LECTURE 07

REGION OF MALWA:
TWIN CITIES OF DHAR & MANDU

AD 1405 - AD 1500

AR. SONIA MAHESHWARI; FOD @ MUJ; ACADEMIC SESSION 2014-15

CONTENT
PART A: CONTEXT
1. INITIATION AND DEVELOPMENT
2. GENESIS OF IDEOLOGY
3. BUILDING TYPOLOGY
4. SPATIAL ORGANIZATION
5. ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS
6. BUILDING CONSTRUCTION & MATERIALS

PART B: RELEVANT BUILDING EXAMPLES

PART C: EXAMPLES FROM PRESENT PERIOD
PART D: LEARNINGS FROM THE LECTURE
AR. SONIA MAHESHWARI; FOD @ MUJ; ACADEMIC SESSION 2014-15

EXPECTED LEARNING
OUTCOME
The students are expected to understand the impact of
change in social,
political and local context on
development of Islamic Architecture in all Indian
Provinces

AR. SONIA MAHESHWARI; FOD @ MUJ; ACADEMIC SESSION 2014-15

ASSIGNMENT
The students are expected to understand the impact of
change in social,
political and local context on
development of Islamic Architecture in all Indian
Provinces
1.DILAWAR KHAN'S
MASJID (14056)
2.CHAMPA BAOLI (The
second half of the 15th C.
16C.)
3.HINDLA MAHAL (The
end of the 15th C.)
4.JAHAZ MAHAL
(The
end of the 15th C.)
5. KAPUR TALAO (The
second half of the 15th C.
16C.)
6. ROYAL PALACE (The
second half of the 15th C.
16C.)
AR. SONIA MAHESHWARI; FOD @ MUJ; ACADEMIC SESSION 2014-15

1. INITIATION &
DEVELOPMENT
Sultan Ala-ud-din Khalji took over the area from Parmars
in AD 1305.
Initial capital at Dhar with Lat ki Masjid and Kamal Maula
Masjid, improvised similar to other mosques of period
Preference for Mandu over Dhar due to security reasons
Natural, barbican shape of spur projecting from Vindhya
range ideal for defense purpose

LAT KI MASJID, DHAR

AR. SONIA MAHESHWARI; FOD @ MUJ; ACADEMIC SESSION 2014-15

INITIATION &
DEVELOPMENT.
Plateau formed at an elevation of 2000 ft. above sea
level, separated from mainland Malwa by Kakra Koh,
winding gorge 300-400 yards long, 200 ft. deep
An area of 12 sq. mt. enclosed within fortress walls over
25 miles in circumference

FORTRESS WALS OF MANDU

AR. SONIA MAHESHWARI; FOD @ MUJ; ACADEMIC SESSION 2014-15

2. GENESIS OF
IDEOLOGY
Architecture responsive
to nature; form, color
and materials
The elevated plateau
consisted
of
undulating
tracts
shaded by trees, dark
pools nestling in the
shallows and larger
lakes glistening in the
sunshine with sloping
swards

CHAMPA BAOLI AT MANDU

AR. SONIA MAHESHWARI; FOD @ MUJ; ACADEMIC SESSION 2014-15

3. BUILDING TYPOLOGY
MOSQUE
PALACES

TOMB
SUMMER
RETREAT

REWA KUND AT MANDU

AR. SONIA MAHESHWARI; FOD @ MUJ; ACADEMIC SESSION 2014-15

4. SPATIAL
ORGANIZATION
As per the natural features

AR. SONIA MAHESHWARI; FOD @ MUJ; ACADEMIC SESSION 2014-15

5. ARCHITECTURAL
ELEMENTS
Use of sloped buttresses with deeply recessed arches
Square unadorned shafts for pillars
Cylindrical Cupolas
Ogee Arches
Hindu style of balconies and jharokhas

AR. SONIA MAHESHWARI; FOD @ MUJ; ACADEMIC SESSION 2014-15

6. BUILDING
CONSTRUCTION &
MATERIALS
Coloured Stone Decorations
Minimal details with volumetric forms
Marble and Local Mandu sandstone

AR. SONIA MAHESHWARI; FOD @ MUJ; ACADEMIC SESSION 2014-15

PART B: RELEVANT
BUILDING EXAMPLES
HINDOLA MAHAL, MANDU
JAMI MASJID, MANDU

TOMB OF HUSHANG SHAH

HAFT MANZIL
ASHRAFIK MAHAL
JAHAZ MAHAL

AR. SONIA MAHESHWARI; FOD @ MUJ; ACADEMIC SESSION 2014-15

HINDOLA MAHAL,
MANDU
First phase of architectural
activities: Hindola Mahal
Constructed by Alp Khan,
now known as Hushang Shah
The architectural phase is
described most decidedly
stern and resolutely stable
Hindola
Mahal
creates
illusions of swaying like
swing - far more stable
structurally than required

EXTERNAL VIEW OF HINDOLA

MAHAL, MANDU

AR. SONIA MAHESHWARI; FOD @ MUJ; ACADEMIC SESSION 2014-15

HINDOLA MAHAL,
MANDU..
Six
massive,
sloped
buttresses
with
deeply
recessed
arches
were
erected to support the roof
of 60 ft. wide and 118 ft.
long rectangular hall
Compartment attached to
another transverse hall of
almost same size at its
northern end
Whole plan of the Mahal
reads as T in shape

VIEW OF UPPER AND LOWER

PARTS OF HINDOLA MAHAL.

AR. SONIA MAHESHWARI; FOD @ MUJ; ACADEMIC SESSION 2014-15

HINDOLA MAHAL,
MANDU..
Cross bar and stem
distinct
in
plan
and
concept- one a simple
double height rectangular
hall, the other, two storied
with only a gentle batter in
its sloping walls with Hindu
balconies and jharokhas

Building may comprise of

durbar
and
royal
apartments
JAALI WORK
AR. SONIA MAHESHWARI; FOD @ MUJ; ACADEMIC SESSION 2014-15

JAMI MASJID, MANDU

Grand and dignified concept, planning
and construction.
Vibrancy of architectonics in this
mosque is generated through a clear
and honest delineation of a few
chosen Islamic architectural forms
Courtyard surrounded on three sides
by uniformly proportioned gallery of
majestic arches, hint of ogee arch at
apex
Cylindrical cupolas planted above
arches, rising vertically from circular
base to converge near apex

HUSHANG SHAHS
TOMB & JAMI MASJID

AR. SONIA MAHESHWARI; FOD @ MUJ; ACADEMIC SESSION 2014-15

JAMI MASJID, MANDU

Profile similar to shoulder
shaped shikhara of Orissan
temples
Regimented skyline by large
domes of the stately profile
planted at corners of mosque
Massive
and
strikingly
handsome dome over the
middle of liwan, making total
158 domes for this mosque

GALLERY OF UNIFORMLY
PROPORTIONED ARCHES TOPPED
BY CYLINDRICAL CUPOLAS

Overall size of dome 288 ft.,

with grand courtyard of 162
ft. side
AR. SONIA MAHESHWARI; FOD @ MUJ; ACADEMIC SESSION 2014-15

JAMI MASJID, MANDU

Broad stately flight
of steps reaching
sahn
platform,
domed
square
gateway,
arched
niches,
in
the
basement
of
platform serving as
sarai
Square unadorned
shafts for pillars,
handsome
arches
and
cylindrical
domes

STATELY DOMES OF JAMI MASJID,

MANDU

INTERIORS OF JAMI
MASJID, MANDU

AR. SONIA MAHESHWARI; FOD @ MUJ; ACADEMIC SESSION 2014-15

TOMB OF HUSHANG
SHAH
Created in marble by Hushang
Shah Ghuri
for himself, just
behind western wall of Jami
Masjid
Square Tomb, massive cylindrical
dome too large for square and
HUSHANG SHAHS TOMB,
squat base
MANDU
Edifice completed by his successor
Inspiration for builders of Tajmahal as a part of
preliminary research
Idea of planting four small domes around central one in
Tajmahal inspired by the tomb, Hindu concept of
panchratna planning
AR. SONIA MAHESHWARI; FOD @ MUJ; ACADEMIC SESSION 2014-15

HAFT MANZIL AND

ASHRAFI MAHAL
Haft Manzil, built by Mahmud
Khalji, to celebrate victory over
Rana Kumbha of Mewar
Constructed of Mandu sandstone,
ht. 150 ft., each story demarcated
with bands of marble
Edifice could not survive due to
degraded building activity
Ashrafi Mahal, Khaljis tomb also
BASE OF HAFT MANZIL,
in ruins
MANDU
Existing remains suggestive of construction with white
marble, doorways, carved windows and cornices, with
friezes in blue and yellow
AR. SONIA MAHESHWARI; FOD @ MUJ; ACADEMIC SESSION 2014-15

JAHAZ MAHAL, MANDU

Mahmud Khalji devoted his later
years in leisure hours, beginning
the second phase of building
activity
The
style
was
progressing
towards lightly elegant and
fanciful mode
JAHAZ MAHAL, MANDU

Jahaz Mahal, first building of second phase, located

between two beautiful water bodies, the Kapur Talao
and Munjha Talao
Half a km from Jami Masjid and close to Hindola Mahal,
built some 40 years earlier to Jahaz Mahal
AR. SONIA MAHESHWARI; FOD @ MUJ; ACADEMIC SESSION 2014-15

JAHAZ MAHAL, MANDU

EW oriented, 360 ft. X 50 ft. structure,
consisted of series of compartments and
corridors partly built over waters of
Munja Talao
Number of airy and fanciful open kiosks
on broad upper terrace
Remains of complex water works on the
southern side of edifice, suggestive of
open air royal baths on terraces

VIEW THROUGH
ORNATE, ORTEL
WINDOW, JAHAZ
MAHAL, MANDU
AR. SONIA MAHESHWARI; FOD @ MUJ; ACADEMIC SESSION 2014-15

PART D: LEARNINGS
FROM LECTURE
Architecture responsive to nature; form, color and
materials

ASHRAFI MAHAL, MANDU

TOMB OF HUSHANG SHAH, MANDU

AR. SONIA MAHESHWARI; FOD @ MUJ; ACADEMIC SESSION 2014-15