Architecture

Stalactite or Muqarnas Design In Arabic and Persian, stalactite is known as muqarnas a honey comb motif constituting a group of small arch cells one on the other reducing its position downward and in Greek stalactite means ‘a deposit of calcium carbonate’. This design is adopted to fill up the space at squinches to give more support to the upper portion. Stucco It is a lime-plaster which contains lime-stone power and the used very thickly on the wall or soffits (ceilings) for making incised, low relief of paintings work. The main purpose of stucco work is to make the surface smooth for good results.

Lotus Lotus represents the ‘principal of growth’ and is an ancient Hindu and Buddhist symbol. It also represented a seat of god because gods do not rest on the earth. During Mughal period in India, it was used as a building profusely in inverted as well as blooming form. Mosaic Mosaic or in lay work is a specialized art of decoration where the pieces of different material such as glass, glazed tiles, semi-precious stone, etc. in different colour are fitted in block or stab of stone/marble on the sketched design with their face downwards and then so that it could fill all empty place/gaps. This work can easily be seen at the monuments.

Gazing Tiles Glazing means to cover the surface of a tile, before cutting the tiles into desired size/design, with the mixture of copper carbonate and silica and it is kept on high continuous heat till a soft crystalline porous friable cake of colour is produced glazy surface has decorative and functional importance. Star of David Six-Pointed star created by a combination of two triangles, is an ancient Indian tantric symbol which represented power and is very important for performing all religious rituals. It is being decorated at spandrels of the arch of most of the Islamic buildings. Chevron (Zigzag Pattern) This is a Persian architecture ornamentation and adopted by the Mughals in India. This design has been created on the nook-shaft/ columns.

Calligraphy Calligraphy in inlay work as well as low relief has been inscribed on the monuments and during Mughal period it got grate attention. The inscriptions are written in Arabic and Persian language by using different script. It is created on the monuments by this way that the size of the word of the lowest band and the highest band look alike because the size is increasing upward. Geometrical Patterns The monuments especially of Mughal period have been decorated with geometrical designs (square, circle, star, etc.) on the drum of the dome, façade, spandrels as well as on the flooring of the main chamber. Finials  The domes of the building have been crowned with beautiful finials either in rubble masonry, marble or metal showing purana-kalasha, lotus, etc. one on the other. Purina-kalasha is a symbol of plenty and creativity.

Iwan (main gateway) Iwan in Islamic architecture, a vaulted space used as an entrance, or, if closed at one end, a hall facing a court in a madrasa or mosque. In India, it is on the eastern side of the mosque and is decorated beautifully with mosaic, glazed tiles, calligraphy, etc. and contains an arched entrance. Mihrab Prayer is performed facing this niche (mihrab) erected in the centre of qibla wall towards mecca direction. Mihrab is decorated beautifully with guranic verses, inlay work, geometrical designee etc.

Squinches This is an architecture device and is created by eliminating the upper corners of a room of the transitional phase of making dome on the terrace. The erection od squinches serves two purposes, firstly it coverts the uppers portion of a square room into an octagonal and secondly it gives a beautiful look at the corners gradually reducing downward from the spherical soffit. This is a typical Persian element. Spandrel  This is upper cornered triangular space on the both side of an arch of the Iwan which is decorative with geometric designs, inverted lotus, arabesque designee or with calligraphy.

Vault Vault is an architectural term for an arched or a series of arches used to provide a space with a ceiling or roof. The parts of a vault exert lateral thrust that requires a counter resistance.  Minar or Minaret  In Arabic Minaret is a place of fire and also a place from which the faithful are called to prayer five times each day by a muezzin, or crier. Such a tower is always connected with a mosque and has one or more balconies or open galleries.

Dome or Gumbad Dome, in architecture, hemispherical structure evolved from the arch, usually forming a ceiling or roof. Domes first appeared as solid mounds and in techniques adaptable only to the smallest buildings, such as round huts and tombs in the ancient Middle East. Arch   Arch is an important element of the building because the whole structure stands or survives on this element. There is different shape of the arches adopted during different times, semi-circular, horse shoe, ogee, engrailed, etc. for this arch, key stone is very important which transfers the weight of upper portion downward on the pillars of the gateway.

Jama Masjid    Inside the Jama Masjid View from Jama Masjid Tower

Jama Masjid is the  largest Mosque of India , it’s the truly a gem to be seem! Jama Masjid has been  registered as UNESCO World Heritage Site , it is the main mosque of Old Delhi. Mughal emperor Shah Jahan has built Jama Masjid, who’s construction was started in 1644 and completed in 1656 .  Ustad Khalil was the architect of Jama Masjid.  Jama Masjid originally named as Masjid Jahan Numa which means "The Mosque commanding a view of the world" and the name Jama Masjid is a reference to the weekly congregation observed on Friday, Jummah, which is usually done in mosque.Around 25,000 people can pray in this mosque during Eid Festival of Muslim religion.   Constructed with the efforts of over 6000 workers for; it has got three gates or entrances, 4 towers and 40 meter high minarets made of red stand-stone and white marble. With a large rectangular courtyard which is around 75 meters by 66 meters. The big hall standing inside the Jama Masjid has 260 pillars beauti

Jama Masjid originally named as Masjid Jahan Numa which means "The Mosque commanding a view of the world".  The words “Jama Masjid” mean  Friday Mosque.       Jama Masjid is located to the west of Lal Quila or Red Fort. It has  3 gates, 4 towers and 2 minarets 40 m in  height .         The mosque was constructed by  6000 workers  and its estimated construction cost stands at  1 million rupees . The courtyard can accommodate  25000 worshippers . The floor is built of  white and black marble . The mosque also houses many relics. Mosque is  260 feet long, 90 feet wide.  Its roof is covered with  3 domes with alternate stripes of black and white.  The arched entrances are actually tablets of white marble,  4 feet long and 2.5 feet wide with inscriptions in black. The minarets are subsequently divided by  3 projecting galleries  with top covered with gold.      

Indo-Islamic architecture in India can be broadly classified into two phases:   The Delhi Sultanate Phase   (Pre-Mughal Phase) and   The Mughal Phase . Due to the contrasting natures of the political setups of the two stages in Islamic history in India, two distinct styles of architecture developed under the two phases. The formative phase of Islamic architecture in India can be said to fall under the Delhi Sultanate phase. The nature of this state, wherein the ruler in Delhi was loosely in control of a federal system of vassal states, often at war with each other and even with the rulers in Delhi themselves meant that each area in India developed its own distinct provincial style. The Mughal Empire was much more centralized, and therefore, under the Mughals a more unified, national architectural style developed. Also, due to the stability and wealth of the Mughal empire, Islamic architecture in India reached its zenith during this period. 

Indo-Islamic Architecture By the end of 12th Century AD the Islamic rule begin in India. In Indian architecture new elements were introduced that includes : use of shapes  (instead of natural forms); inscriptional art using decorative lettering or calligraphy; inlay decoration and use of coloured marble, painted plaster and brilliantly glazed tiles.  In contrast to the indigenous Indian architecture which was of the trabeate order i.e. all spaces were spanned by means of horizontal beams, the Islamic architecture was arcuate i.e. an arch or dome was adopted as a method of bridging a space.  The concept of arch or dome was not invented by the Muslims but was, in fact, borrowed and was further perfected by them from the architectural styles of the post-Roman period.  The Muslims used the cementing agent in the form of mortar for the first time in the construction of buildings in India. They further put to use certain scientific and mechanical formulae, which were derived by experi

Sikh Architecture Sikh Architecture  is a style of  architecture that is characterized with values of  progressiveness, exquisite intricacy, austere beauty and logical flowing lines. Due to its progressive style, it is constantly evolving into many newly developing branches with new contemporary styles. Although Sikh architecture was initially developed within Sikhism its style has been used in many non-religious buildings due to its beauty. 300 years ago, Sikh architecture was distinguished for its many curves and straight lines; Shri Keshgarh Sahib and the Sri Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) are prime examples. Colonial Architecture Colonial architectural styles evolve not only with the architectural beauties of British, but also with the invasion of French, Portuguese and Armenians. Leaving out the several European invasions upon India, men who had left their impact in the country through lofty architectures, it was undoubtedly the British who left a lasting impact o

Indo Islamic Architecture With the coming of Muslims to India, many new features and techniques came to be introduced in buildings. The development of Muslim Style of Architecture of this period can be called the Indo-Islamic Architecture or the Indian Architecture influenced by Islamic Art.  The Indo-Islamic style was neither strictly Islamic nor strictly Hindu. It was, in fact, a combination of Islamic architecture elements to those of the Indian architecture. The architecture of the medieval period can be divided into two main categories - Architecture of the Delhi Sultanate or the Imperial Style and the Mughal Architecture. The Imperial Style developed under the patronage of the Sultans of Delhi. The Mughal Architecture was a blend of the Islamic Architecture of Central Asia and the Hindu Architecture of India. Mughal Architecture Mughal architecture is the type of Indo-Islamic architecture developed by the  Mughals in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries throughout

Hindu Temple Architecture Hindu temple architecture  has many varieties of style, though the basic nature of the  Hindu temple  remains the same, with the essential feature an inner sanctum, the  garbha griha  or womb-chamber, where the primary  Murti  or the image of a deity is housed in a simple bare cell. Ancient Indian temples are classified in three broad types. This classification is based on different architectural styles, employed in the construction of the temples. Three main style of temple architecture are the Nagara or the Northern style, the Dravida or the Southern style and the Vesara or Mixed style. But at the same time, there are also some regional styles of Bengal, Kerala and the Himalayan areas. Buddhist Architecture Buddhism and Jainism introduced the art of rock-cut caves. The caves were cut out of solid rocks and were in two parts, one called the hall of worship or Chaitya and the other the monastry or vihara. The Buddhist and Jain monks lived

Indus Valley Architecture/ Harappan Architecture Harappans are the ancient people who lived in The Indus Valley from about 3300 BC to 1600 BC. The Harappans were advanced for their time, especially in architecture. Each city in the Indus Valley was surrounded by massive walls and gateways. The walls were built to control trade and also to stop the city from being flooded. Each part of the city was made up of walled sections. Each section included different buildings such as: Public buildings, houses, markets, craft workshops, etc Rock Cut Architecture Rock-cut architecture made up of solid rock where it naturally occurs. Rock-cut architecture is designed and made by man from the start to finish. The Rock-cut structures present the most spectacular piece of ancient Indian art specimen. Most of the rock-cut structures were closely associated with various religions and religious activities. In the beginning, remarkable Buddhist and Jain rock-cut structures were b

Different types of architecture found in India. 1. Indus Valley Architecture/ Harappan Architecture 2. Rock Cut Architecture 3. Cave Architecture 4. Hindu Temple Architecture 5. Buddhist Architecture 6. Indo Islamic Architecture 7. Mughal Architecture 8. Sikh Architecture 9. Maratha Architecture 10. Colonial Architecture