๐ Topic 05 of 6 ยท Chapter 08 ยท Delhi Sultanate
Delhi Sultanate Art & Architecture
Qutb Minar, Alai Darwaza, Tughlaqabad, Indo-Islamic architecture โ features and examples.
๐๏ธ Indo-Islamic Architecture โ Features
The Delhi Sultanate period saw the development of Indo-Islamic architecture โ a blend of Indian and Islamic architectural styles:
- True arches and domes โ Islamic feature (Indian architecture used corbelled arches)
- Minarets โ tall towers for calling to prayer
- Calligraphy โ Arabic inscriptions as decoration
- Geometric patterns โ no human/animal figures (Islamic tradition)
- Red sandstone โ main building material (Slave and Khalji periods)
- Grey stone โ Tughlaq period (more austere)
- White marble โ Mughal period (later)
๐๏ธ Major Monuments
| Monument | Builder | Period | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque | Qutb-ud-din Aibak | 1193 CE | First mosque in India; built using materials from demolished Hindu/Jain temples |
| Qutb Minar | Started by Aibak; completed by Iltutmish | 1193โ1220 CE | 72.5m tall; 5 storeys; red sandstone; UNESCO WHS; named after Sufi saint Qutb-ud-din Bakhtiyar Kaki |
| Iltutmish’s Tomb | Iltutmish | 1235 CE | First Islamic tomb in India; square plan; true dome |
| Alai Darwaza | Alauddin Khalji | 1311 CE | Finest early Indo-Islamic architecture; red sandstone + white marble; true arch |
| Alai Minar | Alauddin Khalji | Unfinished | Planned to be twice the height of Qutb Minar; never completed |
| Tughlaqabad Fort | Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq | 1321 CE | Massive fort; grey stone; austere Tughlaq style |
| Hauz Khas | Alauddin Khalji | 14th CE | Reservoir and madrasa; now a heritage area in Delhi |
| Firuz Shah Kotla | Firuz Shah Tughlaq | 1354 CE | New capital; Ashokan pillar brought here |
โญ Qutb Minar: The Qutb Minar (72.5 metres) is the tallest brick minaret in the world. It was started by Qutb-ud-din Aibak and completed by Iltutmish. Alauddin Khalji added the Alai Darwaza. Firuz Shah Tughlaq repaired the top two storeys after lightning damage. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of India’s most iconic monuments.
๐จ Sultanate Period Literature
- Amir Khusrau โ greatest poet of Sultanate period; “Parrot of India”; invented sitar and tabla; wrote in Persian and Hindi
- Ziauddin Barani โ historian; wrote Tarikh-i-Firuz Shahi and Fatawa-i-Jahandari
- Isami โ wrote Futuh-us-Salatin โ history of Delhi Sultanate
- Ibn Battuta โ Moroccan traveller; wrote Rihla โ describes Muhammad bin Tughlaq’s reign
๐ Exam Tip:
โข Qutb Minar = 72.5m = started by Aibak = completed by Iltutmish = UNESCO WHS
โข Alai Darwaza = Alauddin Khalji = finest early Indo-Islamic architecture
โข Tughlaqabad = Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq = grey stone = austere style
โข Amir Khusrau = “Parrot of India” = sitar and tabla = Sultanate period
โข Ziauddin Barani = Tarikh-i-Firuz Shahi = important historical source
โข Qutb Minar = 72.5m = started by Aibak = completed by Iltutmish = UNESCO WHS
โข Alai Darwaza = Alauddin Khalji = finest early Indo-Islamic architecture
โข Tughlaqabad = Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq = grey stone = austere style
โข Amir Khusrau = “Parrot of India” = sitar and tabla = Sultanate period
โข Ziauddin Barani = Tarikh-i-Firuz Shahi = important historical source