GUJRAT

(1300 AD - 1572 AD)

PROVINCIAL ARCHITECTURE

PROVINCIAL ARCHITECTURE: GUJRAT (1300- 1572 AD)

INTRODUCTION-

Started when Khilji Dynasty established their governors in

the region.

Included Bombay presidency with Ahmedabad towards

center.

Ruled by Ahmad Shahi Sultans- these were powerful rulers

and desired to surround themselves with material

evidences of their might.

Architecture was independent until the Ahmad Shahi

dynasty fallen down to Mughals.

Amalgamated Hindu and Islamic architecture.

REASONS FOR GOOD ARCHITECTURE-

Got most accomplished artisans of india in their

region.

Unrivalled aesthetic resources in their region.

MAJOR PERIODS OF THE STYLE

First period (14th cent.)

Second period (15th cent.)

Third period (1550- 16th cent.)

MAP OF SHIFT TO GUJRAT

FIRST PERIOD (first half of 14th cent. A.D.)

Transition phase of demolition of temples

followed by reconversion of building

materials.

Buildings don’t have definite character

because of having formative and

experimental appearance.

Materials of Hindu temples were used.

Walls were built of original masonry while

pillars would be used as they were.

Ex- Jami masjid, Bharuch, Jami masjid,

Cambay.

JAMI MASJID, BHARUCH

PLAN OF JAMI MASJID, BHARUCH

Planned and constructed as per mosque principles was largely

made of parts of temple.

Courtyard in center, surrounded with three gateways.

The sanctuary is open pillared structure like a verandah.

The 48 pillars of sanctuary are bracketed and divide the sanctuary

in three parts.

Square sunk coffer ceilings are decorated with cusped and other

geometric patterns.

MIHRAB

SANCTUARY

GATEWAY COURTYARD

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The walls surrounding the sanctuary are cut out of stone for

construction. Hence, the earliest example of stone masonry.

The three mihrabs on west wall and stone traceried windows are built

in indigenous manner.

The Islamic pointed arch is introduced under lintel in mihrab.

Sanctuary roof consists of beams supporting 3 large and 10 smaller

domes.

ISLAMIC POINTED ARCH

MIHRAB

JAMI MASJID, CAMBAY- Built in the year 1325 A.D.

Local artisans were reinforced by a group of artisans from Delhi to build this

structure.

The sanctuary of the mosque has an enclosed facade with a screen of

arches.

The shape and position of the arches, the masonry consisting of alternate

broad and narrow courses.

The overall architectural treatment is reminiscent of the architectural style

of Delhi under the Khilji dynasty.

The arrangement of pillars inside the archways of the facade borrowed

from the Ajmer type of mosque.

The pillars have been enriched by an engrailed arch similar to one found

in temples, a motif which later figures prominently as the flying arch within

the central openings of mosque facades in Gujarat.

On south side of mosque is burial tomb, square in shape and built of

marble. PLAN

SANCTUARY

JAMI MASJID, CAMBAY

JAMBS CROWNED WITH POINTED FINIALS.

Facade of liwan composed of

blank screen walls consisting one

large central arch and two

smaller subsidiary arches.

THE PILLARS HAVE BEEN ENRICHED BY AN ENGRAILED ARCH SIMILAR

TO ONE FOUND IN TEMPLES, A MOTIF WHICH LATER FIGURES

PROMINENTLY AS THE FLYING ARCH WITHIN THE CENTRAL OPENINGS

OF MOSQUE FACADES IN GUJRAT.

The eastern gateway in the middle of

eastern cloisters is re- erected temple

portico with a dome added on for

Islamic effect.

THERE ARE 14 DOMES THAT

CONSTITUTE THE INTERIOR OF

LIWAN.

THE CLOISTERS THAT DEFINE THE COURTYARD

ON THREE SIDES ARE FORMED BY FLAT ROOF

AISLES AND A SERIES OF TWENTY- ONE

DOMES OVER OCTAGONAL COLUMN BAYS.

The main sanctuary contains one

hundred pillars supporting the roof

that were evidently taken from

Hindu and Jain temples.

INTERIOR VIEW OF SANCTUARY

SECOND PERIOD- (FIRST HALF OF 15TH CENT. A.D. )

Art approaching early consummation with slightly

tentative quantities.

Designing of buildings got more directional and

assured.

Also known as Ahmad Shahi period.

Ex- Jami Masjid, Ahmedabad.

JAMI MASJID, AHMEDABAD-

Built by Sultan Ahmad Shah in 1423.

Most of the architectural effect is concentrated in

sanctuary.

A. PRAYER ROOM

B. SANCTUARY(300 PILLARS)

C. ZENANA

Sanctuary consists of around 300 slender pillars, closely

set at an average intercolumniation of 5'.

The columns are symmetrically arranged to form 15

bays across the long axis of the hall.

Each is surmounted by a dome and connected to the

next through a columned interspace.

Columns are symmetrically arranged to form 15 bays

across the long axis of hall.

PLAN

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SANCTUARY EXTERIOR- Combination of two types of sanctuary facades, the

screen of arches and the pillared portico.

The screen is on center and portico on wings.

The juxtaposition of the two elements creates contrast

between the volume and strength of the wall surface and

the depth and airy lightness of the colonnade.

The large central archway has large moulded buttresses of

minarets on either side.

Two smaller archways are placed on either side of the

central one.

Directly visible through the archway is the colonnade of

the interior with its engrailed arch springing lightly from its

slender columns. SANCTUARY EXTERIOR

SECTION

SANCTUARY INTERIOR-

The sanctuary is a hypostyle hall of 64 mX30 m.

It consists of 300 slender pillars, closely set at an average

intercolumniation of 1.6m.

The columns are symmetrically arranged to form 15 bays

across the long axis of the hall, each surmounted by a

dome.

The central compartment of the nave rises up to 3 storeys,

the side aisles are 2 storeys and the rest of the hall is single

storeyed.

Nave is composed of two pillared galleries one above the

other.

Liwan is roofed by a large corbelled dome resting over an octagonal ring of column.

Each of the facades is filled with panels of jaalis and the domed roof adds on the Islamic character

to interior as well as façade.

The open grills of the dome made the central bay an open shaft generating cool currents in the air

to counter hot climate of Ahmedabad.

The balconies provided a sufficiently private zenana for the ladies and each overlooking balcony is

provided with aasana or a sloping backed seat.

Around the exterior of balconies are pillared verandahs and in the arcade between the pillars are

the stone jaalis through which the galleries are illuminated.

SIDI SAIYYED MOSQUE

• It was constructed by Sidi Saeed or Sidi Saiyyed who was basically a sultan in Shams-Ud- Din Muzaffar Shah’s army.

• The front of the mosque is actually fairly simple with two minarets on the northern and southern extremities (the minarets have fallen now and only the base exists).

• Completely arcuated and gained recognition due to its amazingly carved windows having ten stoned latticework around the rear archesdows representing the style of Indo-Saracenic type referred to as 'jali'.

• Just when it was getting completed, Ahmedabad fell to the Mughals, and the last window in the center of the back wall was left without a jali.

• The walls of rear are filled with stones which are square shaped as well as pierced panels spotted in geometrical designs.

• It comprises of ten windows in the semi circular shape which appear to be quite appealing as they are accentuated by the beautiful mesh which covers them.

• There are a total of eight arched windows which are adorned with stone carved intricate jalis.

• There are majestic floral designs accompanied by architectural works formed in a unique way which distinguishes this mosque from others.

PANORAMIC VIEW OF SIDI SAIYYED MOSQUE

JALIS OF SIDI SAIYYYED MOSQUE

• In the western walls of liwan, jali infill panels in arched aperture were inserted.

• The usual appearance of the mosque is depicted by the yellow color, which is commonly found in the shrines found in the vicinity.

THE SCREEN IN THE MOSQUE THOUGH USAGE OF FIGURATIVE

ELEMENTS IS ANIMATED BY A

SENSUALITY THAT BELONGS ONLY

TO A FEMALE HUMAN FORM

There are two bays which flank the central aisle having stone slabs

reticulated in a style of intertwined trees along with palm motif and

foliage.

FOR EXPRESSING THE

SENSUOUSNESS THE ARTIST HAS CHOSEN THE INTERTWINING

TRUNKS, BRANCHES, LEAVES OF

PLANTS AND TREES AS HIS

SUBJECT

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PLAN OF SIDI SAIYYED MOSQUE

Eight square piers supporting the arches from

the interior of the mosque, four visible from

one side.

SECTION

JHULTA MINARAS

• Built in Ahmedabad (Gujrat), mainly known for its unique

architecture.

• This pair of minarets is a part of Siddi Bashir mosque.

• The minarets start swinging if a little pressure is applied on any one

side of mosque.

• The reason for such building may be that to avoid falling of

minarets due to earthquakes.

• Each of the minaret is three storey tall and is intricately carved.

• The minarets have stone balconies and are probably 22 m high.

• The vibrations at the base of minarets gets amplified and

transmitted through air tunnels between the two towers resulting

in shaking of the other one.

• No trembling occurs in the passageway between two minarets.

THE JHULTA MINARETS

THIRD PERIOD- (Second half of 15th cent. A.D.)

This is the most magnificent aspect of the style.

Most of the development in this phase happened under

Sultan Mahmud I Begarha (1458-1511).

Mahmud Begarha-I founded three main cities Bitwa,

Mehmudabad and Champaner.

Major ex- Jami Masjid, Champaner.

JAMI MASJID, CHAMPANER 86

.4 m

57.6 M

Built with the Jami Masjid at Ahmedabad as model except

on a smaller scale.

The entire structure is a rectangle of 270' X 180'. A bit less

than half the space is taken up by the sanctuary.

The entire structure is rectangle and the courtyard is

surrounded by a range of arched cloisters, one aisle deep.

The entrance pavilion projects from the center of each of

the north, south and east cloisters.

Sanctuary facade is of enclosed type containing 5 pointed

archways with two slender minarets flanking the central

opening.

Sanctuary is a pillared hall, total mosque measuring 86.4 m

X 57.6 m, containing 176 pillars.

The women’s chamber is placed at the northern end

of the transept.

Each storey is accessed by a staircase in the minarets.

Around the galleries are provided stone seats with

sloping backs.

PLAN

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SECTION

The nave rises to 65' in height through 3 storeys and

covered by a dome.

The second floor is restricted to a large pillared gallery with

an octagonal well.

The ornamentation of the minarets is restricted to their

buttress like bases, with the five stages above left mostly

unadorned.

The level of the first floor is continuous with the roof of the

rest of the building, forming a wide terrace for

circumambulation among the cupolas with a square well

above the nave.

The ornamentation of the minarets is restricted to their

buttress like bases, with the five stages above left mostly

unadorned.

On the whole, the frontal screen is more or less economically

treated, relieved only by 3 oriel windows, one above the

central arch and two on the minarets.

VIEW OF FACADE

VIEW OF MOSQUE FROM SOUTH

VIEW OF ABOVE FROM OCTAGONAL OPENING IN CENTER