1. Module – 3
Islamic architecture under
Imperial style
Dr. Binumol Tom
Professor
Dept. of Architecture,
College of Engineering,
Trivandrum

2. Islamic architecture under Imperial style
• Slave, Khalji, Tughlak, Sayyid, Lodi and Sher
Shah Suri- Minarets, Tomb, Mosques in
Afghanistan, Delhi and Sasaram;

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

4. Slave Dynasty - 1206 to 1290.
First Muslim dynasty to rule India.
• Muhammad Ghori
• Qutub-ud-din Aibak descended the throne.
The first ruler of the slave dynasty was Qutub-ud-din Aibak who ruled from 1206 to
1210. He established his capital at two places, first at Lahore and then shifted it to Delhi.
It was during his reign that the construction of the famous Qutub Minar started. He was
succeeded by his son Aram Shah but due to his incompetence, he was defeated in just
one year by Iltumish.
Iltumish - 1211 to 1236.
Under his strong governance, the slave dynasty was able to find a strong footing and
establish itself as an important kingdom. It was during his reign that the construction of
Qutub Minar got completed. After ruling successfully for a period of 25 years, he died,
but nominated his daughter Raziya Sultan as the heir to the throne. She was an able ruler,
but since she was a woman, she faced stern opposition from nobles who got her
murdered.
Ghiyasuddin Balban
The last effective emperor of the slave dynasty was Ghiyasuddin Balban. He ruled from
1266 to 1286. During his reign, the administration was strengthened and he paid much
attention to governance in his empire. The army was trained effectively to use weapons
and the production of arms and other war weaponry was at its peak. This is what helped
them fight against attacks by the Mongols. He died in 1286 and after him the slave
dynasty collapsed.

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

6. Base – 47ft diameter
Top – 9ft
Central staircase – 360 steps
circle and star edged projections
circle projections
stellar
plain circle

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

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

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

15. Tomb of Iltumish

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

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

21. • Iltutmish constructed the
tomb for his son Nasir-
ud-din Mohammed - the
so-called Sultan Ghari or
'Sultan of the Cave'.
• This is probably due to
the subterranean tomb
chamber.
• The octagonal platform For the first time in India a strange
and novel way of laying the dead to
above was probably eternal rest - burying them with a
intended to support a tomb as a monumental cenotaph.
pillared pavilion, the
whole of which has
disappeared or was never
built.

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

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

25. Colonnade inside Sultan Ghari

26. • Ghiyas ud din Balban‟s
Tomb of Balban,
Tomb (12th Century) at Mehrouli
Mehrauli has great
architectural importance
since it is the first true arch
ever built in India.
• Balban was the third
sultanate ruler of importance.
He was a brilliant
administrator and is known
in history as a dynamic ruler
who consolidated territories.
• Balban‟s tomb has a multi-
chambered tomb and key
stone was used for the
construction of the arches,
making it very unique.

27. Tomb of Balban

28. Ruins of the Tomb of Balban

29. Khalji Dynasty 1290 - 1320
• Firoz Jallal –ud – din Khalji (1290) – ascended the throne of Delhi at the
age of 70
• Ala-ud-din Khalji – murdered Jallal-ud-din – crowned himself the King
• He stamped out the last embers of Hindu rule (by annexing Gujarat,
Ranthambor and Chittoor
Architectural projects – marks the evolution of another innovative feature in
the Indo-Islamic architecture.
• Alai Darwaza at Qutb complex (Darwaza near the Qutub Minar which
served as an entrance gateway to the mosque at the Qutub complex )
• Alai Hauz at Hauz Khas (reservoir at Hauz Khas around 1311AD)
• New city of Siri fort (second city of Delhi )
• Alai minar
• Jamat Khana Masjid near Nizamuddin in Delhi
• Ukha Masjid in Bharatpur in Rajasthan were also built during this period.

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

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

33. Qutb complex with extensions carried out by
Ala-ud-din Khalji

34. Qutb complex with extensions carried out by
Ala-ud-din Khalji

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

36. Alai Minar

37. 8 cities of
Delhi
5
6
1. Lalkot
2. Siri
3. Tughlakabad
4. Jahanpanah
5. Firozabad
2
6. Purana Quila
4 7. Shahjahanabad
1
3 8. New Delhi

38. Tughlaq Dynasty(1320-1413)
• The rulers of the Tughlaq Dynasty
also undertook considerable
construction activities, including
building three of the seven ancient
cities of Delhi.
• Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq (1320-1325
AD) built Tughlaqabad, the third
city of Delhi, in 1321-23 AD.
• The Tomb of Ghiyasuddin
Tughlaq, built of red sandstone, is
an irregular pentagon in its
exterior plan and its design is of
the pointed or "Tartar" shape and
is crowned by a finial resembling
the kalasa and amla of a Hindu
temple.

40. Tomb of Giyasudin Tughaq
• Walls made an angle of 75degree with
ground (multan influence)
• Plan based on the contours of the site
• Tomb is connected to the fortress by a
250 yards (228.6m) causeway, built
over what at one time would have
been a sheet of water, today dry land
• Square tomb – 61 ft side
• Height – 80 ft
• Arch and lintel construction – mixed
attitude of the hindu builders to
arched and lintel and beam method
• True arch + redundant stone lintel
intalled just below the springing of
the arch

42. Tughlaq Dynasty(1320-1413)
• Delhi's fourth city Jahanpanah was built by Mohammad-bin-Tughlaq in mid-
14th century.
• Feroz Shah Tughlaq (1351-1388 AD) was undoubtedly the greatest builder among all
the rulers of the Tughlaq dynasty. He himself wrote in Fatuhat-i-Feroz Shah "among
the gifts which God bestowed on me, His humble servant, was a desire to erect public
buildings".
• He built Ferozabad, Delhi's fifth city, in 1354 AD. The famous Firoz Shah Kotla
ground is the only remnant of its past glory.
• Feroz Shah Tughlaq is also credited with founding the fortified cities of Jaunpur,
Fathabad and Hissar.

44. Citadel of Firoz shah kotla
• 800 m X 400m
• Private palaces, mosques, harems of royal court, gardens, baths, tanks, barracks,
armory, servant quarters E River Yamuna
Diwani khas
Diwan-i-am
Main entrance
W

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

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

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

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

52. Khirki masjid

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

56. Hauz Khas Complex
• The etymology of the name Hauz Khas in Urdu language is derived from the words
„Hauz‟: “water tank” (or lake) and „Khas‟:“royal”- the “Royal tank”. Hauz
Khas, South Delhi houses a water tank, an Islamic seminary, a mosque, a tomb and
pavilions built around an urbanized village with medieval history traced to the 13th
century of Delhi Sultanate reign.
• The large water tank or reservoir was first built by Khalji {the plaque displayed
(pictured in the gallery) at the site records this fact} to supply water to the
inhabitants of Siri.
• It was part of Siri, the second medieval city of India of the Delhi Sultanate
of Allauddin Khilji Dynasty (1296–1316).

57. Hauz Khas
The tank was de–silted during the reign
of Firuz Shah Tughlaq(1351–88). Several
buildings (Mosque and madrasa) and tombs
were built overlooking the water tank or lake.
Firuz Shah‟s tomb pivots the L–shaped
building complex which overlooks the tank

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

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

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

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

63. Octagonal tomb
of Telangani

64. Sayyid Dynasty (1414-1444)
• In the 14th century under the Timurid rulers, Islamic architecture underwent
a change.
• The narrow horseshoe arch was replaced by the true arch, an idea imported
directly from Persia. However, Indian masons weren‟t completely
convinced of its holding power.
• They began using wooden beams as supports, and eventually the four-
centred arch minus the beam support came into vogue.
• During the Sayyid and the Lodi Dynasties, more than fifty tombs of
different sizes were constructed.
• The Tombs of Mubarak Sayyid (d. 1434 AD), Muhammad Sayyid (d.1444
AD) are of the octagonal type.

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

66. Tomb of Mubarak Sayyid (1434 AD)
• Enlargement and refinement of the proportions
of Tughlaq prototype
• 9 m long side of octagon with arched
colonnade
• The merlons on the parapet and kiosks above
the verandahs
• 15 m high dome squatly placed over 21 m
wide octagonal base – improved in tomb of
Muhammed Sayyid a decade later

67. Tomb of Mubarak Sayyid

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

71. Lodi Dynasty (1451-1557)
• The Lodis introduced the concept of double domes built one
upon the other, leaving some space in between.
• Two different types of tombs with octagonal and square plans
respectively began to be constructed.
• The Tombs of Sikander Lodi (d.1517 AD) is of the octagonal
type.
• The square tombs are represented by such monuments as the
Bara Khan Ka Gumbad, Chota Khan Ka Gumbad, Bara
Gumbad (1494 AD), Shish Gumbad, Dadi Ka Gumbad and the
Poli ka Gumbad.
• The Tomb of Isa Khan (1547 AD), the Tomb of Adham Khan
(1561 AD), Moth ki Masjid (c.1505 AD), Jamala Masjid (1536
AD) and the Qila-i-Kuhna Masjid (c.1550 AD) belong to the
final phase of the Delhi style of architecture.

72. Gumbads of the Lodis
• Gumbads – Domes
• These are tomb structures
• Large and impressive boat keel profiled
domes crowning the tombs – outstanding
architectural features

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

74. Tomb of Sikander Lodi (1518 AD)
• A copy of tomb of Mubarak Sayyid, the kiosks
being removed and replaced by semi –
minarets called Gulsastas attached the base
• Placement of tomb within a garden, Lodi
Gardens in New Delhi – a formal and elaborate
arrangement along with impressive gateways
– clue for the development of “Garden and
tomb” of the Mughals

75. Garden tomb of Sikander Lodi

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

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

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

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

81. Bara Khan Ka Gumbad

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

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

84. Moth-ki- masjid (1505 AD)

85. • "Pavilion" tombs are open Pavilion Tombs
tombs also known
as chattris (literally
"umbrellas") or twelve-
pillared tombs.
• They were present in Tughlaq
architecture, such as in Shah
Alam's tomb enclosure and
the Hauz Khas madrasa and
carried on into the Lodhi
period.
Tughlaq-era pavilion tombs
(second half of 14th c.) at the
Hauz Khas madrasa

86. THE SURIS (1540 – 1555 AD)
• An Afghan usurper, Sher Shah Sur seizes the
throne of Delhi in 1540 AD for 15 years period
– results in Humayun‟s exile to Persia
• Built Purana Qila or Old Fort (the sixth Delhi)
– a walled enclosure of considerable size
forming citadel
• Inspired by Lodis – use of Lodi prototype

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

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

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

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

92. Quila Kuhna Masjid

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

95. Tomb of Sher Shah Suri, Sasaram, Bihar (cir. 1540 AD)
• Lodi prototype as base for design
• Octagonal in plan and raised to the height of 45.6 m up
on the square base of 76 m side
• Huge pyramidal mass arranged in five distinct stages
• Pillared kiosks in each storey
• Located in the unique setting, as placed in the middle of
426.7 m sided artificially created water body
approached through a gateway along a causeway
• Advanced structure till date with great imaginative
efforts
• The upper structure (tomb) being placed slightly off in
diagonal way with the lower platform probably due to
the correction of error in the orientation of tomb

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

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

98. References
• Nath, R. 1978. History of Sultanate Architecture. New Delhi: Abhinav
Publications.
• Williams, John A. and Caroline. 1980. Architecture of Muslim India: The
Sayyids and the Lodis 1414-1526. Santa Barbara, California: Visual
Education, Inc.
• Grover Satih, The Architecture of India (Islamic), Vikas Publishing House
Pvt. Ltd.
• Related sites.