as recorded in his
inscription on the
main eastern
entrance.

Tomb of Iltumish

 North-west of the enlarged mosque at the Qutb,

built a little before A.D. 1235.
A square 42 feet in side and with a height of
almost 30 feet, its plain and unadorned exteriors
its interior - the whole of which is covered from
top to bottom on all four sides by rich carvings
almost rivaling Hindu temple sculpture on the
sandstone-clad walls.
The cenotaph and the three arches of
the mehrab towards the west(marking the
direction of Mecca) are both in marble, again a
garland of inscriptions from the Quran.

 Architecturally speaking, Iltutmish's tomb is

interesting as it reveals quite clearly the first
attempt in India to solve the 'dome on a square'
problem - a 'squinch' was employed - a halfarch/dome spanning across the corners of the
square base and making the square an octagon.
This can be repeated to transform the octagon into
a sixteen-sided figure on which the base of the
dome may rest. That the dome, if ever fully built,
subsequently collapsed was a testimony to the fact
that the it was imperfectly constructed - however an
important start had been made and future attempts
in this direction were to grow ever more confident.

 Iltutmish constructed the

tomb for his son Nasirud-din Mohammed - the
so-called Sultan Ghari or
'Sultan of the Cave'.
This is probably due to
the subterranean tomb
chamber.
The octagonal platform
above was probably
intended to support a
pillared pavilion, the
whole of which has
disappeared or was never
built.

For the first time in India a strange

and novel way of laying the dead to
eternal rest - burying them with a
tomb as a monumental cenotaph.

The crypt or the tomb is implanted in a Ghari (cave), approached by winding steep
stairs made of stone, and supported by pillars and flooring.
The cave is covered by an unusual octagonal roof slab.
The exterior of the tomb structure built in Delhi sandstone with marble adornment
exhibits a walled area with bastions (towers) on corners, which impart it the look of
a fortress in aesthetic Persian and Oriental architecture.
The other tombs inside the Ghari have not been identified.

This platform was surrounded by a square masonry arcade on a high plinth, and
according to Percy Brown, it has "such a grim and martial appearance that one of
its more remote purposes may have been to serve as some kind of advanced
outwork to the main fortress of the capital"

Colonnade inside Sultan Ghari

 Ghiyas ud din Balbans

Tomb (12th Century) at
Mehrauli has great
architectural importance
since it is the first true arch
ever built in India.
Balban was the third
sultanate ruler of
importance. He was a
brilliant administrator and is
known in history as a
dynamic ruler who
consolidated territories.
Balbans tomb has a multichambered tomb and key
stone was used for the
construction of the arches,

Tomb of Balban,
Mehrouli

Tomb of Balban

Ruins of the Tomb of Balban

Khalji Dynasty 1290 - 1320

Firoz Jallal ud din Khalji (1290) ascended the throne of Delhi at the
age of 70
Ala-ud-din Khalji murdered Jallal-ud-din crowned himself the King
He stamped out the last embers of Hindu rule (by annexing Gujarat,
Ranthambor and Chittoor
Architectural projects marks the evolution of another innovative feature in
the Indo-Islamic architecture.
Alai Darwaza at Qutb complex (Darwaza near the Qutub Minar which
served as an entrance gateway to the mosque at the Qutub complex )
Alai Hauz at Hauz Khas (reservoir at Hauz Khas around 1311AD)
New city of Siri fort (second city of Delhi )
Alai minar
Jamat Khana Masjid near Nizamuddin in Delhi
Ukha Masjid in Bharatpur in Rajasthan were also built during this period.

 Indian carver effortlessly carved

Quranic inscriptional bands
Horse shoe shaped arch
Slender pilaster works
Intrados of the arch spear head
fringe (garland of buds)
treatment of outer faade as two
storeyed building with blind
windows in its non existent upper
storey enticing technique
Star and hexagon jaalis create
intricate and complex pattern
forerunner to what mughals later
elevated to great works of art
Jaali sensible architectural
device (illumination and
ventilation) contrast to dark
interiors of hindu temples

Alai Darwaza

Alai Darwaza
Blend of red
sandstone and white
marble as facing
materials
56 ft (17m) square
base
Dome 34ft (10.3m)
Squinches
constructed of true
arches

Qutb complex with extensions carried out by

Ala-ud-din Khalji

Qutb complex with extensions carried out by

Ala-ud-din Khalji

 Quwat-ul-isam mosque Iltumish enlarged the

size by three times- while Ala-ud-din by six
times by adding another cloister around the
existing one
Northern side - added Alai Minar 21.3 m
high rubble stump exists today he envisaged
the minar to be higher than qutb minar.

Alai Minar

8 cities of
Delhi
5
6

2
4
1

1. Lalkot
2. Siri
3. Tughlakabad
4. Jahanpanah
5. Firozabad
6. Purana Quila
7. Shahjahanabad
8. New Delhi

Tughlaq Dynasty(1320-1413)

The rulers of the Tughlaq Dynasty

also undertook considerable
construction activities, including
building three of the seven ancient
cities of Delhi.
Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq (1320-1325
AD) built Tughlaqabad, the third
city of Delhi, in 1321-23 AD.
The Tomb of Ghiyasuddin
Tughlaq, built of red sandstone, is
an irregular pentagon in its
exterior plan and its design is of
the pointed or "Tartar" shape and
is crowned by a finial resembling
the kalasa and amla of a Hindu
temple.

Tomb of Giyasudin Tughaq

Walls made an angle of 75degree with

ground (multan influence)
Plan based on the contours of the site
Tomb is connected to the fortress by a
250 yards (228.6m) causeway, built
over what at one time would have
been a sheet of water, today dry land
Square tomb 61 ft side
Height 80 ft
Arch and lintel construction mixed
attitude of the hindu builders to
arched and lintel and beam method
True arch + redundant stone lintel
intalled just below the springing of
the arch

Tughlaq Dynasty(1320-1413)

Delhi's fourth city Jahanpanah was built by Mohammad-bin-Tughlaq in mid14th century.

Feroz Shah Tughlaq (1351-1388 AD) was undoubtedly the greatest builder among all
the rulers of the Tughlaq dynasty. He himself wrote in Fatuhat-i-Feroz Shah "among
the gifts which God bestowed on me, His humble servant, was a desire to erect public
buildings".
He built Ferozabad, Delhi's fifth city, in 1354 AD. The famous Firoz Shah Kotla
ground is the only remnant of its past glory.
Feroz Shah Tughlaq is also credited with founding the fortified cities of Jaunpur,
Fathabad and Hissar.

Citadel of Firoz shah kotla

800 m X 400m
Private palaces, mosques, harems of royal court, gardens, baths, tanks, barracks,
armory, servant quarters
E
River Yamuna
Diwani khas

Diwan-i-am

Main entrance

Three tiered structure

Every platform is set back from
the preceding one to create
terraces in front of a series of
compartments
Inspiration - terraced Buddhist
viharas
Inhabited by the concubines of
the King
Influence pseudo militaristic
style of Ghiyas-ud-din
Stone stambha of Asoka period

 His construction works were of a unique simple style

characterised by the use of inexpensive materials. The
medieval rulers, who were used to the convenience of
choosing new locations for starting new constructions,
rarely adopted restoration of previous buildings.
It was only Feroze Shah Tughlaq who took up large-scale
restoration works and repaired hundreds of monuments,
including the Qutub Minar which was damaged by
lightening in 1369 AD.
The Kali Masjid (c.1370 AD), the Khirki Masjid (c.1375
AD) and the Kalan Masjid (c.1375 AD) also belong to this
period, the last two being raised on a tahkhana or
substructure of arches.

Kalan masjid

Built over a platform or basement

often raised more than 12ft (3.6m)
above ground level
Imposing flights of steps leading
from ground level upto the entrance
gateway
Dominating gateway
Central courtyard
Lower periphery of the erected
basement became deep arched
niches, big enough in size to use
either as living rooms or the
attendant priests, or hops or even
dormitories for pilgrims on festive
occasions

 Khirki Masjid belongs to the

Indo-Islamic style of architecture
The Indo-Islamic style of
architecture is a distinctive blend
of Islamic as well as traditional
Hindu style of architecture
Its roof is a unique thing, which
is unheard of in Islamic mosque
architecture.
The presence of a number of
domes on the roof covering the
mosque and the latticework (jali)
on the windows are suggestive
of the Islamic style of
architecture.
The pillars and brackets within
this structure show local Hindu
influence.

Khirki masjid

Khirki masjid

 It is a small quadrangle-shaped
mosque, and the only one of its kind-a
mosque, which is closed on top!
Mosques usually have an open
courtyard where the faithfuls offer
their prayers to God.
Khirki Masjid has elaborate
latticework on its windows (carved
stone screens), but compared to the
intricate patterns of the later-day
Mughal buildings, it is simple.
The pillars and brackets in the mosque
show a high degree of indigenous
influence.
The roof of the Khirki Masjid is
divided into squares through which
sunlight streams in. Most of the
squares, however, sport groups of
domes on them.
The mosque, which is built with rubble
masonry covered externally with
plaster, has majestic steps leading up to
it.

Hauz Khas Complex

The etymology of the name Hauz Khas in Urdu language is derived from the words
Hauz: water tank (or lake) and Khas:royal- the Royal tank. Hauz
Khas, South Delhi houses a water tank, an Islamic seminary, a mosque, a tomb and
pavilions built around an urbanized village with medieval history traced to the 13th
century of Delhi Sultanate reign.
The large water tank or reservoir was first built by Khalji {the plaque displayed
(pictured in the gallery) at the site records this fact} to supply water to the
inhabitants of Siri.
It was part of Siri, the second medieval city of India of the Delhi Sultanate
of Allauddin Khilji Dynasty (12961316).

Hauz Khas
The tank was desilted during the reign
of Firuz Shah Tughlaq(135188). Several
buildings (Mosque and madrasa) and tombs
were built overlooking the water tank or lake.
Firuz Shahs tomb pivots the Lshaped
building complex which overlooks the tank

Tomb of Firoz shah

Among the notable buildings of historical importance that

he built within Hauz Khas precincts is the domed tomb for
himself.
The tomb which is very austere in appearance, is located
at the intersection of the two arms of the Lshaped
building which constitutes the madrasa.
Entry to the tomb is through a passage in the south leading
to the doorway.
The passage wall is raised on a plinth which depicts the
shape of a fourteen phased polyhedron built in stones.
Three horizontal units laid over eight vertical posts that
are chamfered constitute the plinth.

Tomb of Firoz shah

Squinches and muqarnas are seen in the solid interior walls of the tomb
and these provide the basic support to the octagonal spherical dome of
the tomb.
The dome with a square plan 14.8 m (48.6 ft) in length and height
has a diameter of 8.8 m (28.9 ft).
The maximum height of the tomb is on its face overlooking the
reservoir.
The domed gateway on the north has an opening which has height equal
to twothirds the height of the tomb.
The width of the gate is equal to one-third of tombs' width.
The entrance hall has fifteen bays and terminates in another doorway
which is identical to the gateway at the entrance.
This second doorway leads to the tomb chamber and cenotaph, which
are accessed from the gateway through the Lshaped corridor. Similar
arrangement is replicated on the western doorway of the tomb leading to
the open pavilion on the west.

Tomb of Firoz shah

The ceiling in the dome depicts a circular gold medallion with Quranic
inscriptions in Naksh characters.
Foliated crenellations are seen on the outer faces of the base of the tomb.
Interesting features seen on the northern and southern sides of the tomb,
considered typical of the Tuglaq period layout, are the ceremonial steps provided
at the ground level that connect to the larger steps leading into the reservoir.
The tomb, a square chamber, is made of local quartzite rubble with a
surface plaster finish that sparkled in white colour when completed. The door,
pillars and lintels were made of grey quartzites while red sandstone was used for
carvings of the battlements. The door way depicts a blend
of Indian and Islamic architecture. Another new feature not seen at any other
monument in Delhi, built at the entrance to the tomb from the south, is the
stone railings.
There are four graves inside the tomb, one is of Feruz Shah and two others are of
his son and grand son.
The main impression is one of solidity and lack of decoration(typical of Tuglaq
style).

Tomb of Telangani
Firoz shahs prime minister Khan-e-jahan
Telengani built in Nizamudin auliya area
Octagonal plan
Over this circular dome was installed
leaving aside the cumbersome process of
arching across the right angular corners
Builders were inspired by the similar
octagonal plan of the sacred Mosque of
Oman in Jerusalem
Crypt with verandah on all its eight sides
Huge dome and side smaller domes
Triple arched facades
Typical Hindu chajjas to provide for sun
breakers light and shade in the interiors

Octagonal tomb
of Telangani

Sayyid Dynasty (1414-1444)

In the 14th century under the Timurid rulers, Islamic architecture underwent
a change.
The narrow horseshoe arch was replaced by the true arch, an idea imported
directly from Persia. However, Indian masons werent completely
convinced of its holding power.
They began using wooden beams as supports, and eventually the fourcentred arch minus the beam support came into vogue.
During the Sayyid and the Lodi Dynasties, more than fifty tombs of
different sizes were constructed.
The Tombs of Mubarak Sayyid (d. 1434 AD), Muhammad Sayyid (d.1444
AD) are of the octagonal type.

Tomb of Mubarak Sayyid

The Mubarak Sayyid Tomb is
octagonal in plan with a massive
dome and eight octagonal roof
kiosks (chhatri) on each side.
The roof kiosks occupy the
middle of the sides and stone
buttresses are set at the vacant
corners of the structure.
This design gives the tomb a
pyramidal effect as a whole.
The funerary mosque stands near
the tomb, and it is assumed that
the tomb and mosque once stood
within precinct walls.
This is the only mosque built by
the Sayyids.

Tomb of Mubarak Sayyid (1434 AD)

Enlargement and refinement of the proportions

of Tughlaq prototype
9 m long side of octagon with arched colonnade
The merlons on the parapet and kiosks above
the verandahs
15 m high dome squatly placed over 21 m wide
octagonal base improved in tomb of
Muhammed Sayyid a decade later

Tomb of Mubarak Sayyid

Tomb of Muhammad Shah Sayyid

This beautiful octagonal maqbara (tomb) of Muhammad Shah
Sayyid is located near the south-west corner of the Lodi Garden.
The tomb was built in 1444 for the third Sayyid sultan
Muhammad Shah.
The architecture follows the style of the Khan-i-Jahan Telangani
maqbara and the Mubarak Shah Sayyid maqbara with some
modifications.
It has a fuller dome on a raised seat surrounded by chhatris.
Each of the octagonal side has a three-arch opening, bordered by
inclined columns at each corner. This is arguably the best
example of Sayyid monuments.
The tomb is beautifully ornamented and some of the orginal
coloured plaster-work is still visible.

Lodi Dynasty (1451-1557)

The Lodis introduced the concept of double domes built one

upon the other, leaving some space in between.
Two different types of tombs with octagonal and square plans
respectively began to be constructed.
The Tombs of Sikander Lodi (d.1517 AD) is of the octagonal
type.
The square tombs are represented by such monuments as the
Bara Khan Ka Gumbad, Chota Khan Ka Gumbad, Bara
Gumbad (1494 AD), Shish Gumbad, Dadi Ka Gumbad and the
Poli ka Gumbad.
The Tomb of Isa Khan (1547 AD), the Tomb of Adham Khan
(1561 AD), Moth ki Masjid (c.1505 AD), Jamala Masjid (1536
AD) and the Qila-i-Kuhna Masjid (c.1550 AD) belong to the
final phase of the Delhi style of architecture.

Gumbads of the Lodis

Gumbads Domes
These are tomb structures
Large and impressive boat keel profiled
domes crowning the tombs
outstanding architectural features

Garden tombs of Lodi

Double Dome outer dome to splendid
heights, without allowing the inner chamber to
appear un proportionately tall.
Inner and outer dome with void inside
perfect proportion in interior as well as
exterior
Ornamental garden tombs in gardens, formal
and elaborate arrangement.

Tomb of Sikander Lodi (1518 AD)

A copy of tomb of Mubarak Sayyid, the kiosks
being removed and replaced by semi
minarets called Gulsastas attached the base
Placement of tomb within a garden, Lodi
Gardens in New Delhi a formal and
elaborate arrangement along with impressive
gateways clue for the development of
Garden and tomb of the Mughals

Garden tomb of Sikander Lodi

Garden tomb of Sikander Lodi

Sikandar Lodi was the second of the Lodi sultans, who had built his
capital in Sikandarabad near Agra. His maqbara (tomb) was built in
1517-18 in the Sayyid-Lodi style of octagonal tombs.
This maqbara is similar in design to the Muhammad Shah Sayyid
maqbara in the South-West corner of the Lodi Garden, except that:
a) A large wall enclosure surrounds the tomb, of which the western
wall serves the purpose of a mosque
b) There are no chhatris around the dome
c) The dome is a double-dome
d) At the top of the dome, there is a lotus in stead of a small chhatri

Garden tomb of Sikander Lodi

Further into the gardens, are remains of a
watercourse connected to the Yamuna River to
Sikander Lodi's tomb.
The tomb of Mohammed Shah, the last of the
Sayyid dynasty rulers, the earliest of the tombs
in the garden, was built in 1444 by Ala-ud-din
Alam Shah as a tribute to Mohammed Shah.

Bara Gumbad
Bara Gumbad, or Big Dome, consist of a square tomb with a predominant white
dome, built during the Lodi period (1451-1526).
it consists of a large rubble-construct dome, it is not a tomb but a gateway to an
attached a three domed masjid (mosque), both built in 1494 during the reign of
Sikander Lodi, there is also a residence surrounding a central courtyard, where the
remains of a water tank can be seen.

 There is also Bara

Gumbad Mosque,
with three domes and
five arched openings.
The interior of the
mosque is heavily
decorated with florals,
geometric designs and
holy inscriptions.
The hall in front of the
mosque served as a
guest house.
There are remains of a
water tank in the
courtyard.

Bara Gumbad Mosque

Bara Khan Ka Gumbad

Sheesh Gumbad
Opposite theBara
Gumbad is
the Sheesh
Gumbad ("Glass
dome") for the
glazed tiles used in
its construction,
which contains the
remains of an
unknown family,
this was also built
during the reign of
Sikander Lodi.

Chota Khan Ka Gumbad

Sited next to the larger Bara
Khan Tomb, this square-plan
tomb has a double-storey
division on the exterior, with a
central liwan projecting out on
each faade.
The spandrels of the portal
arch are decorated with carved
stucco.
Its high dome is flanked by
four hexagonal roof kiosks
(chhatri) at the corners.
The interior has a mihrab
niche on the western side,
decorated with a lamp motif.

Moth-ki- masjid (1505 AD)

 "Pavilion" tombs are open tombs

also known as chattris (literally
"umbrellas") or twelve-pillared
tombs.
They were present in Tughlaq
architecture, such as in Shah
Alam's tomb enclosure and the
Hauz Khas madrasa and carried
on into the Lodhi period.

Tughlaq-era pavilion tombs

(second half of 14th c.) at the
Hauz Khas madrasa

Pavilion Tombs

THE SURIS (1540 1555 AD)

An Afghan usurper, Sher Shah Sur seizes the

throne of Delhi in 1540 AD for 15 years period
results in Humayuns exile to Persia
Built Purana Qila or Old Fort (the sixth Delhi)
a walled enclosure of considerable size
forming citadel
Inspired by Lodis use of Lodi prototype

The history of Old Fort (purana quila)

The Old Fort is one of the most
visited tourist places of Delhi.
Purana Qila is a citadel which was
partly raised by Afghan ruler Sher
Shah Suri, who was temporarily
deposed Humayun.
Sher Shah made a major contribution
to public works, built the Qila Kunha
Mosque and the Sher Mandal within
the citadel in 1541 A.D.
The purpose of the later is not quite
clear though it is thought that
Humayun housed his library there.
He fell on it's steep stairs while
answering the call to prayer, and died
as a result three days later.

Located at the highest point of the Old

Fort in Delhi known as Purana Qil'a,
Sher Mandal may have been built by
Mughal emperor Humayun as an
astronomical library and pleasure tower
during his rule in Delhi between 1530
and 1556, which was interrupted for
fifteen years by the Afghan Suri
Dynasty.
Some historians attribute it to Suri
ruler Sher Shah Sur (1540-1545) based
on vague references to the building in
his biography Tarikh-i-Sher Shahi,
commissioned by Mughal emperor
Akbar in 1579.
There is no epigraphical evidence to
support either claim.

Sher mandal

In any case, Sher Mandal along with Qila-iKuhna Masjid, is one of two surviving
structures within the fort ramparts from the
mid sixteenth century.
The building is a two story octagonal
structure crowned with a pillared and
domed pavilion (chattri).
Built entirely of local red sandstone, both
stories are punctuated with deeply recessed
arched niches on each side of the octagon.
While the niches on the second story are
connected to form a verandah around a
central chamber, those on the lower story
only allow for entry arches into the tower.
The upper chamber is cruciform in plan and
opens into a verandah through four doors.
Continuous eaves (chajja) runs below the
roof parapet.

Sher mandal

Quila Kunha Masjid

Inside the fort Qila Kuhna Masjid which is one of the
finest example of architectural style being used in those
days.
The Masjid was built by Sher Shah in 1541 and it seems
that there was an attempt to build the whole structure in
Marble.
But the scarcity of marble forced the use of Redsand
stone.
This mixture was accidental forced or intended we do
not know, nevertheless the combination adds a different
look to the structure.
The inner west wall of the Masjid has five arched
openings and which are richly ornamented in white and
black marbles.

Quila Kuhna Masjid

Tomb of Sher Shah Suri, Sasaram, Bihar (cir. 1540 AD)

His tomb is an example of Indo-Islamic architecture, it was
designed by the architect Aliwal Khan and built between 1540
and 1545, this red sandstone mausoleum (122 ft high), which
stands in the middle of an artificial lake, which is nearly square.
The tomb stands at the centre of the lake on a square stone plinth
with domed kiosks, chhatris at each of its corners, further there
are stone banks and stepped moorings on all sides of the plinth,
which is connected to the mainland through a wide stone bridge.
The main tomb is built on octagonal plan, topped by a dome, 22metre in span and surrounded ornamental domed kiosks which
were once covered in coloured glazed tile work.
The tomb was built during the reign of his son Islam Shah.
An inscription dates its completion to August 16, 1545, three
months after the death of Sher Shah.

Tomb of Sher Shah Suri, Sasaram, Bihar (cir. 1540 AD)

Lodi prototype as base for design
Octagonal in plan and raised to the height of 45.6 m up on the
square base of 76 m side
Huge pyramidal mass arranged in five distinct stages
Pillared kiosks in each storey
Located in the unique setting, as placed in the middle of 426.7
m sided artificially created water body approached through a
gateway along a causeway
Advanced structure till date with great imaginative efforts
The upper structure (tomb) being placed slightly off in
diagonal way with the lower platform probably due to the
correction of error in the orientation of tomb

Tomb of Sher Shah Suri, Sasaram, Bihar (cir. 1540 AD)

Tomb of Sher Shah Suri, Sasaram, Bihar (cir. 1540 AD)

References

Nath, R. 1978. History of Sultanate Architecture. New Delhi: Abhinav

Publications.

Williams, John A. and Caroline. 1980. Architecture of Muslim India: The

Sayyids and the Lodis 1414-1526. Santa Barbara, California: Visual
Education, Inc.

Grover Satih, The Architecture of India (Islamic), Vikas Publishing House

Pvt. Ltd.

Related sites.