PLANNING & EVOLUTION OF SETTLEMENTS

DURING MUGHAL PERIOD (1526-1707)

Submitted by

D Mugundhan

M.Plan [P.T]

Department of Planning

School of Architecture and Planning campus

Anna University

Chennai.
INTRODUCTION
The Mughal Emperors were descendants of the Timurids of Turkistan, and at the height of their
power around 1700, they controlled most of the Indian Subcontinent extending from Bengal in the
east to Baluchistan in the west, Kashmir in the north to the Kaveri basin in the south

The "classic period" of the Empire started in 1556 with the accession of Jalaluddin Mohammad
Akbar, better known as Akbar the Great. It ended with the death of Emperor Aurangzeb in 1707.

During this period, the Empire was marked by a

Highly centralized administration connecting the different regions

All the significant monuments of the Mughals

Expansion of Persian cultural influence in the Indian subcontinent.

Brilliant literary, artistic , and architectural results.

The name Mughal is derived from the original homelands of the Timurids, the Central Asian steppes
once conquered by Genghis Khan and hence known as Moghulistan, "Land of Mongols".

Mughals spoke the Chagatai language, they were essentially Persianized. They transferred the Persian
literature and culture, to India, thus forming the base for theIndo-Persian culture.

EARLY HISTORY
The foundation for the empire was established around the early 1500s by the Timurid prince Babur,

In 1526, Babur defeated the last of the Delhi Sultans, Ibrahim Shah Lodi, at the First Battle of
Panipat. To secure his newly founded kingdom, Babur then had to face the formidable Rajput
confederacy led by Rana Sanga of Chittor, at the Battle of Khanwa.

In 1530 Babur's son Humayun succeeded him but suffered major reversals at the hands of
the Pashtun Sher Shah Suri and effectively lost most of the fledgling empire

In 1555 Humayun returned with a mixed army, raised more troops and managed to reconquer Delhi

In 1556, 14th February, Akbar succeeded his father on, while in the midst of a war against Sikandar
Shah Suri for the throne of Delhi. He was born in the town of Sindh

In 1605 1627 Jahangir, son of Emperor Akbar, ruled the empire.

In 1627, Shah Jahan , son of Emperor Jahangir succeeded to the throne, where he inherited a vast
and rich empire.
In 1627, Shah Jahan , son of Emperor Jahangir succeeded to the throne, where he inherited a vast
and rich empire.

Shah Jahan commissioned the famous Taj Mahal (16301653) in Agra which was built by the Persian
architect Ustad Ahmad Lahauri as a tomb for Shah Jahan's wife Mumtaz Mahal , who died giving
birth to their 14th child.

In 1658 - 1707 the empire reached its peak under the leadership of Aurangzeb Alamgir with major
parts of present day India, Pakistan and most of Afghanistan under its domain

In 1707 After Aurangzeb's death, the empire fell into decline. Beginning with Bahadur Shah I, the
Mughal Emperors progressively declined in power and became figureheads.

By 1710, the empire had reached its zenith with a territory spanning over 750 million acres

The greater portion of the empire's territories in India passed to the Marathas, reducing the once
powerful and mighty empire to just lone city before falling to the British. Other adversaries
included Sikh Empire and Hyderabad Nizams.

In 1804, the blind and powerless Shah Alam II formally accepted the protection of the British East
India Company.

In 1804, the blind and powerless Shah Alam II formally accepted the protection of the British East
India Company.

In 1857, they deposed the last Mughal Emperor and exiled him to Burma, where he died in 1862.
Thus the Mughal dynasty came to an end, which formed a momentous chapter in the history of
India.

There are still many Mughals living in the Indian Subcontinent original Mughals are now mixed with
the local population and have South-Asian identities which are stronger than any original Turkic or
Mongoloid origins

The language spoken by the Mughals also slowly adapted itself to a form of Hindustani known
as Urdu basic vocabulary is mostly Sanskrit based and it is very similar in form and content to
modern day Hindi.
MUGHAL EMPERORS
EMPEROR BIRTH PERIOD NOTES

Babur 1483 1526-1530 Founder of Mughal dynasty.

Humayun 1508 1530-1540 Reign interrupted by Suri dynasty,

less effective ruler

Sher shah suri 1472 1540-1545 Deposed humayun led the suri
dynasty.

Islam shah suri 1500 1545-1554 last ruler of the Suri Dynasty

Humayun 1508 1555-1556 Restored rule and more effective

than initial regin (1530-1540)

Akbar 1542 1556-1605 Most illustrious ruler in mughal

Dynasty he founded Din-i-illahi, religion

based on hinduism and islam. Most
marvelous construction is Lahore Fort

Jahangir 1569 1605-1627 Opened first relation with East India

company. His wife Nur Jahan became the

real power behind the throne.

Shah Jahan 1592 1627-1658 Mughal art and architecture reached

their zenith.Constructed Taj Mahal, Jama

Masjid, Red Fort, Shalimar
gardens in lahore. Finally imprisioned by his
son Aurangzeb

Aurangzeb 1618 1658-1707 More conservative in behavior less

Extravagant as the previous emperors

Bahadur Shah I 1643 1707 1712 First of the Mughal emperors to preside

over a steady and severe decline in the

territories under the empire's control and

military power
Jahandar Shah 1664 1712 1713 He was merely a puppet in the hands of
his Chief Minister Zulfikar Khan Jahandar

Shah brought down the prestige of the

Mughal Empire.

Furrukhsiyar 1683 1713 - 1719 In 1717 he granted a firman tothe English

East India company granting them duty

free trading rights for Bengal

Rafi Ul-Darjat 1719 1719

Muhmd Ibrahim 1720 1744

Ahmad Shah

Bahadur 1725 1748 - 1754

Alamgir II 1699 1754 1759

Shah Alam II 1728 1759 1806

Akbar Shah II 1760 1806 1837

Bahadur Shah

Zafar 1775 1837 1857

CONTRIBUTIONS DURING MUGHAL PERIOD IN BOTH ASPECTS OF ARCHITECTURE
AND PLANNING.

BABUR (1526 1530)

Babar travelled the country, taking in much of the land and its scenery, and began building a series of
structures which mixed the pre-existing Hindu intricacies of carved detail with the traditional
Muslim designs used by Persians and Turks.

According to Hambly, Babur was unhappy to find no gardens in India like the ones he had known in
Kabul. As soon as Babur arrived in Agra, he selected a site across the river, had a well dug and
constructed a bath-house. This was followed by a tank and a pavilion. And soon a Persian garden
was laid out that reminded Babur of his northern home.

Babur is believed to have built Babri Masjid in Ayodhya. The existence of a temple at the same
location is the center of dispute between Hindus and Muslims. While there are reports that Hindus &
Muslims used to pray together, the mosque has been locked down since mid-1850s

HUMAYUN (1530 1540)

Humayun's most noted achievement was in the sphere of painting. Led him to recruit Persian
painters of merit to accompany him back to India. These artists, wrties Hambly, laid the foundation of
the Mughal style which emerged from its Persian chrysalis as an indigenous achievement in which
Indian elements blended harmoniously with the traditions of Iran and Central Asia.

Humayun constructed a citadel at Delhi. Named Din-Panah.

The most celebrated building associated with Humayun is his tomb at Delhi.

Humayun's tomb marked the beginnings of a major development in the history of Indo-
Islamic architecture.

The center of a large garden that is 348 meters square.

The garden is divided into 36 squares by cross-axially arranged water channels and
pathways.
 Combination of red stone and white marble in the flat panels, and the massive size of the
tomb create an impression of sobriety.

The central space contains Humayun's cenotaph; two stories of octagonal chambers
containing cenotaphs for various members of Humayun's family fill the corners.

Humayun's tomb fits into the Iranian tradition of imperial mausoleums -- a tradition that can
be seen

AKBAR (1556 1605)

Emperor Akbar was the first ruler during whose rule we find the emergence of Mughal
Architecture. Akbar buildings are almost entirely in red sand stone.

Fatepur sikri which is located 26 miles west of agra, was constructed in the late 1500s and
bears of testimony to the era of royal heritage.

He had planned this city as his capital but shortage of water compelled him to abandon the
city

Fatehpur Sikri was built during 1571 and 1585

Fatehpur Sikri is the best example of the culmination of Hindu and Muslim architecture.
Fatehpur Sikri Mosque is said to be a copy of the mosque in Mecca and has designs, derived
from the Persian & Hindu architecture.
PRIME ATTRACTIONS OF FATEHPUR SIKRI

1. Diwan-I-Am

The journey begins with Diwan-I-Am or the Hall of Public Audience.

This hall was also used for celebrations and public prayers.

It has cloisters on three sides of a rectangular courtyard.

To the west is a pavilion with the Emperors throne.

Beautiful jali screen on either sides separated the ladies attending the court.

2. Diwan-khana-I-khaas
Two storied building, with corner kiosks, known as diwan-khana-I-khaas
or Hall of Private Audience.

On entering it, one finds only a single vaulted chamber.

In the centre stands a profusely carved column supporting a

collosal-bracketed capital.

Four narrow causeways project from the centre and run to each corner of the chamber. It is
believed that Akbars throne occupied the circular space over the capital and the corners
were assigned to the four ministers.

3. Turkish Sultanas House

The house, as its location at the corner of Anup Talao shows, was a
pavilion for repose, attached to the pool.

The geometrical pattern on the ceiling is reminiscent of Central Asian

carvings in wood.
4. The Treasury

To the left of the Diwan-I-Khaas is the Treasury or Ankh

Michauli, once believed to have been used for playing the game,
comprising three rooms each protected by a narrow corridor which
were manned by guards.

5. Daulat khana-I-khas

Located in the corner to the left is the emperors private chamber.

It has two main rooms on the ground floor. One housed Akbars
library while the larger room was his resting area.

On the first floor is the Khwabgah or the bed-chamber.

It was connected with the Turkish Sultanas house, the Panch Mahal, Mariams House and
the Jodha Bais palace by corridors.

6. Palace of Jodha Bai

To the left of the Sunehra Makan is the largest and the most important
building in the royal palace, named after Akbars Rajput wife, Jodha
Bai.

This spacious palace was assured of privacy and security by high

walls and a 9 metre guarded gate to the east.

The architecture is a blend of styles with Hindu columns and

Muslim cupolas.

7. Hawa Mahal And Nagina Masjid

To the right of Jodha Bais palace is Hawa Mahal, the Palace of Winds.

This small-screened wind tower faces the garden and is

attached to the palace.

The garden is laid out in the Char Bagh style with straight walls
intersecting at right angles and divided by shallow channels.
8. Birbals Palace

To the north west of the Jodha Bais Palace is the 2 storeyed palace
occupied by Akbars two senior queens- ruqnayya begum and salima
sultan begum.

It has two storeys-four rooms and two porches with

pyramidical roofs below and two rooms with cupolas and
screened terraces above.

The building combines hindu and muslim atyles of srchitecture.

9. Panch Mahal

To the right of Sunehra Makan is the elegant, airy 5 storeyed pavilion,

the Panch Mahal.

Each floor over here is smaller than the one below and it rises
to a single domed kiosk on top supported by four columns
providing a magnificent view of the city and its environs.

10. The Jami Masjid

One of the largest mosques in India, Jami Masjid was built in 1571 AD.
Inside, there is a vast congregational coutyard.

To the right, at the corner, is the Jammat Khana Hall and next
ot this is the tomb of the royal ladies.

To the left of the Jami Masjid is the Stone Cutters mosque, the oldest place of worship at
Fateh Pur Sikri.

It is entered through the eastern entrance known as the

Buland Darwaza.

11. Buland Darwaza

This gate can be approached from the outside by a 13-metre flight of

steps which adds to its grandeur.

The gate erected in 1602 AD to commemorate Akbars victory

over Deccan.

it is the highest and grandest gateway in India and ranks among the biggest in the world.
SHAH JAHAN ( 1628 1653 )

In 1631, Shah Jahan, emperor during the Mughal empires period of greatest prosperity, was grief
stricken when his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, died during the birth of their fourteenth child, Gauhara
Begum.

Construction of the Taj Mahal began in 1632, one year after her death.

The Tomb

This large, white marble structure stands on a square plinth

The base structure is essentially a large, multi-chambered cube with chamfered corners,
forming an unequal octagon that is approximately 55 metres (180 ft) on each of the four long
sides.

The main chamber houses the false sarcophagi of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah -Jahan the actual
graves are at a lower level.

The marble dome has its height of around 35 metres (115 ft) is about the same as the length
of the base, and is accentuated as it sits on a cylindrical "drum" which is roughly 7 metres
(23 ft) high. Because of its shape, the dome is often called an onion dome
THE GARDENS

The complex is set around a large 300-metre (980 ft) square charbagh or Mughal garden.

The garden uses raised pathways that divide each of the four quarters of the

garden into 16 sunken parterres or flowerbeds.

A raised marble water tank at the center of the garden, halfway between the tomb

and gateway with a reflecting pool on a north-south axis, reflects the image of the mausoleum

The charbagh garden, a design inspired by Persian gardens, was introduced to India by the
first Mughal emperor, Babur.

It symbolizes the four flowing rivers of Jannah (Paradise) and reflects the Paradise
garden derived from the Persian paridaeza, meaning 'walled garden'.

Most Mughal char baghs are rectangular with a tomb or pavilion in the center.

The Taj Mahal garden is unusual in that the main element, the tomb, is located at the end of
the garden. With the discovery of Mahtab Bagh or "Moonlight Garden" on the other side of
the Yamuna,

As the Mughal Empire declined, the tending of the garden also declined, and when the
British took over the management of Taj Mahal during the time of the British Empire, they
changed the landscaping to resemble that of lawns of London.