Mughal architecture is the style that developed in India under the Mughal dynasty in the 16th and 17th centuries. This is a blend of Islamic, Persian and Indian architecture. The buldings of Mughal architecture reflects not on the architectural techniques and wealth but also their love for poetry, personality and other artistic inclinations. Mughal architecture has its origin in its religion, Islam. The concepts apparent in Islam like power, pleasure and death are reflected in the forts, durbars, mosques, tombs, gardens and so on.

Early Mughal architecture: The Mughals were an Indian Islamic dynasty which ruled most of northern India from the beginning of the sixteenth to the mid-eighteenth century. Mughal architecture came into prominence with the rule of Babur who was the first Mughal emperor in India in 1526. Babur`s victory over Ibrahim Lodi, initiated the erection of a mosque at Panipat succeded by another called the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya. The Maqbara in Baroda is an example of the early Mughal architecture and bears very less similarities with the florid style that existed prior to the Mughal era. Early Mughal architecture relied on post-and-beam construction and scarcely used arches. Some great forts and palaces of the early Mughal period can be traced in the reign of Akbar(1556-1605) in Agra. Lahore and Fatehpur Sikri. Mausoleum to Humayun is another important signifier of the early mughal architecture.

Akbar and Mughal architecture : Emperor Akbar was the first Mughal ruler during whose rule we find the emergence of wonderful Mughal architecture, which rapidly progressed with his reign. He built massively and the style was unique which was developed in his rule. Most of Akbar`s buildings are almost entirely in red sandstone, exempted at times through marble inlay. Fatehpur Sikri which is located 26 miles west of Agra, was constructed in the late 1500s and bears the testimony to the era of his royal heritage. In Gujarat and many other places we find the presence of a style, which is a blend of Muslim and Hindu characteristic features of architecture. Fatehpur Sikri defines Akbar`s finest styles of architecture. The great mosque is one such epitome of architectural brilliance unmatched in elegance and splendor. The south gateway is well known, excelling any similar entrance in India in its size and structure. The Tomb of Akbar`s father Humayun, Akbar`s tomb at Sikandra are some such finest work of architectural magnificance which broadly highlights the Mughal architecture prototypes. the tomb placed in a garden at Delhi, has an intricate ground plan with central octagonal chambers, which is joined by an elegantly faceded archway, surmounted by cupolas, kiosks, and pinnacles ructure of the kind and of great virtue.

Jahangir & Mughal architecture: Jahangir`r reign during 1605-1627 saw the decline in the Hindu influence on Mughal architecture. Jahangir`s reign was noted for architectural works. His style basically was Persian like his great mosque at Lahore, which is covered with enameled tiles. Akbar`s mausoleum was built in Jahangir`s time, but Jahangir`s interests were painting and garden architecture. "Verinag" and "Chashma-Shahi" are gardens built by Jahangir beautifully around spring. The tomb of Itimad-ud-Daula completed in 1628, was built entirely of white marble and covered wholly by pietra dura mosaic. This is one of the most resplendent examples of that class of ornamentation that can be found anywhere. The shalimar Gardens and other pavillions on the shore of Kashmir`s Dal lake was also magnificantly built by him. The Shalimar Bagh, is distinguished by a series of pavilions on carved pillars, surrounded by pools with seats which can only be reached by stepping stones. Jahangir was the person who was responsible for the development of the Mughal garden. Jahangir`s own tomb, like I`timaduddulah`s and Akbar`s tombs, have no dome, minarates and ornamentation are only evident. After Itimad-ud-daulah died his daughter commissioned the construction in white marble of his exquisite tomb at Agra which was finished in 1628. the tomb appealed due to its decoration with various styles of inlay. The extensive use of white marble as a material and inlay as a decorative motif were the two major innovations distinguishing the Mughal architecture in the later years.

Shahjahan & Mughal architecture:Mughal architecture reached its perfection in Shahajahan`s reign(1627-1658). Humayun`s tomb was the first of the tombs, which continued the saga of the succession of tombs out of which the Taj Mahal is a magnicant piece of art. The Red Fort contains the imperial Mughal Palace, which is situated in Delhi, is again one of Shahjahan`s excellence. Tradition and innovation was very intelligently regarded in shahjahan`s architectural extravaganza. Marble, which was easily available in Rajasthan, was used for the constructions. In the palace fort of Agra, Shah Jahan replaced old structures along with the addition of new ones. An inlay of black marbles was used for the re-bulding of The Diwan-I-Am. The Moti Masjid is highly representative of purity,balance,and gracefulness which was his appreciable contributions to the Agra Fort. The Jama Mosque of Delhi and the Pearl Mosque of Agra are reminiscent of the style that was eminent in mughal era. Near the city of Old Delhi, Shah Jahan built a new capital, Shahjahanabad, with its magnificent Red Fort. The Hall of Public Audience, in the fort contains the Peacock Throne, which consisted entirely of jewels and precious metals and stones. Shah Jahan took ten years to build the city, and other than parts of the wall and three of its original 14 gates, the Red Fort and three mosques has survived the ravages of time.

Taj Mahal: Taj Mahal, is the finest example of Mughal architecture combining Persian, Turkish and Indian styles. There are inscribed texts from the Koran round the tall doorways which appear like designs. The letters 30 feet or more above the line of the eye appear to be exactly of the same size as those a foot above the floor level, this is absolutely a revelation of the great mastery and perspective of the artists. It is made in white marble. The Taj Mahal is described as "A Dream in Marble" and the mosaic is studded with onyx, jasper, cornelian, malachite, carbuncle, lapis lazuli and precious stones.

The Taj Mahal`s approximated estimate is 32 million rupees, but it is timeless and priceless due to its beauty and valor. The Taj is among the seven wonders of the world, and cited as "the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world`s heritage".

Later Mughal architecture: Art and architecture almost took a backseat in Aurangzeb`s rule. His reign from 1659-1707 marked the shift from the art loving Mughals to a more orthodox ruler under whom the decline set in. his fanatical zeal was destructive and this further was responsible for the decline of the flourishing art and architecture since ages. Due to his policies to overpower Hinduism, he made the Great Mosque towering over the Hindu holy city of Venaras.

A standard mosque form was developed in his reign where the eminence of three domes over the sanctuary in conjunction with a raised central arch, or iwan, and engaged minarets could be seen. The Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque) built by Aurangzeb in the Red Fort at Delhi incorporated a three-domed sanctuary with a raised central arch and mini-domed pillars projecting out of the roof to resemble minarets.

Aurangzeb`s concern seems to be for garden architecture than construction of palaces. Fatehbad near Agra is one of the most impressive of these gardens.

Characteristics of Mughal architechture:
The characteristic features of Mughal architecture includes perfect or near perfect radial or bilateral symmetry, red sandstone with white marble inlays, later pure white marble surfaces, geometric ornament, domes which are slightly pointed instead of hemispherical ones and garden surroundings. In addition to the fine-cut stone masonry used for facades coursed rubble stone construction was used for the majority of walls. For the construction of domes and arches baked brick was also used although this was usually covered with plaster or facing stones. the design of gardens is one of the most important aspects of Mughal architecture which provided the setting for tombs and palaces and also helped for relaxation.

The decoration of the buildings was basically done with ceramic tilework, pietra dura inlay with coloured and semi-precious stones, carved and inlaid stonework. Carved stonework is another interesting feature in the Mughal architecture, ranging from shallow relief depictions of flowers to intricate pierced-marble screens known as jalis. The stone quite often associated with the Mughal architecture is white marble, which can be seen in the magnificence of the Taj Mahal.

There is the existence of various influences of the Persian and Hindu architecture in the Mughal architechture. The trabeate stone construction, shallow arches made out of corbels rather than voussoirs and richly ornamented carved piers and columns are some typical Hindu features that have been incorporated in the Mughal architecture. Other contructions like the chhatris- a domed kiosk resting on pillars, chajjas and jarokhas- a projecting balcony supported on corbels with a hood resting on columns became a part of the Mughal characteristics. Extensive use of tilework, the iwan as a central feature in mosques, the charbagh or garden, divided into four and the four-centrepoint arch and the use of domes are the features borrowed from the Persian architecture.

The Mughal Architecture or the muslim style of architecture that progressed can also be termed as the Indo-Islamic architecture. Hindu architecture was modified and elements of spaciousness, immensity and extent were incorporated by the Mughals or muslim architecture. The kalash on top of the Hindu temple was borrowed and replaced by a dome and also the hindu style of decoration used by them for the decoration of their arches. Mughal architecture no doubts occupies a grand position in the history of Indian architecture. Exquisite monuments like the Taj Mahal, Qutub Minar, Alai Darwaza, Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque, Vithala temple, Tughlaqabad Fort, Kirti Stambha, FatehpuSikri, Agra Fort, Red Fort etc have glorified India.

The Mughal dynasty has gifted India with the premium and the most extravagant architecture and works of art in the overall history of Muslim dynasties. Traces of Mughal architecture can be found in Indian buildings even at present. These buildings have domes and indentures. The empire provided a protected framework or structure for the flourishing of artistic pursuit and the rulers supplied mammoth wealth in these arenas. Even the Mughal rulers were themselves patrons of art and they overpowered all architectural legacy in India. They overawed the people with their power, wealth and charisma. The whole Mughal architecture is a fine combination of so many local and foreign characteristics, which associates it universally with many distinct forms of architecture. These are also a source of inspiration to many other forms of architecture with different cultural background. Prevalence of Mughal architecture has placed India on a global podium making it identifiable to people far and wide.