Buland Darwaza ( lit. ' High Gate ' ), or the "Door of victory", construction was started in 1573 by Mughal emperor Akbar to commemorate his victory over Gujarat . It is the main entrance to the Jama Masjid at Fatehpur Sikri , which is 43 km from Agra , India .
113-447: Buland Darwaza is the highest gateway in the world and is an example of Mughal architecture . It displays sophistication and heights of technology in Akbar's empire. The Buland Darwaza is made of red and buff sandstone, decorated by white and black marble and is higher than the courtyard of the mosque. The Buland Darwaza is symmetrical and is topped by large free-standing kiosks, which are
226-561: A jauhar , during which women and children within the fortress immolated themselves . A small number of soldiers also collected in Medini Rao's house and killed each other in collective suicide. This sacrifice does not seem to have impressed Babur, who did not express a word of admiration for the enemy in his autobiography. Babur defeated and killed Ibrahim Lodi , the last Sultan of the Lodi dynasty , in 1526. Babur ruled for 4 years and
339-438: A World Heritage Site was built between 1632 and 1653 by the emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal . Its construction took 22 years and required 22,000 laborers and 1,000 elephants, at a cost of 32 million rupees . (corresponding to US$ 827 million in 2015) It is a large, white marble structure standing on a square plinth and consists of a symmetrical building with an iwan (an arch-shaped doorway) topped by
452-554: A cavern on the ridge at Sikri. The mausoleum, constructed by Akbar as a mark of his respect for the Sufi saint, who foretold the birth of his son. The Begum Shahi Mosque is an early 17th-century mosque situated in the Walled City of Lahore , Pakistan . The mosque was built between 1611 and 1614 during the reign of Mughal Emperor Jahangir by his mother, Mariam-Uz-Zamani , and is Lahore's earliest dated Mughal-era mosque. It
565-400: A central dome and outer iwans, raised on a terraced platform. Other public buildings and infrastructure works included roads, milestones (known as kos minar ), caravanserais (inns for merchants and travelers), and bridges. These were more functional in nature and less decorative, though some caravanserais were embellished with elaborate gateways. The architectural patronage of Babur,
678-518: A central place in his life, Babur also approvingly quoted a line of poetry by one of his contemporaries: "I am drunk, officer. Punish me when I am sober". He quit drinking for health reasons before the Battle of Khanwa, just two years before his death, and demanded that his court do the same. But he did not stop chewing narcotic preparations, and did not lose his sense of irony. He wrote, "Everyone regrets drinking and swears an oath (of abstinence ); I swore
791-479: A certain attraction to theology, poetry, geography , history, and biology —disciplines he promoted at his court—earning him a frequent association with representatives of the Timurid Renaissance . His religious and philosophical stances are characterized as humanistic . Babur married several times. Notable among his children are Humayun , Kamran Mirza , Hindal Mirza , Masuma Sultan Begum , and
904-522: A courtyard, and a prayer hall covered by a large central dome flanked by side aisles covered by smaller domes. An example of this is his mosque at Panipat . Agra fort is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Agra , Uttar Pradesh. The major part of Agra fort was built by Akbar from 1565 to 1574. The architecture of the fort clearly indicates the free adoption of the Rajput planning and construction. Some of
1017-642: A day may hope for eternity, but the World endures but an hour. Spend it in prayer for the rest is unseen." Isa was advising his followers not to consider the world as a permanent home and hope for worldly things, as human life is of short duration. Verses from the Quran have been carved in the Naskh (script) along the top. These were drawn by Khwaja Hussain Chishti, a disciple of Sheikh Salim Chishti . Buland Darwaza
1130-581: A defensive position at Khanwa (currently in the Indian state of Rajasthan ), from where he hoped to launch a counterattack later. According to K.V. Krishna Rao, Babur won the battle because of his "superior generalship" and modern tactics; the battle was one of the first in India that featured cannons and muskets. Rao also notes that Rana Sanga faced "treachery" when the Hindu chief Silhadi joined Babur's army with
1243-514: A garrison of 6,000 soldiers. Babur recognised Sanga's skill in leadership, calling him one of the two greatest non-Muslim Indian kings of the time, the other being Krishnadevaraya of Vijayanagara . The Battle of Chanderi took place the year after the Battle of Khanwa. On receiving news that Rana Sanga had made preparations to renew the conflict with him, Babur decided to isolate the Rana by defeating one of his staunchest allies, Medini Rai , who
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#17327731958291356-459: A great ambition to capture the city. In 1497, he besieged Samarkand for seven months before eventually gaining control over it. He was fifteen years old and for him the campaign was a huge achievement. Babur was able to hold the city despite desertions in his army, but he later fell seriously ill. Meanwhile, a rebellion back home, approximately 350 kilometres (220 mi) away, amongst nobles who favoured his brother, robbed him of Fergana. As he
1469-484: A great-great-great-grandson of Timur (1336–1405). Babur ascended the throne of Fergana in its capital Akhsikath in 1494 at the age of twelve and faced rebellion. He conquered Samarkand two years later, only to lose Fergana soon after. In his attempt to reconquer Fergana, he lost control of Samarkand. In 1501, his attempt to recapture both the regions failed when the Uzbek prince Muhammad Shaybani defeated him and founded
1582-456: A large dome and finial . The building's longest plane of symmetry runs through the entire complex except for the sarcophagus of Shah Jahan, which is placed off centre in the crypt room below the main floor. This symmetry is extended to the building of an entire mirror mosque in red sandstone, to complement the Mecca -facing mosque placed to the west of the main structure. Parchin kari ,
1695-652: A method of decoration on a large scale-inlaid work of jewels and Jali work has been used to decorate the structure. The Wazir Khan Mosque was commissioned during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in 1634, and completed in 1642. Considered to be the most ornately decorated Mughal-era mosque, Wazir Khan Mosque is renowned for its intricate faience tile work known as kashi-kari , as well as its interior surfaces that are almost entirely embellished with elaborate Mughal-era frescoes . The mosque has been under extensive restoration since 2009 under
1808-485: A person must follow. Whenever one leaves a good custom, it should be followed. If ancestors leave a bad custom, however it is necessary to substitute a good one." Making clear that to him, the categorical text (i.e. the Quran ) had displaced Genghis Khan's Yassa in moral and legal matters. Babur was an acclaimed writer, who had a profound love for literature. His library was one of his most beloved possessions that he always carried around with him, and books were one of
1921-426: A prayer hall on one side. The prayer hall consisted of a wide vaulted hall fronted by an arcade of monumental arches, with the central archway consisting of a larger iwan rising above the others. The most monumental and elaborate Mughal structures were royal mausoleums, deliberately designed to show off the power and sophistication of their patrons. The classic Mughal tomb was an octagonal or rectangular structure with
2034-652: A semi-dome. The total height of the Gate above the pavement is 176 ft. A Persian inscription on the eastern archway of the Buland Darwaza records Akbar's conquest of Uttar Pradesh and the victory in Gujarat in 1573. On the main gateway, an Islamic inscription written in Persian reads "Isa" ( Jesus ), son of Maryam (Mary) said: "The world is a Bridge, pass over it, but build no houses upon it. He who hopes for
2147-507: A uniform pattern of structure and character, including large bulbous domes, slender minarets at the corners, massive halls, large vaulted gateways, and delicate ornamentation; examples of the style can be found in modern-day Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India and Pakistan. The Mughal dynasty was established after the victory of Babur at Panipat in 1526 . During his five-year reign, Babur took considerable interest in erecting buildings, though few have survived. His grandson Akbar built widely, and
2260-539: A wider space between us and the strong foeman." After his third loss of Samarkand, Babur gave full attention to the conquest of North India, launching a campaign; he reached the Chenab River , now in Pakistan , in 1519. Until 1524, his aim was to only expand his rule to Punjab , mainly to fulfill the legacy of his ancestor Timur, since it used to be part of his empire. At the time parts of North India were part of
2373-421: A year in 1500. Three years later, after Babur's first defeat at Fergana, Aisha left him and returned to her father's household. In 1504, Babur married Zaynab Sultan Begum, who died childless within two years. In the period 1506–08, Babur married four women, Maham Begum (in 1506), Masuma Sultan Begum , Gulrukh Begum and Dildar Begum. Babur had four children by Maham Begum, of whom only one survived infancy. This
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#17327731958292486-570: Is a late Mughal-era mosque in the Walled City of Lahore , Pakistan . Sunehri Mosque was built in 1753 when the empire was in decline, during the reign of Muhammad Shah . The Tomb of Safdar Jung completed in 1754 is one of the last examples of Mughal Architecture. The Khan Mohammad Mridha Mosque is a historical mosque near Lalbagh Fort in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The mosque was built in Atish Khan Mahalla by Khan Mohammad Mridha under
2599-423: Is famed as one of the finest examples of Mughal architecture in India, built during the years 1580 and 1581. The tomb, built in 1571 in the corner of the mosque compound, is a square marble chamber with a verandah. The cenotaph has an exquisitely designed lattice screen around it. It enshrines the burial place of the Sufi saint, Salim Chisti (1478 – 1572), a descendant of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti of Ajmer, who lived in
2712-698: Is generally taken in reference to the Persian word babur ( ببر ), meaning "tiger" or "panther". The word repeatedly appears in Ferdowsi 's Shahnameh and was borrowed into the Turkic languages of Central Asia. Babur's memoirs form the main source for details of his life. They are known as the Baburnama and were written in Chagatai , his first language , though, according to Dale, "his Turkic prose
2825-492: Is highly Persianized in its sentence structure, morphology or word formation and vocabulary." Baburnama was translated into Persian during the rule of Babur's grandson Akbar. Babur was born on 14 February 1483 in the city of Andijan , Fergana Valley , contemporary Uzbekistan. He was the eldest son of Umar Shaikh Mirza II , ruler of the Fergana Valley, the son of Abū Saʿīd Mirza (and grandson of Miran Shah , who
2938-461: Is known for its exquisite fresco decoration of geometric and floral motifs painted on stucco, along with inscriptions of the names of God . The mosque would later influence construction of the larger Wazir Khan Mosque a few decades later. The tomb of I'timād-ud-Daulah, is a mausoleum in the city of Agra in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh . Often described as a "jewel box", sometimes called
3051-656: Is noted for its special buildings- Diwan-i-Aam and Diwan-i-Khas . Another mosque was built during his tenure in Lahore called Wazir Khan Mosque , by Shaikh Ilm-ud-din Ansari who was the court physician to the emperor. It is famous for its rich embellishment which covers almost every interior surface. Overall public works by high nobles of Shah Jahan's amirs included Ali Mardan Khan , Ilmuddin Wazir Khan , Khan-i Dauran Nasiri Khan , and Kartalab Khan Deccani . The Taj Mahal,
3164-467: Is the largest palace in the Fatehpur Sikri seraglio, connected to the minor haramsara quarters. The main entrance is double storied, projecting out of the facade to create a kind of porch leading into a recessed entrance with a balcony. Inside there is a quadrangle surrounded by rooms. The columns of rooms are ornamented with a variety of Hindu sculptural motifs. The Tomb of Salim Chishti
3277-518: The Agra Fort and the Jama Masjid at Delhi , the latter built under the supervision of his Grand Vizier , Saadullah Khan , a Punjabi Muslim , are imposing buildings of his era, and their position and architecture have been carefully considered so as to produce a pleasing effect and feeling of spacious elegance and well-balanced proportion of parts. Shah Jahan also renovated buildings such as
3390-596: The Agra Fort and the Red Fort in Delhi, were enclosed in massive walls reinforced by semi-circular towers and entered via monumental gateways. Inside, the classic Mughal palace was laid out with symmetrical gardens and various pavilions. Open pavilions with rows of cusped arches were a recurring feature. Rich decoration was used to embellish rooms and halls. Gardens were a favourite concern of Mughal emperors, whether they were created as separate, dedicated garden sites or as
3503-513: The Jama Masjid . The principal arch stands in the centre of three projecting sides and topped by a dome. The central arch is broken into three tiers with rows of smaller arches and flat brackets. The great gate itself is plain. The three horizontal panels of buff stone noticeable in the Badshahi Darwaza are also present here. The plain red sandstone spandrels are framed in white marble with a flower-like ornament inlaid in white marble at
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3616-621: The Khanate of Bukhara . In 1504, he conquered Kabul , which was under the putative rule of Abdur Razaq Mirza, the infant heir of Ulugh Beg II . Babur formed a partnership with the Safavid emperor Ismail I and reconquered parts of Turkestan , including Samarkand, only to again lose it and the other newly conquered lands to the Shaybanids . After losing Samarkand for the third time, Babur turned his attention to India and employed aid from
3729-618: The Lahore Fort . High-ranking officials below the emperor were also able to build major monuments, as with the example of the Wazir Khan Mosque . The last of the great Mughal patrons was Aurangzeb , who built the Badshahi Mosque , Bibi Ka Maqbara , Moti Masjid etc. Mughal emperors and elites consciously used architecture as a way to publicly display their presence and power. The extensive architectural patronage of
3842-603: The Moti Masjid , Sheesh Mahal and Naulakha pavilion , which are all enclosed in the Lahore Fort . He also built a mosque named after himself in Thatta called Shahjahan Mosque (not built in the Mughal architecture, but in Safavid and Timurid architecture that were influenced by the Persian architecture ). Shah Jahan also built the Red Fort in his new capital at Shah Jahanabad, now Old Delhi . The red sandstone Red Fort
3955-602: The Taj Mahal at Agra , the tomb of his wife Mumtaz Mahal , under the chief architect Ustad Ahmad Lahori , a Punjabi Muslim . He was said to have personal a preference for white marble in architecture, as in the Taj Mahal. Although some buildings built during his era were made of red sandstone, such as the Red Fort in Delhi, he preferred to use white marble for his private quarters. The Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque) in
4068-485: The architecture of Islamic Persia and Central Asia, and indigenous Hindu architecture . Because earlier Indo-Islamic architecture already borrowed from both Hindu and Islamic architectural styles, certain influences in Mughal architecture can be difficult to attribute to one source or the other. With regards to Hindu architecture, local Rajput palaces were likely a key influence. Early Mughal architecture developed from existing Indo-Islamic architecture while following
4181-430: The chhatris . It also has terrace edge gallery kiosks on the roof, stylised buckler-battlements, small minor-spires, and inlay work with white and black marble. On the outside, a long flight of steps sweeps down the hill giving the gateway additional height. It is 40 meters high and 51 meters from the ground. The total height of the structure is about 54 meters from the ground level. It is a 15-storied high gateway acting as
4294-465: The iwan (a vaulted space open to one side), the use of domes, the pointed four-centred arch , the use of decorative tilework, and the chahar bagh type of garden, along with various other motifs and building layouts. In dome construction, Persian-style squinches were used in some cases, but in other cases the domes were supported by flat beams over the corners of the chamber. Elements of Mughal architecture that demonstrate Hindu influences include
4407-407: The ravine below the palace". During this time, two of his uncles from the neighbouring kingdoms, who were hostile to his father, and a group of nobles who wanted his younger brother Jahangir to be the ruler, threatened his succession to the throne. His uncles were relentless in their attempts to dislodge him from this position as well as from many of his other territorial possessions to come. Babur
4520-468: The " Bachcha Taj ", as the tomb of I'timād-ud-Daulah is often regarded as a draft of the Taj Mahal . Rather than building huge monuments like his predecessors to demonstrate their power, Shah Jahan built elegant monuments. The force and originality of this previous building style gave way under Shah Jahan to a delicate elegance and refinement of detail, illustrated in the palaces erected during his reign at Agra , Delhi and Lahore . Some examples include
4633-499: The 400-year-old city of Dhaka was ignored for many years. Destruction of heritage sites and historical monuments started during Pakistan period on a moderate scale but it gained momentum after independence. Heritage properties suffered destruction during the rule of military regime in Pakistan. Babur Babur ( Persian: [βɑː.βuɾ] ; 14 February 1483 – 26 December 1530; born Zahīr ud-Dīn Muhammad )
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4746-661: The Delhi Sultanate, ruled by Ibrahim Lodi of the Lodi dynasty, but the sultanate was crumbling and there were many defectors. Babur received invitations from Daulat Khan Lodi, Governor of Punjab and Ala-ud-Din, uncle of Ibrahim. He sent an ambassador to Ibrahim, claiming himself the rightful heir to the throne, but the ambassador was detained at Lahore , Punjab, and released months later. Babur started for Lahore in 1524 but found that Daulat Khan Lodi had been driven out by forces sent by Ibrahim Lodi. When Babur arrived at Lahore,
4859-555: The Emperor's aim of achieving social, political and religious integration. The main religious buildings were the huge Jama Masjid and small Tomb of Salim Chisti . Buland Darwaza, also known as the Gate of Magnificence, was built by Akbar in 1576 to commemorate his victory over Gujarat and the Deccan. It is 40 metres high and 50 metres from the ground. The total height of the structure is about 54 metres from ground level. The Haramsara,
4972-630: The Italian technique that is widely known elsewhere. Elements of earlier Indo-Islamic architecture that continued in Mughal architecture are the cusped (multifoil) arches , which appeared earlier in the architecture of Delhi and Gujarat , as well as the do-chala roof, a feature originating in Bengali architecture that was adopted in the architecture of the Bengal Sultanate . Features of Persian or Central Asian (Timurid) influence were
5085-573: The Lahore Fort and also built one of the thirteen gates which were later named after him (Alamgir). The Badshahi Mosque in Lahore, Pakistan, was commissioned by the sixth Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb . Constructed between 1673 and 1674, it is the largest Mughal mosque and the last of the imperial mosques to be built. The mosque is adjacent to the Lahore Fort and is the last in the series of congregational mosques in red sandstone. The red sandstone of
5198-518: The Lodi army marched out and his army was routed. In response, Babur burned Lahore for two days, then marched to Dibalpur, placing Alam Khan, another rebel uncle of Lodi, as governor. Alam Khan was quickly overthrown and fled to Kabul. In response, Babur supplied Alam Khan with troops who later joined up with Daulat Khan Lodi, and together with about 30,000 troops, they besieged Ibrahim Lodi at Delhi. The sultan easily defeated and drove off Alam's army, and Babur realised that he would not allow him to occupy
5311-566: The Mughals was made possible by their considerable wealth, which exceeded that of other contemporary Muslim empires like the Ottomans and Safavids . In the Indian subcontinent, more monuments survive from the Mughal period than any other period. Major monuments of this time include mosques, mausoleums, palaces, gardens, and fortresses. Mughal architecture was derived from three main architectural traditions: local Indo-Islamic architecture ,
5424-688: The Punjab. In November 1525 Babur got news at Peshawar that Daulat Khan Lodi had switched sides, and Babur drove out Ala-ud-Din. Babur then marched onto Lahore to confront Daulat Khan Lodi, only to see Daulat's army melt away at their approach. Daulat surrendered and was pardoned. Thus within three weeks of crossing the Indus River Babur had become the master of Punjab. Babur marched on to Delhi via Sirhind . He reached Panipat on 20 April 1526 and there met Ibrahim Lodi's numerically superior army of about 100,000 soldiers and 100 elephants. In
5537-717: The Safavids to act as a suzerain over him and his followers. Thus, in 1513, after leaving his brother Nasir Mirza to rule Kabul, he managed to take Samarkand for the third time; he also took Bokhara but lost both again to the Uzbeks. Shah Ismail reunited Babur with his sister Khānzāda , who had been imprisoned by and forced to marry the recently deceased Shaybani. Babur returned to Kabul after three years in 1514. The following 11 years of his rule mainly involved dealing with relatively insignificant rebellions from Afghan tribes, his nobles and relatives, in addition to conducting raids across
5650-610: The Shah of Persia. They became "recognized ladies of the royal household." During his rule in Kabul, when there was a time of relative peace, Babur pursued his interests in literature, art, music and gardening. Previously, he never drank alcohol and avoided it when he was in Herat. In Kabul, he first tasted it at the age of thirty. He then began to drink regularly, host wine parties and consume preparations made from opium . Though religion had
5763-549: The Shalimar Gardens were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as they embody Mughal garden design at the apogee of its development. The Shah Jahan Mosque is the central mosque for the city of Thatta , in the Pakistani province of Sindh . The mosque commissioned by Shah Jahan, who bestowed it to the city as a token of gratitude. Its style is heavily influenced by Central Asian Timurid architecture, which
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#17327731958295876-447: The apex of the arch, and a flattish rosette, centered with the narrow panel above it, on either side. The cusped ornament, large and bold in fact, but small and delicate when seen from below, is carried down below the springing of the arch. Two pieces have been broken off from the left hand side and eight from the right. The arch has three actual openings bordered by decorative panels and superimposed by three other arched openings crowned by
5989-602: The author Gulbadan Begum . Babur died in 1530 in Agra and Humayun succeeded him. Babur was first buried in Agra but, as per his wishes, his remains were moved to Kabul and reburied. He ranks as a national hero in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan . Many of his poems have become popular folk songs. He wrote the Baburnama in Chaghatai Turkic ; it was translated into Persian during the reign (1556–1605) of his grandson,
6102-479: The battle that began on the following day, Babur used the tactic of Tulugma , encircling Ibrahim Lodi's army and forcing it to face artillery fire directly, as well as frightening its war elephants. Ibrahim Lodi died during the battle, thus ending the Lodi dynasty. Babur wrote in his memoirs about his victory: By the grace of the Almighty God, this difficult task was made easy to me and that mighty army, in
6215-567: The battle there also and, escaping with a small band of followers, he wandered the mountains of central Asia and took refuge with hill tribes. By 1502, he had resigned all hopes of recovering Fergana; he was left with nothing and was forced to try his luck elsewhere. He finally went to Tashkent , which was ruled by his maternal uncle, but he found himself less than welcome there. Babur wrote, "During my stay in Tashkent, I endured much poverty and humiliation. No country, or hope of one!" Thus, during
6328-503: The ceremonies of fealty?" However, Babur acquired several more wives and concubines over the years, and as required for a prince, he was able to ensure the continuity of his line. Babur's first wife, Aisha Sultan Begum, was his paternal cousin, the daughter of Sultan Ahmad Mirza, his father's brother. She was an infant when betrothed to Babur, who was himself five years old. They married eleven years later, c. 1498–99 . The couple had one daughter, Fakhr-un-Nissa , who died within
6441-437: The city briefly, but he was in turn besieged by his most formidable rival, Muhammad Shaybani , Khan of the Uzbeks. The situation became such that Babar was compelled to give his sister, Khanzada, to Shaybani in marriage as part of the peace settlement. Only after this were Babur and his troops allowed to depart the city in safety. Samarkand, his lifelong obsession, was thus lost again. He then tried to reclaim Fergana, but lost
6554-448: The city, capturing Kabul again and regaining the allegiance of the rebels. Meanwhile, Shaybani was defeated and killed by Ismail I , Shah of Shia Safavid Persia, in 1510. Babur and the remaining Timurids used this opportunity to reconquer their ancestral territories. Over the following few years, Babur and Shah Ismail formed a partnership in an attempt to take over parts of Central Asia. In return for Ismail's assistance, Babur permitted
6667-590: The direction of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture and the Government of Punjab . It is a Mughal garden complex located in Lahore , capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab . The gardens date from the period when the Mughal Empire was at its artistic and aesthetic zenith. Construction of the gardens began in 1641 during the reign of Emperor Shah Jahan , and was completed in 1642. In 1981
6780-455: The early Mughal period of religious violence contributed to introspection and then the transformation in Sikhism from pacifism to militancy for self-defense. According to Babur's autobiography, Baburnama , his campaign in northwest India targeted Hindus and Sikhs as well as apostates (non-Sunni sects of Islam), and an immense number were killed, with Muslim camps building "towers of skulls of
6893-430: The eastern mountains. Babur began to modernise and train his army despite it being, for him, relatively peaceful times. Determined to conquer the Uzbeks and recapture his ancestral homeland, Babur was wary of their allies the Ottomans , and made no attempt to establish formal diplomatic relations with them. He did, however, employ the matchlock commander Mustafa Rumi and several other Ottomans. From them, he adopted
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#17327731958297006-621: The elegant Zinat al-Masjid in Daryaganj was overseen by Aurangzeb's second daughter Zinat-al-Nissa . Aurangzeb's sister Roshan-Ara who died in 1671. The tomb of Roshanara Begum and the garden surrounding it were neglected for a long time and are now in an advanced state of decay. Bibi Ka Maqbara was a mausoleum built by Emperor Aurangzeb, in the late 17th century as a loving tribute to his first wife, Dilras Bano Begum in Aurangabad , Maharashtra . Some accounts suggest that later it
7119-629: The emperor Akbar . Ẓahīr-ud-Dīn is Arabic for "Defender of the Faith" (of Islam ), and Muhammad honours the Islamic prophet . The name was chosen for Babur by the Sufi saint Khwaja Ahrar , who was the spiritual master of his father. The difficulty of pronouncing the name for his Central Asian Turco-Mongol army may have been responsible for the greater popularity of his nickname Babur, also variously spelled Baber , Babar , and Bābor . The name
7232-430: The ever-changing extent of their empire in the Indian subcontinent . It developed from the architectural styles of earlier Muslim dynasties in India and from Iranian and Central Asian architectural traditions, particularly Timurid architecture . It also further incorporated and syncretized influences from wider Indian architecture , especially during the reign of Akbar (r. 1556–1605). Mughal buildings have
7345-425: The first Mughal emperor, is mainly known for its terraced gardens. These gardens, often established in palaces and citadels, were modeled on the Persian chahar bagh ("four gardens") type, in which gardens are geometrically divided into different plots, usually four equal parts. This type followed Timurid antecedents, though the use of water channels as linear dividers may have been a Mughal innovation. Babur himself
7458-451: The first time after Prithviraj Chauhan and advanced on Babur with a grand coalition of 80,000-100,000 Rajputs, engaging Babur in the Battle of Khanwa . Babur arrived at Khanwa with 40,000-50,000 soldiers. Nonetheless, Sanga suffered a major defeat due to Babur's skillful troop positioning and use of gunpowder , specifically matchlocks and small cannons . The Battle of Khanwa was one of
7571-401: The highest-ranking officials and were able to become patrons of architecture as well. The most notable example is Raja Man Singh , a Hindu amir who built both Hindu temples and Muslim mosques and shrines. Under Akbar's successors, there was a shift towards more typically Islamic architectural designs. During the reign of Shah Jahan ( r. 1628–1658 ), a "classical" Mughal style
7684-658: The important buildings in the fort are Jahangiri Mahal built for Jahangir and his family, the Moti Masjid, and Mena Bazaars. The Jahangiri Mahal has a courtyard surrounded by double-storeyed halls and rooms. Humayun's tomb is the tomb of the Mughal Emperor Humayun in Delhi, India. The tomb was commissioned by Humayun's first wife and chief consort, Empress Bega Begum (also known as Haji Begum), in 1569–70, and designed by Mirak Mirza Ghiyas and his son, Sayyid Muhammad, Persian architects chosen by her. It
7797-820: The infidels" on hillocks. There are no descriptions about Babur's physical appearance, except from the paintings in the translation of the Baburnama prepared during the reign of Akbar . In his autobiography, Babur claimed to be strong and physically fit, and that he had swum across every major river he encountered, including twice across the Ganges River in North India . Babur did not initially know Old Hindi ; however, his Turkic poetry indicates that he picked up some of its vocabulary later in life. Unlike his father, he had ascetic tendencies and did not have any great interest in women. In his first marriage, he
7910-405: The instruction of Qadi Ibadullah in 1706 CE. The mosque rises above its surroundings because the tahkhana or underground rooms of the mosque are above grade. The roof of the tahkhana forms the platform on which the mosque is situated. The spacious prayer place before the main mosque is open in all directions allowing air to flow and keep the interior cool. Conservation of invaluable heritage sites in
8023-540: The language, which he is credited with founding, may have influenced Babur in his decision to use it for his memoirs. He spent two months there before being forced to leave because of diminishing resources; it later was overrun by Shaybani and the Mirzas fled. Babur became the only reigning ruler of the Timurid dynasty after the loss of Herat, and many princes sought refuge with him at Kabul because of Shaybani's invasion in
8136-430: The late Mughal period. Decoration was commonly executed in tile or stone. Tilework was more commonly applied to the exterior of buildings and existed in two main types: cuerda seca and mosaic tilework. Cuerda seca tiles were decorated with coloured glazes separated by dark lines, while mosaic tilework consisted of single-coloured tile pieces that were cut and fitted together to create larger patterns. Stonework
8249-419: The local Turkic and Iranian people of Central Asia, and his army was diverse in its ethnic makeup. It included Sarts , Tajiks , ethnic Afghans , Arabs , as well as Barlas and Chaghatayid Turko-Mongols from Central Asia. In 1494, eleven-year-old Babur became the ruler of Fergana, in present-day Uzbekistan, after Umar Sheikh Mirza died "while tending pigeons in an ill-constructed dovecote that toppled into
8362-687: The model of Timurid architecture (based in Central Asia), due in part to the Timurid ancestry of the Mughal dynasty 's founder, Babur . By the late 16th century, a more distinctive Mughal tradition emerged based on the combination of these two sources. Under the reign of Akbar ( r. 1556–1605 ), the use of Hindu architectural elements was especially prolific, including in high-profile construction projects like Fatehpur Sikri . During his reign in particular, non-Muslims were present among
8475-510: The more three-dimensional combination of elements that distinguished earlier Indo-Islamic architecture. The use of colour was also relatively restrained, with emphasis instead on finishing surfaces with high-quality, polished materials. Bulbous domes and ogive arches were among the most prominent recurring elements. In addition to domes and arches, the local tradition of trabeate construction also continued, especially in secular architecture like palaces. Another distinguishing characteristic
8588-541: The mosque. The minarets are 196 feet (60 m) tall. The Mosque is one of the most famous Mughal structures but suffered greatly under the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. In 1993, the Government of Pakistan included the Badshahi Mosque in the tentative list for UNESCO World Heritage Site . Additional monuments from this period are associated with women from Aurangzeb's imperial family. The construction of
8701-519: The most decisive battles in Indian history, more so than the First Battle of Panipat, as the defeat of Rana Sanga was a watershed event in the Mughal conquest of North India. Religiously, Babur started his life as a staunch Sunni Muslim , but he underwent significant evolution. Babur became more tolerant as he conquered new territories and grew older, allowing other religions to peacefully coexist in his empire and at his court. He also displayed
8814-627: The neighbouring Safavid and Ottoman empires. He defeated Ibrahim Lodi , the Sultan of Delhi , at the First Battle of Panipat in 1526 and founded the Mughal Empire. Before the defeat of Lodi at Delhi, the Sultanate of Delhi had been a spent force, long in a state of decline. The rival adjacent Kingdom of Mewar under the rule of Rana Sanga had become the most powerful native power in North India . Sanga unified several Rajput clans for
8927-597: The oath and regret that." Babur was opposed to the blind obedience towards the Chinggisid laws and customs that were influential in Turco-Mongol society: "Previously our ancestors had shown unusual respect for the Chingizid code ( törah ). They did not violate this code sitting and rising at councils and court, at feasts and dinners. [However] Chingez Khan's code is not a nass qati (categorical text) that
9040-638: The royal seraglio in Fatehpur Sikri was an area where the royal women lived. The opening to the Haramsara is from the Khwabgah side separated by a row of cloisters. According to Abul Fazl, in Ain-i-Akbari , the inside of Harem was guarded by senior and active women, outside the enclosure the eunuchs were placed, and at a proper distance there were faithful Rajput guards. Jodha bai Palace
9153-403: The setting for pavilions and mausoleums within larger architectural complexes. They were laid out in a formal manner with terraces, precise divisions, and water features. Mosques were relatively more restrained in their decoration but were built on a grand scale. The typical mosque layout in the classic Mughal era involved a large rectangular courtyard surrounded by an arcade on three sides and
9266-425: The snowy Hindu Kush mountains and capture Kabul from the remaining Arghunids, who were forced to retreat to Kandahar . With this move, he gained a new kingdom, re-established his fortunes and would remain its ruler until 1526. In 1505, because of the low revenue generated by his new mountain kingdom, Babur began his first expedition to India; in his memoirs, he wrote, "My desire for Hindustan had been constant. It
9379-410: The southern entrance of the city of Fatehpur Sikri. The approach to the gate consists of 42 steps. It is semi-octagonal in plan with two smaller triple-storeyed wings on either side, it has three kiosks on its top surrounded by thirteen smaller domed kiosks. There are smaller turrets surrounding the gateway. The expanse is broken by arched niches, small laudas, and marbles which highlights the courtyard of
9492-449: The space of a half a day was laid in dust. After the battle, Babur occupied Delhi and Agra, took the throne of Lodi, and laid the foundation for the eventual rise of Mughal rule in India. However, before he became North India's ruler, he had to fend off challengers, such as Rana Sanga. Many of Babur's men allegedly wanted to leave India due to its warm climate, but Babur motivated them to stay and expand his empire. The Battle of Khanwa
9605-588: The style developed vigorously during his reign. Among his accomplishments were Agra Fort , the fort-city of Fatehpur Sikri , and the Buland Darwaza . Akbar's son Jahangir commissioned the Shalimar Gardens in Kashmir . Mughal architecture reached its zenith during the reign of Shah Jahan , who constructed Taj Mahal , the Jama Masjid of Delhi , the Shalimar Gardens of Lahore , and renovated
9718-431: The tactic of using matchlocks and cannons in the field (rather than only in sieges ), which gave him an important advantage in India. Babur still wanted to escape from the Uzbeks, and he chose India as a refuge instead of Badakhshan , which was to the north of Kabul. He wrote, "In the presence of such power and potency, we had to think of some place for ourselves and, at this crisis and in the crack of time there was, put
9831-462: The ten years since becoming the ruler of Fergana, Babur suffered many short-lived victories and was without shelter and in exile, aided by friends and peasants. Kabul was ruled by Babur's paternal uncle Ulugh Beg II , who died leaving only an infant as heir. The city was then claimed by Mukin Begh, who was considered to be a usurper and was opposed by the local populace. In 1504, Babur was able to cross
9944-500: The treasures he searched for in new conquered lands. In his memoirs, when he listed sovereigns and nobles of a conquered land, he also mentioned poets, musicians and other educated people. During his 47-year life, Babur left a rich literary and scientific heritage. He authored his famous memoir the Bāburnāma , as well as beautiful lyrical works or ghazals , treatises on Muslim jurisprudence (Mubayyin), poetics (Aruz risolasi), music, and
10057-483: The two Mirza brothers. It was then the cultural capital of the eastern Muslim world. Though he was disgusted by the vices and luxuries of the city, he marvelled at the intellectual abundance there, which he stated was "filled with learned and matched men". He became acquainted with the work of the Chagatai poet Mir Ali Shir Nava'i , who encouraged the use of Chagatai as a literary language . Nava'i's proficiency with
10170-626: The use of trabeate constructions, the use of corbel arches instead of arches with voussoirs , and the style of ornately-carved pillars. Jharokha s (projecting balconies), chhatri s (domed kiosks), and chhajja s (wide stone eaves ) are also elements that were borrowed from local Hindu architecture and became very popular in Mughal architecture. Some elements, such as projecting balconies, had parallels in Islamic architecture elsewhere but their specific Mughal forms were of local inspiration. Large fortified citadels or palace complexes, such as
10283-467: The walls contrasts with the white marble of the domes and the subtle intarsia decoration. Aurangzeb's mosque's architectural plan is similar to that of his father, Shah Jahan, the Jama Masjid in Delhi; though it is much larger. It also functions as an idgah . The courtyard which spreads over 276,000 square feet, can accommodate one hundred thousand worshippers; ten thousand can be accommodated inside
10396-488: The west. He thus assumed the title of Padshah (emperor) among the Timurids—though this title was insignificant since most of his ancestral lands were taken, Kabul itself was in danger and Shaybani continued to be a threat. Babur prevailed during a potential rebellion in Kabul, but two years later a revolt among some of his leading generals drove him out of Kabul. Escaping with very few companions, Babur soon returned to
10509-488: Was "bashful" towards Aisha Sultan Begum , later losing his affection for her. Babur showed similar shyness in his interactions with Baburi , a boy in his camp with whom he had an infatuation around this time, recounting that: "Occasionally Baburi came to me, but I was so bashful that I could not look him in the face, much less converse freely with him. In my excitement and agitation I could not thank him for coming, much less complain of his leaving. Who could bear to demand
10622-438: Was able to secure his throne mainly because of help from his maternal grandmother, Aisan Daulat Begum , although there was also some luck involved. Most territories around his kingdom were ruled by his relatives, who were descendants of either Timur or Genghis Khan, and were constantly in conflict. At that time, rival princes were fighting over the city of Samarkand to the west, which was ruled by his paternal cousin. Babur had
10735-497: Was built by chief physician to the Mughal Court, Ilam-ud-din Ansari, who was widely known as Wazir Khan . The baths were built to serve as a waqf , or endowment, for the maintenance of the Wazir Khan Mosque . In Aurangzeb 's reign (1658–1707) squared stone and marble was replaced by brick or rubble with stucco ornament. Srirangapatna and Lucknow have examples of later Indo-Mughal architecture. He made additions to
10848-505: Was consolidated and remained essentially in use until the end of the Mughal period. A certain level of stylistic consistency was achieved throughout the empire at this period thanks to the role of a central department of architects, similar to the imperial architects that existed in the Ottoman Empire. Mughal architecture is distinguished by an elegant style in which careful linear divisions of spaces and surfaces took priority over
10961-496: Was equally fluent in Classical Persian , the lingua franca of the Timurid elite. Some of Babur's relatives, such as his uncles Mahmud Khan (Moghul Khan) and Ahmad Khan, continued to identify as Mongols, and allowed him to use their Mongol troops to help recover his fortunes in the turbulent years that followed. Hence, Babur, though nominally a Mongol (or Moghul in Persian language), drew much of his support from
11074-490: Was fought between Babur and the Rajput ruler of Mewar , Rana Sanga on 16 March 1527. Rana Sanga wanted to overthrow Babur, whom he considered to be a foreigner ruling in India, and also to extend the Rajput territories by annexing Delhi and Agra . He was supported by Afghan chiefs who felt Babur had been deceptive by refusing to fulfil promises made to them. Upon receiving news of Rana Sangha's advance towards Agra, Babur took
11187-634: Was himself son of Timur ) and his wife Qutlugh Nigar Khanum , daughter of Yunus Khan , the ruler of Moghulistan (a descendant of Genghis Khan ). Babur hailed from the Barlas tribe, which was of Mongol origin and had embraced the Turco-Persian tradition They had also converted to Islam centuries earlier and resided in Turkestan and Khorasan . Aside from the Chaghatai language, Babur
11300-510: Was his eldest son and heir, Humayun . Masuma Sultan Begum died during childbirth; the year of her death is disputed (either 1508 or 1519). Gulrukh bore Babur two sons, Kamran and Askari , and Dildar Begum was the mother of Babur's youngest son, Hindal . Babur later married Mubaraka Yusufzai , a Pashtun woman of the Yusufzai tribe. Gulnar Aghacha and Nargul Aghacha were two Circassian slaves given to Babur as gifts by Tahmasp Shah Safavi,
11413-715: Was in the month of Shaban, the Sun being in Aquarius, that we rode out of Kabul for Hindustan". It was a brief raid across the Khyber Pass . In the same year, Babur united with Sultan Husayn Mirza Bayqarah of Herat , a fellow Timurid and distant relative, against their common enemy, the Uzbek Shaybani. However, this venture did not take place because Husayn Mirza died in 1506 and his two sons were reluctant to go to war. Babur instead stayed at Herat after being invited by
11526-529: Was initially buried at Agra, but in 1644 his tomb was moved to one of his favourite gardens in Kabul, now known as the Gardens of Babur . Some of the architectures Babur created in the present-day India includes Aram Bagh in Agra , Lotus Garden in Dholpur and more. In religious architecture, Babur's mosques also followed the designs of earlier Timurid mosques, with a tall central entrance portal ( pishtaq ),
11639-595: Was initially used as a cladding to compliment and finish the look of sandstone buildings, as in Humayun's Tomb , but later it was used on a grander scale to cover entire buildings, as in the Taj Mahal . Brick was sometimes still used for domes and arches, but in these cases it was usually faced with plaster or stone as a finish. Decorative motifs included geometric and floral designs, as well as elaborate inscriptions in Arabic , Persian , and even in local languages during
11752-484: Was introduced after Shah Jahan's campaigns near Balkh and Samarkand . The mosque is considered to have the most elaborate display of tile work in South Asia , and is also notable for its geometric brick work - a decorative element that is unusual for Mughal-period mosques. Shahi Hammam is a Persian-style bath which was built in Lahore , Pakistan , in 1635 C.E. during the reign of Emperor Shah Jahan . It
11865-505: Was marching to recover it, he lost Samarkand to a rival prince, leaving him with neither. He had held Samarkand for 100 days, and he considered this defeat as his biggest loss, obsessing over it even later in his life after his conquests in India. For three years, Babur concentrated on building a strong army, recruiting widely amongst the Tajiks of Badakhshan in particular. In 1500–1501, he again laid siege to Samarkand , and indeed he took
11978-471: Was not a part of the original design of the Jama Masjid , it was erected by Akbar to celebrate his conquest of Gujarat in 1573. 27°05′40″N 77°39′46″E / 27.09444°N 77.66278°E / 27.09444; 77.66278 Mughal architecture Mughal architecture is the type of Indo-Islamic architecture developed by the Mughals in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries throughout
12091-436: Was of high quality and marks one of the most sophisticated aspects of Mughal decoration. Carved stonework included ornately-sculpted pillars and corbels, flat panels carved in low relief with depictions of flowers, and pierced marble screens known as jali s . Pietra dura , known as parchin kari in the Indian subcontinent, was the technique of decorating with inlaid stone. It developed in this region independently from
12204-514: Was succeeded by his son Humayun whose reign was temporarily usurped by the Suri dynasty . During their 30-year rule, religious violence continued in India. Records of the violence and trauma, from Sikh-Muslim perspective, include those recorded in Sikh literature of the 16th century. The violence of Babur in the 1520s was witnessed by Guru Nanak , who commented upon it in four hymns. Historians suggest
12317-504: Was taken care by Azam Shah, son of aurangzeb. It is a replica of the Taj Mahal , and was designed by Ata-Ullah, the son of Ahmed Lahori , who was the principal designer of the Taj Mahal. Lalbagh Fort (also known as "Fort Aurangabad"), a Mughal palace fortress at the Buriganga River in the southwestern part of Dhaka , Bangladesh , whose construction started in 1678 during the reign of Aurangzeb's son Azam Shah. Sunehri Mosque
12430-456: Was the first garden-tomb on the Indian subcontinent . It is often regarded as the first mature example of Mughal architecture. Akbar's greatest architectural achievement was the construction of Fatehpur Sikri , his capital city near Agra at a trade and Jain pilgrimages. The construction of the walled city was started in 1569 and completed in 1574. It contained some of the most beautiful buildings – both religious and secular which testify to
12543-662: Was the founder of the Mughal Empire in the Indian subcontinent . He was a descendant of Timur and Genghis Khan through his father and mother respectively. He was also given the posthumous name of Firdaws Makani ('Dwelling in Paradise'). Born in Andijan in the Fergana Valley (now in Uzbekistan ), Babur was the eldest son of Umar Shaikh Mirza II (1456–1494, governor of Fergana from 1469 to 1494) and
12656-452: Was the ruler of Malwa. Upon reaching Chanderi, on 20 January 1528, Babur offered Shamsabad to Medini Rao in exchange for Chanderi as a peace overture, but the offer was rejected. The outer fortress of Chanderi was taken by Babur's army at night, and the next morning the upper fort was captured. Babur himself expressed surprise that the upper fort had fallen within an hour of the final assault. Seeing no hope of victory, Medini Rai organized
12769-412: Was the use of red sandstone as a building material, along with white marble. This replaced the prominence of brick in earlier Indo-Islamic architecture, though construction materials still varied depending on the region. Sandstone is a very hard material, but local Indian stonemasons were skilled in carving it with intricate detail, which was another distinguishing feature of the Mughal style. White marble
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