![]() The development of Islamic architecture mainly happened in the medieval period. The structures of this period were known as Indo-Islamic architecture. These were the combination of both the Hindu and Islamic architecture. With the development of the Islamic architecture in India two different categories of Islamic architecture came into being. They are the Imperial Style and the Mughal Architecture. The first one was developed under the Sultans of Delhi whereas the Mughal architecture was the combination of Hindu architecture with the Islamic architecture of Central Asia. The Imperial style which evolved with the development of Islamic architecture was derived from the existing art of Persia and formed under the Timurid rulers of the 15th and 16th centuries. These can be understood by the shape and treatment of the essential element in building construction-the arch. It was pointed horse-shoe arch, decoratively attractive, however its narrow compass was not sufficiently satisfying when wider spaces were to be spanned. It had abundant intervals between the jambs, or side-posts, of the openings. The application known as the four-centred or "Tudor" arch, a shape frequently used in the building of the Timurids, solved the problem. ![]() ![]() During this period the building arts, were developed in the indigenous styles of India as may be seen within the Fort at Agra, and the city of Fatehpur Sikri. However, Persian architecture was merged with regional modes that were readily distinguishable. Later, in the period of Shah Jahan (1627-58), whose luxurious building schemes ended as the world-renowned Taj Mahal. Glazed bricks were used for the entire structure. The double domes and recessed arcades of the Safevid period, resembles the cities as Ispahan and Tabriz, were to a certain extent, reproduced in tangible form. The surface colour was beautiful and the sandstone masonry and white marble overlay of the Mughuls. Earlier red sandstone was used in their art, however; it was replaced by white marbles, coloured designs and semi precious stones. These feature later silhouetted the Islamic architecture. During the development of Islamic architecture in India, outstanding architecture of Fatehpur Sikri, Taj Mahal, Qutub Minar, Tughlaqabad Fort, Red Fort, Agra Fort, Ardhai-Din-Ka jhompra came into existence. |