Shah Jahan Carpet Architecture
In the eyes of historians, the reign of Shah Jahan was the golden age of architecture. The architecture reached its zenith during this period. Shah Jahan built many buildings. He himself was a master of architecture. The building art of the Shah Jahan era is a further development from the building art of the times of Akbar and Jahangir.
Because by this time the remote areas of India had also come under the Mughals and the architecture of those areas was also included by the Mughals in their buildings. Shah Jahan built so many buildings that he was called 'Prince of the builders' called.
Akbar built the most beautiful palaces of his time. 'European motif' in Mughal architecture during Jahangir's period were included. During the time of Shah Jahan, there was a radical change in technology and many changes took place in the means and principles of the art of construction. During his time, artisans skilled in cutting stone were replaced by craftsmen skilled in cutting and polishing marble.
Rectangular buildings were replaced by square wavy ornately decorated palaces. The most radical change occurred in the design of the arch. In them came decoration, mosaic and exquisite beauty. In the cities of Agra, Lahore, Delhi etc. old palaces were rebuilt and new buildings were built.
Regarding the architectural style of Shah Jahan's period, many scholars are of the opinion that the artists of these works were foreigners and Shah Jahan tried to adopt the pure Iranian style again by abandoning the architectural style of Hindu influence during Akbar's period.
Some other scholars call it originated from the Indian style itself. According to Dr. Banarasi Prasad, this style was the result of the fusion of two cultures. In fact, many ancient Hindu buildings were molded into Mughal architecture during this period as well.
Carved or foliated arches began to be formed during this period. The dome also took on a Persian shape. The buildings built during this period were more important than the buildings built during the entire Mughal period in terms of size, style and decoration of the buildings. Some of the features of the buildings built during the period of Shah Jahan are as follows-
(1.) The arch acquired a new shape during this period, in which the use of curved flower-leaf and marble archway (series of roofed arches) was prominent. Carved and jagged arches were also made during this period.
(2.) There is abundance of ornamentation in the buildings built during the period of Shah Jahan. There has been abundant use of valuable gems and stones.
(3.) Domes began to form in a bulb shape and the practice of double domes became common. The domes of this period are raised high.
(3.) The use of colored tiles for ornamentation and mosaic and the Patra Dura technique was extensively used in the form of mosaic.
(4.) In the construction of buildings, white marble was given prominence instead of red sandstone. However the use of red sandstone also continued.
(5.) Bangla style kanguras are also seen in the buildings of this period.
(6.) Some major changes are also visible in the buildings of Shah Jahan. In place of rectangular palaces, circular palaces were also built during this period.
(7.) In Moti Masjid of Agra and Jama Masjid of Delhi, Shah Jahan did some such architectural experiments which would make the worshipers coming to the mosque feel happy. Balance was established in the various constructions of these mosques and they were made in elaborate shapes.
Shah Jahan's buildings in Agra: Shah Jahan decorated many of the already built sandstone buildings in the Agra Fort with marble. The main buildings built by Shah Jahan in this fort are Deewane-Aam, Deewane-Khas, Musamman-Burj, Sheesh Mahal, Khas Mahal, Nagina Masjid and Moti Masjid. There is a Jharokha Darshan in the middle of Khas Mahal and Athkor Minar.
It is made of white marble. Its ceilings are shiny. From here Shah Jahan used to give darshan to the public. Shah Jahan built a large octagonal bastion with atrium (balcony) facing the Taj Mahal along with these buildings, which were called Musamman Burj and Shah Burj.
It is a four storeyed building made of white marble. Its fourth floor has beautiful carvings. In the middle of it there is a cistern, whose form is like a rose flower. There is also a waterfall in front of it.
Shah Jahan's daughter Jahanara got the Jama Masjid built in the north-west of the Agra Fort in AD 1648. Its arches are made leaving a wide space in the front which is its biggest feature. There is an octagonal domed chhatri at each corner of the roof of the mosque. On its upper part there are three big domes and four beautiful minarets.
VP Saxena has written- 'This is a beautiful work of a courageous widow. The tomb of Shah Jahan's minister Allama Afzal Khan Mullah is in Chini Ka Rauza in Agra. The main gate of the tomb is placed towards Mecca. Glossy tiles have been installed on the exterior of this tomb which are called 'Kashikari' and 'Chinese Art' Also called.
Its domes are not proportionate like other domes of the Mughal style. On the basis of the lower domes, it can be said that it is an Iranian style tomb. Signs of photographs and Islamic handwriting can be seen on the inner ceiling of the dome. Some verses of the Quran are carved on top of the dome.
Shah Jahan's Delhi Buildings:In AD 1638, Shah Jahan started the settlement of Shahjahanabad according to a definite plan on the right bank of river Yamuna. From its main gates there were two large common passages which lead to the gates built in the walls of the city and thus the Jama Masjid has been built in the same angle which is formed. Shahjahanabad is built in the shape of a parallelogram from north to south.
Like the Agra Fort, it is also surrounded by a park. Shah Jahan started the construction of the Red Fort in AD 1638. It was completed in AD 1647. The Red Fort of Delhi was initially called Qila-i-Mulla. It is much smaller than the Red Fort of Agra. The walls of the fort are high and ridged. The main door was built in its western wall.
Praising the buildings inside the Delhi Fort, Dr. Ishwari Prasad has written- "The buildings inside the Delhi Fort were highly ornamented and became a competition for Chinese art."
Huge crazy mangoes remain in the middle of the Red Fort of Delhi. Its shape is quadrilateral. In its exterior, nine arches are supported by double pillars. The passage on all three sides is made of serrated poles based on pillars. The total number of these columns is 40. The back wall of this building has an arched vault. The famous frames of Shah Jahan were kept in this place. Very beautiful craftsmanship was done in the wall of this niche and the stones were carved and inlaid with gems.
The Diwan-i-Khas is the most ornate building among the buildings of the Red Fort. There are five arched passages on its exterior. Its floor is of white marble. Their arches are serrated. The roofs are very beautiful. These ceilings are decorated with gold and jewels. Pillars have not been used to support this roof.
This roof is fixed with the bridge of 12 corners. Beautiful inlay and color work has been done in each part. There are beautiful figures of flowers on the walls and arches. Its arches are decorated with gold and paint and seem to be filled with rows.
The work of inlay, carving, mosaic and decoration in Rangmahal and Deewane Khas is very good. The texture of both of them is similar. Rangmahal is an important building located in the Red Fort of Delhi. This was Shah Jahan's harem. There is a big chamber in the middle and small chambers are built in the four corners. It is divided into 15 parts by ornate set-bands and is unique in color and brightness.
Jama-Masjid is the largest among the buildings of Delhi built by Shah Jahan. Its construction was started in AD 1650 and completed in AD 1656. It is the largest mosque in India. It is a royal style building made of red stone. There are turrets on all three of its huge doors. The east gate was for the use of the royal family. The general public entered through the north and south gates.
A huge space is available in the mosque for offering prayers. In front of it there is a kund for performing wudu. There are five serrated archways on either side of the outer door in the middle of the prayer place. It has four-storey tall towers on both the corners.
Its main room is very beautiful. It has eleven arches, with the middle one being slightly larger than the others. Three huge domes built on top of it are decorated with white and black marble, which are reminiscent of Nizamuddin Dargah.
Shah Jahan got Chandni Chowk built in Delhi. Its plan was prepared by the princess Jahanara. It originally consisted of straight intersecting canals in which the moonlight shone. That's why it was named Chandni Chowk.
Other buildings of Shah Jahan period:Apart from Agra, Delhi and Lahore, Shah Jahan also built many buildings of red sandstone and white marble in cities like Kabul, Ajmer, Kandahar, Ahmedabad and Kashmir etc. Shah Jahan's son Darashikoh got Maulvi Akhund Masjid and Pari Mahal built in Kashmir and libraries in Agra and Delhi, got important books from Iran etc. countries like Iran and got their translations and copies ready.
Shah Jahan's daughter Jahanara also had a love for different types of arts including architecture. The buildings built by the Mughal princes and princesses during the time of Shah Jahan, such excellent buildings could never be built by the Mughals again. Shah Jahan built a mosque in Thatta city of Sindh province which is called Shah Jahan Mosque.
Nur Jahan's elder brother Asaf Khan built Nishat Bagh on the eastern bank of Dal Lake in Srinagar in AD 1633. It is the largest park in the Kashmir Valley. It is built in terraced style which is called as 'Terrace Garden' in English. says.