MODULE - 2

JAUNPUR AND BENGAL :

1. Atala masjid - (Bengal)

•Name is derived from a temple goddess Atala devi.

•Built in 1408 AD by Shams-ud-Din Ibrahim on a foundation made by Firuz Shah Tughlaq 30

•Constructed on the site of a temple of Atala Devi, which was destroyed.

•One of the first mosques in Jaunpur, inspired by Delhi’s Tughlaq architecture.

•Became a model for future mosques in this style.

•The mosque is a large square, 258 feet on each side.

•The courtyard is 177 feet square, with cloisters on three sides and the prayer hall on the
west.

•Cloisters have five rows of pillars, are two stories high, and are 42 feet wide.

•Lower cloisters have rooms and verandahs for travelers and merchants.

•The prayer hall (sanctuary) is the main structure on the western side.

•It has a tall central tower, 75 feet high and 55 feet wide, with an entrance and windows for
light.

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 2. JAMI MASJID - (Bengal)

•Built in 1464 AD by Husain Shah.

•Reflects grand construction and impressive architectural design, similar to Atala Masjid but
on a larger scale.

•Vault constructed over four pointed arches or transverse ribs, with two on the walls and
two in between.

•Large stone blocks were used for the vault, a significant structural achievement.

•Vault’s weight was supported by 10-foot thick walls, leading to small arched openings on
the eastern side.

•The mosque was built on a 20-foot high platform, with grand domed gateways and steps
leading up to it.

•The courtyard was surrounded by a unique two-story cloister in Hindu trabeated style,
with stacked columns and a flat roof.

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 3. Adina masjid - (Jaunpur)

•Earliest example of a multi-domed, quadrangular mosque in Bengal.

•Built in 1364 during Sikander Shah’s reign in Pandua.

•Mosque size: 507’ x 285’, with a 400’ x 130’ courtyard.

•260 pillars, with five bays on the sanctuary side and three on the other.

•88 arches and 306 domes on the roof.

•Unconventional layout, with the longer side facing west.

•Main entrance at the southeast corner with three open arches.

•Three smaller entrances on the western wall, including access to Badshah-ka-Takht.

•Upper storey reserved for the king and royal women.

•Fluted pillars with lotus capitals from Hindu temples.

•Mihrabs placed along the western wall and in Badshah-ka-Takht.

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 4. Ek lakhi tomb -

•Simple design, reflecting early Mughal architecture.

•Central large dome.

•Decorative chhatri (pavilion) on top.

•Made primarily of red sandstone with some marble details.

•Built on an octagonal base.

•Features arched doorways and windows.

•Minimal decorative floral and geometric motifs.

•Surrounded by a basic garden layout with water channels.

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 5. Dakhil darwaza at gaur -

•Built by Sultan Barbak Shah in 1465 AD as the main entrance to the citadel of Gaur.

•Archway is 10.35 m high, with pylons on either side.

•The archway is deep and wide, with an intermingling of Islamic and regional styles.

•Pylons act as buttresses, supporting the structure.

•Façade width is 73’4”, with a height of 60’.

•Rounded bastions at corners, tapering and topped with cupolas.

•Terracotta ornamentation, including flaming suns and hanging lamps.

•Vaulted passage through the middle, 4.5 m wide.

•Guard rooms on both sides, measuring 22.7 m by 2.9 m, with 4 entrances and 2 exits.

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 6. Bara sona masjid -

•Built in 1526 AD by Sultan Nusrat Shah in Gaur.

•Located at the western side of a raised quadrangle.

•Features eleven arched openings facing an entrance gateway and lake.

•Gateways to the east and north form an open entrance courtyard (200 ft diameter).

•Entrance pylon leads to a verandah and a prayer hall with 44 small domes.

•Mosque made of brick, with plain stone facing and no carvings.

•Parapet height is 20 ft.

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AHMEDABAD AND BIJAPUR -

1. Gol Gumbaz - (Bijapur)

•Tomb of Mohammed Adil Shah, built in 1660 AD.

•Constructed using dark gray basalt rock, finished with plaster.

•External dimensions: 61 meters in height, 44 meters in dome diameter.

•Hall measures 41 meters per side and 54 meters in height.

•Gallery at 33.5 meters above the pavement.

•Architectural elements like arches, cornices, and arcades harmoniously combined.

Dome:

•Dome supported by intersecting arches, creating an innovative construction technique.

•Square base converted into an eight-sided figure.

•Dome set 12 feet back, transferring weight directly downward.

•Made of thick masonry with horizontal brick courses and mortar layers.

•Simple, plain plastered dome with six small openings.

•No formwork used except near the crown.

Interior:

•One large pillarless chamber, one of the largest tomb chambers in India.

•Underground chambers house the main grave.

•Hall rises to 58 feet with intersecting arches supporting the dome.

•Internal height up to the dome is 178 feet, external height is 198 feet.

•12-foot wide gallery surrounds the dome.

Exterior:

•Cube-shaped building with four turreted, seven-story towers at each corner.

•Main walls have three shallow arches, with the central one wider.

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•Cornice projects 12 feet at 83 feet, with a gallery above.

•Hemispherical dome supported by intersecting arches, with foliations at the base.

•Octagonal towers with mini domes at each corner.

2. Jami masjid - (Ahmedabad)

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•Built by Ahmad Shah I, the mosque has a grand path leading to it.

•The mosque has a central courtyard, sanctuary on the west, and cloisters on three sides.

•The facade has three large arches with rich buttresses.

•The central arch is the most prominent, supported by slender minarets (now missing their
tops).

•The mosque has 300 tall, slender pillars.

•Arches are curved with geometric patterns and inscriptions.

•A Zenana Gallery for royal women is included in the design.

•The sanctuary has a nave and aisles.

•The mosque’s design is known for its balanced proportions and fine details.

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Civic space-

3. Teen Darwaza -

•Teen Darwaza connects Ahmad Shah’s palace to the Jami Masjid.

•It has three arches, is 37 feet tall, 80 feet wide, and 45 feet deep.

•The central arch is 17 feet wide, and the side arches are 13 feet wide.

•It leads to the Maidan Shah courtyard with a fountain and raised terrace.

•The gateway has decorated buttresses between the arches.

•The terrace on top was once roofed, but was opened in 1877.

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 4. Sarkhej roza -

•Sarkhej Roza is a mosque and tomb complex located 7 km southwest of Ahmedabad.

•It is the most revered Roza in Gujarat.

•The site was a center of Sufi culture, linked to Shaikh Ahmed Ganj Baksh.

•The architecture blends Islamic and Hindu styles, with domes, pillars, and brackets.

•Instead of arches, pierced stone trellises provide stability.

•The mosque courtyard creates a religious atmosphere, and the tombs and palaces are
royal.

•The tank, platforms, and pavilions were used by common people.

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 5. Ibrahim rauza-

•Ibrahim Rauza is the tomb of Ibrahim Adil Shah II and his queen, located outside Bijapur.

•It consists of a tomb and mosque on a raised platform, with a garden and fountain.

•The tomb is on the east and mosque on the west, placed symmetrically.

•The buildings are decorated with carvings and Quranic inscriptions.

•The tomb has a 40’ square chamber and a unique ceiling supporting the dome.

•The complex is known for its symmetry and ornamentation.

•The tomb’s walls are covered in Quranic inscriptions.

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•Minarets with spherical cupolas are part of the structure.

•The tomb has a central chamber, arcaded veranda, and dome on top.

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