Department of Architecture

Dhaka University of Engineering & Technology, Gazipur

Year: 2nd, Semester: 2nd

The Mughals (Akbar’s Period 1556-1605 AD)

Course Description: Course Teacher:

ARCH-2521 Dilruba Yasmin
History of Architecture-III Assistant Professor
Part: B Dept. of Architecture
Lecture 08: Akbar’s Period DUET, Gazipur
Akbar the Great (1556-1605 AD)
 Akbar the Great (1556-1605 AD)

Teenage emperor Akbar face 2nd battle of panipath at 1556.

Efficient administrative power

Obedient to all religion

Islam
+
Brahmanism
Establish a new creed
Din - i – ilahi +
(Divine Faith)
Christianity
+
Zoroastrianism
Agra Fort

Agra Fort, is a monument, a UNESCO World Heritage site located in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. The fort can be more
accurately described as a walled city. Lying on the bank of river Yammna.

Agra Fort was originally a brick fort, held by the Hindu Sikarwar Rajputs. It was mentioned for the first time in 1080 AD
when a Ghaznavide force captured it. Sikandar Lodi (1488–1517) was the first Sultan of Delhi who shifted to Agra and lived
in the fort. He governed the country from here and Agra assumed the importance of the second capital.
After the First Battle of Panipat in 1526, Mughals captured the fort and seized a vast treasure.

The victorious Babur stayed in the fort in the palace of Ibrahim and built a baoli (step well) in it. The emperor Humayun
was crowned here in 1530. Humayun was defeated at Bilgram in 1540 by Sher Shah. The fort remained with Suris till 1555,
when Humanyun recaptured it. The Hindu king Hem Chandra Vikramaditya, also called 'Hemu', defeated Humanyun's army,
led by Iskandar Khan Uzbek, and won Agra. Hemu got a huge booty from this fort and went on to capture Delhi from the
Mughals. The Mughals under Akbar defeated King Hemu finally at the Second Battle of Panipat in 1556.
Agra Fort

Realizing the importance of its central situation, Akbar made it his

capital and arrived in Agra in 1558. His historian, Abdul Fazal,
recorded that this was a brick fort known as 'Badalgarh' . It was in a
ruined condition and Akbar had it rebuilt with red sandstone from
Barauli area in Rajasthan. Architects laid the foundation and it was
built with bricks in the inner core with sandstone on external
surfaces. Some 4,000 builders worked on it daily for eight years,
completing it in 1573.

It was only during the reign of Akbar's grandson, Shah Jahan, that the site took on its current state. He destroyed some
of the earlier buildings inside the fort to make his own.
At the end of his life, Shah Jahan was deposed and restrained by his son, Aurangzeb, in the fort. It is rumoured that Shah
Jahan died in Muasamman Burj, a tower with a marble balcony with a view of the Taj Mahal.
Agra Fort Akbar the Great (1556-1605 AD)
-Irregular semi circular shaped.
- Surrounded by massive enclosure wall of 72’ height.
- Chronologically developed in later by Mughal and colonial
patronization.
- Two gate ways to entrance the fort
1.southern gate way (Akbari darwaza)
2.Western gate way (Dilhi gate)
Agra Fort

Remarkable structure
within the fort-

1. Dilhi Gate (‘Hathi pol’ / Elephant gate )

2. Akbari Darwaza (Amar singh gate)
3. Diwan-i-amm
4. Jahangiri mahal
5. Khas Mahal
6. Machchhi Bhawan
7. Moti masjid
8. Bazaar street
Jahangiri Mahal

The main zanana building, misleadingly called Jahangiri Mahall

(Jahangir’s Palace)

An example of the wide range of akbari synthesis.

Symmetrical ground floor plan echoing Timurid plans on the

pattern of Khwaja Ahmed Yasawi’ Mouselium, Turkistan.

The fancy craftsmanship and detail (like wooden) influence by

man mandir at Gwalior

- Two storied jahangir mahal consist of 2 court

- Ground floor expressed by blind (recess) arches and upper floor open pavilion with rectangular opening

a. Private zanana Court

b. Reception Court
Jahangiri Mahal

Colored glazed tiles and domed canopied on the exterior were as positively of Persian origin as the interior
arrangements which were emphatically Hindu.

Reception Court Man Mandir

near the entrance At Gwalior
Jahangiri Mahal

Synthesis of
Timurid , Persian and Indian tradition

Zanana Court
(over looking the river Yamuna)
Dilhi Gate ( ‘hathi pol’ )

-Two octagonal tower joined by an archway-entrance

-From its Inner facade its an elegant facade with arched terrace above and cupola & kiosk.
-The chamber used for a considerable guard
-Rich ornamentation pattern in white marble inlay against sand stone background. Inner Façade of Dilhi Gate
Akbari Darwaza (‘amar singh gate’)

It’s a private entrance to the fort

Less impressive with compare the dilhi

gate – in ornamentation, detailing
Lecture 08: The Mughals ( Akbar’s Period) Cont.