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92-686: The Victoria Memorial is a large marble monument on the Maidan in Central Kolkata , having its entrance on the Queen's Way. It was built between 1906 and 1921 by the British Raj . It is dedicated to the memory of Queen Victoria , the Empress of India from 1876 to 1901. It is the largest monument to a monarch anywhere in the world. It stands at 64 acres of gardens and is now a museum under

184-438: 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

276-554: 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

368-400: 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,

460-830: A collection of rare and antiquarian books such as the illustrated works of William Shakespeare , the Arabian Nights and the Rubaiyat by Omar Khayyam as well as books about kathak dance and thumri music by Nawab Wajid Ali Shah . However, the galleries and their exhibitions, the programmatic elements of the memorial do not compete with the purely architectural spaces or voids. The Victoria Gallery displays several portraits of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert , and paintings illustrating their lives, by Winterhalter , Frank Salisbury , and W. P. Frith . These are copies of works of art in England. They include Victoria receiving

552-522: 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

644-404: A great distance, and it is large enough to accommodate twenty or thirty… it is illuminated with spotlights, it flutters with red flags, and it has huge red backcloth upon which Lenin is straining resolutely forward from a thicket of banners. Everything is perfectly under control… as they sit there upon the ground, row after attentive row of them, a brigade of young women to the fore… distantly across

736-539: A group at the Asiatic Society, he admitted that he had always planned to build such a historical museum. The queen's death had provided an appropriate occasion to monumentalize the empire." After Victoria's death on 22 January 1901, Curzon wrote to Lord George Hamilton , the Secretary of State for India on 24 January, noting the "importance of Victoria's matriarchy to promoting loyalist feeling." He proposed

828-456: 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 ,

920-488: A marble statue of Curzon by F. W. Pomeroy . The garden also contains statues of Lord William Bentinck , governor-general of India (1833–1835), George Robinson, 1st Marquess of Ripon , governor-general of India (1880–84), and Rajendra Nath Mookerjee , a pioneer industrialist of Bengal. Following an order of the West Bengal High Court in 2004, an entry fee was imposed for the gardens, a decision welcomed by

1012-652: 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

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1104-583: A pioneering role in the development of many of the Indian languages, particularly Bengali. Government House was built in 1803, the 48-metre (157 ft) high Octerlony Monument in 1828, the museum was started in the Asiatic Society in 1814 but shifted to the present site as the Indian Museum in 1887, St. Paul's Cathedral was built between 1839 and 1847, it was consecrated in 1874, and

1196-426: 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

1288-570: 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

1380-530: 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

1472-415: Is her monument.’ The government officials, princes, politicians, and people of India responded generously to Lord Curzon's appeal for funds, and the total cost of construction of the monument, amounting to one crore, five lakhs of Rupees , was entirely derived from their voluntary subscriptions. The site chosen was near the present-day Raj Bhawan , known at the time as Government House. The construction of

1564-461: 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

1656-656: 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,

1748-533: Is seated on her throne. In the paved quadrangles and elsewhere around the building, other statues commemorate Hastings, Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis , Robert Clive , Arthur Wellesley , and James Broun-Ramsay, 1st Marquess of Dalhousie . To the south of the Victoria, Memorial building is the Edward VII memorial arch. The arch has a bronze equestrian statue of Edward VII by Bertram Mackennal and

1840-716: Is the largest urban park and urban green space in Kolkata city and second largest in the Kolkata metropolitan area as well as in India . Prior to 2013, before the creation of Eco Park it was the largest urban park in India. Its vast stretch of field that includes numerous sporting grounds, including the famous cricketing venue Eden Gardens , several football stadiums and the Kolkata Race Course . In 1758, one year after their decisive win in Battle of Plassey ,

1932-467: 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

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2024-518: 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

2116-596: 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

2208-483: 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 a uniform pattern of structure and character, including large bulbous domes, slender minarets at

2300-618: 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

2392-711: 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

2484-602: 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

2576-535: The Victoria Memorial was erected in 1921. The Maidan is also dotted with many statues and architectural works of British governor generals and other eminent personalities of the British Raj, including Lord Curzon , Kitchener , Roberts , Minto , Northbrook , Canning and others who had known Kolkata well. Two or three of them were erected in the first few years of Indian independence in 1947; it

2668-485: 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

2760-465: 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

2852-468: 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

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2944-545: The 1860s. Legally also, the fort and the Maidan were excluded from the city as per Act 16 of 1847. In 1883–1884 the Maidan, along with grounds of the Indian Museum , hosted the Calcutta International Exhibition . In 1909, H.E.A. Cotton wrote, The great Maidan presents a most refreshing appearance to the eye, the heavy night dew, even in the hot season, keeping the grass green. Many of

3036-539: The British East India Company commenced construction of the new Fort William in the center of the village Gobindapur . The inhabitants of the village were compensated and provided with land in Taltala, Kumartuli and Shovabazar. The fort was completed in 1773. The tiger-haunted jungle which cut off the village of Chowringhee from the river was cleared, and gave way to the wide grassy stretch of

3128-606: 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,

3220-630: 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

3312-573: 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

3404-499: The Maidan and Fort William . The Maidan has been the venue for major political meetings and rallies of all political parties. Geoffrey Moorhouse in 1978 presents a vivid description of a Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) rally on the Maidan: "They generally start about tea time, they rarely finish before nine o’clock… they are masterly exhibitions of organisation… The platform is high so that everyone on it will be visible at

3496-459: The Maidan of which Calcutta is so proud. The formation of this airy expanse and the filling up of the creek which had cut off the settlement in the south, led the European inhabitants to gradually forsake the narrow limits of the old palisades. The movement towards Chowringhee had already been noticeable as early as 1746. The Maidan was initially developed as a 5 square kilometre parade ground for

3588-470: The Maidan people have climbed trees and others are packed standing on top of the Esplanade tram shelters… there must be a hundred thousand here altogether… the leaders come through the guard of honour to the platform…it is only when Promode Dasgupta and Hare Krishna Konar are having their say… theirs is the oratory that sends men delirious with dreams, that can set a rabble to a march of destruction… when

3680-712: The Maidan. For the Indian Football Association , the Maidan has been the nerve centre. The notable venues around the maidan are Rabindra Sadan , the Academy of Fine Arts and Nandan . The oldest road on the Maidan is the Course, extending from the 'Cocked hat' in the north to the Khidirpur bridge. The 'broad gravelled walk' on the west side of that portion is the Red Road, constructed in 1820. To

3772-566: 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 ,

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3864-758: The Prince of Wales, the future Edward VIII . After 1947, some additions were made to the Memorial. A smaller Victoria memorial was also constructed in the Hardoi district in North-Western Provinces (in modern Uttar Pradesh ), which has since been converted into a city club for recreation. Mahatma Gandhi addressed meetings in Hardoi in the 1930s. The architect of the Victoria Memorial

3956-549: 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

4048-613: The Taj Mahal. In design it echoes the Taj Mahal with its dome, four subsidiaries, octagonal-domed chattris , high portals, terrace, and domed corner towers. He also suggested that on the walls might be inscribed in golden letters Victoria’s proclamation of 1858. Around the interior walls of the rotunda of the memorial are a series of twelve canvas lunettes by Frank Salisbury celebrating key moments in Victoria’s life, such as her first Privy Council — moments already mythologized in countless other biographies, prints, and paintings. The gardens of

4140-470: The Victoria Memorial was delayed by Curzon's departure from India in 1905, with a subsequent loss of local enthusiasm for the project. There was also some uncertainty about the strength of the foundations, and tests on them were carried out. On 4 January 1906, George , the Prince of Wales laid the foundation stone . The work of construction was entrusted to Messrs. Martin & Co. of Calcutta, and work on

4232-506: The Victoria Memorial were designed by Lord Redesdale and David Prain . Emerson's assistant, Vincent Jerome Esch , designed the bridge of the north aspect and the garden gates. In 1902, Emerson engaged Esch to sketch his original design for the Victoria Memorial. On top of the central dome of the Memorial is the 16 ft (4.9 m) figure of the Angel of Victory by Esch, which was cast by H.H. Martyn & Co. of Cheltenham. Surrounding

4324-440: The capital of India was transferred to New Delhi. The gallery also has a life-size diorama of Chitpur road in the late 1800s. The gardens at the Victoria memorial cover 64 acres (260,000 m) and are maintained by a team of 21 gardeners. They were designed by Redesdale and David Prain . On Esch's bridge, between narrative panels by Goscombe John , there is a bronze statue of Victoria, by George Frampton . Empress Victoria

4416-468: The centenary of his birth. The cricket stadium at Eden Gardens was built in stages. Netaji Indoor Stadium was later added. The second oldest cricket club named Calcutta Cricket Club was founded in Maidan in 1792, where football and rugby are currently practiced. The world's oldest hockey tournament, Beighton Cup , was instituted in 1895 and is usually held on the Mohun Bagan ground in

4508-401: The center of the room, having been presented to the Victoria Memorial by her son Edward VII. On the south wall hangs the oil painting by Vasily Vereshchagin of the state entry of the Prince of Wales into Jaipur in 1876. In the mid-1970s, the matter of a new gallery devoted to the visual history of Kolkata was promoted by Saiyid Nurul Hasan , the minister for education. In 1986, Hasan became

4600-785: The city's most popular tourist attractions and a hub of leisure and entertainment for Calcuttans. The Maidan stretches from the Raj Bhavan building on the Esplanade in the north to the National Library on Belvedere Road in Alipore in the south. The wide field stretches from the Hooghly River in the west to the Victoria Memorial in the east. Maidan police station is part of the South division of Kolkata Police . Due to

4692-474: The construction of a grand building with a museum and gardens. Curzon said on 26 February 1901 in his address to the Asiatic Society, "Let us, therefore, have a building, stately, spacious, monumental and grand, to which every newcomer in Calcutta will turn, to which all the resident population, European and Native, will flock, where all classes will learn the lessons of history and see revived before their eyes

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4784-592: The control of the Ministry of Culture , Government of India . Possessing prominent features of the Indo-Saracenic architecture , it has evolved into one of the most popular attractions in the city. According to historian Durba Ghosh, Viceroy of India Lord Curzon's "plans for the historical museum that became the Victoria Memorial Hall predated Victoria's death in 1901. When he addressed

4876-410: 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

4968-590: 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

5060-534: The dome are allegorical sculptures including Art , Architecture , Justice , and Charity and above the North Porch are Motherhood , Prudence and Learning . The Victoria Memorial would end up with two statues of Victoria rather than one. George Frampton had been commissioned to produce a statue in Calcutta to commemorate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in 1897. "Cast in bronze and depicts an enthroned and aged Victoria, looking down on her world while wearing

5152-507: 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

5244-463: The fine trees with which it was once studded were blown down in the cyclone of 1864. But they have not been allowed to remain without successors, and the handsome avenues across the Maidan still constitute the chief glory of Calcutta. Dotting the wide expanse are a number of fine tanks, from which the inhabitants were content in former days to obtain their water-supply. The park is considered the historical and cultural center of Kolkata, as well as one of

5336-425: 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

5428-451: The forces. While the Europeans moved to the area around the Maidan, the Indians moved away from the area. The richer families such as the Debs moved to Sobhabazar, the Tagores to Pathuriaghata and Jorasanko , and the Ghosals to Bhukailash ( Khidirpur ). Although the army has owned the Maidan since it was developed, administering it was one on the long list of duties of the police. Thieves, both Indian and European, were there as early as

5520-448: The freshness and greenery it provides to the metropolis, it has been referred to as the "lungs of Kolkata". In Bengali, the maidan is called 'Garh-er maath'. 'Garh', in Bengali, means fort and its meaning literally translates to the 'fort's ground'. The Maidan hosts the army's Eastern zone high command in historic Fort William . On Council House Street, at one corner of the Maidan, was the long-defunct Fort William College , which played

5612-427: The general public except for few voices of dissent. Maidan (Kolkata) Maidan ( lit.   ' open field ' ; Bengali : ময়দান ) is a large urban area containing vast urban green space , parks, playgrounds and several public venues in the center of Kolkata , India . The area is spread over a total area of 1283 Acres. The urban green space of Maidan, which compromises an area of around 400 acres,

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5704-411: The governor of West Bengal and chairman of the Victoria Memorial board of trustees. In November 1988, Hasan hosted an international seminar on the Historical perspectives for the Kolkata tercentenary . The Kolkata gallery concept was agreed and a design was developed leading to the opening of the gallery in 1992. The Kolkata gallery houses a visual display of the history and development of Kolkata when

5796-401: 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

5888-524: 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

5980-405: 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

6072-430: 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

6164-456: The marvels of the past; and where father shall say to son and mother and daughter — ‘This Statue and this great Hall were erected in memory of the greatest and best Sovereign whom India has ever known. She lived far away over the seas, but her heart was with her subjects in India, both of her own race, and of all others. She loved them both the same. In her time, and before it, great men lived, and great deeds were done. Here are their memorials. This

6256-520: 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

6348-510: 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

6440-417: 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

6532-418: The robes of the Star of India and holding the orb and sceptre ." It arrived in Calcutta in 1902 and was unveiled on the maidan by Lord Curzon. In January 1914, Curzon commissioned Thomas Brock , who had also created the Victoria Memorial in London to produce a statue of Victoria in her coronation robes to serve as the 'keynote' of the central hall. The bronze gate at the entrance to the memorial, bearing

6624-433: The royal coat of arms, was also cast by Martyns. The Victoria Memorial has 25 galleries. These include the royal gallery, the national leader's gallery, the portrait gallery, central hall, the sculpture gallery, the arms and armory gallery, and the newer, Kolkata gallery. The Victoria Memorial has the largest single collection of the works of Thomas Daniell (1749–1840) and his nephew, William Daniell (1769–1837). It also has

6716-638: 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

6808-820: The sacrament at her coronation in Westminster Abbey in June 1838; Victoria's wedding to Prince Albert in the Chapel Royal at St James's Palace in 1840; the christening of the Prince of Wales in St. George's Chapel , Windsor Castle , 1842; the wedding of the Prince of Wales to Alexandra of Denmark in 1863; and paintings of Victoria at the service for her Golden Jubilee at Westminster Abbey in 1887 and her Diamond Jubilee service at St Paul's Cathedral in June 1897. Queen Victoria's childhood rosewood pianoforte and her correspondence desk from Windsor Castle stand in

6900-403: 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

6992-667: The south of the fort is the Ellenborough Course, meant for horse exercises, and towards the east is the Race Course, started in 1819. That was the scenario a century back. The metro stations bordering the Maidan as one travels from the south are Victoria (under construction), Rabindra Sadan , Maidan , Park Street and Esplanade . The Howrah Bridge is away from the Maidan, but the Vidyasagar Setu (Second Hooghly Bridge) overlooks at least one corner of

7084-521: The speeches are done, the leaders begin to sing the Internationale … all over the crowd torches are swiftly lit and held high in flaring salute…" Cited sources Further reading Mughal architecture Mughal architecture is the type of Indo-Islamic architecture developed by the Mughals in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries throughout the ever-changing extent of their empire in

7176-588: 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

7268-516: The superstructure began in 1910. In 1911, before construction was finished, George V , the Emperor of India , announced the transfer of the capital of India from Calcutta to New Delhi . Thus, the Victoria Memorial would come to stand in what would be a major provincial capital, rather than the national capital. The Victoria Memorial was completed and formally opened to the public in December 1921 by

7360-626: 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

7452-467: 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

7544-447: Was William Emerson (1843–1924). The design is in the Indo-Saracenic style , mixing British and Mughal elements with Venetian , Egyptian , and Deccani architectural influences. The building is 338 by 228 feet (103 by 69 m) and rises to a height of 184 feet (56 m). It is constructed of white Makrana marble . Curzon deliberately intended the central chamber to be sixty-four feet in diameter in order to be slightly larger than

7636-497: 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

7728-505: 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

7820-632: 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 ),

7912-595: 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

8004-484: 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

8096-425: Was not until 1983 that the last 16 were removed. Over time, statues of Indians, including Mahatma Gandhi , Ram Mohan Roy , Chittaranjan Das , Jawaharlal Nehru , Subhas Chandra Bose , Sri Aurobindo , Matangini Hazra , Pritilata Waddedar , Indira Gandhi , and Gostho Pal, were erected to occupy the vacant plinths or plots. At the north-east corner of the Esplanade stands a statue of Lenin , set up to celebrate

8188-436: 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

8280-504: 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

8372-456: 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

8464-412: 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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