Introduction:

Medieval Indian architecture accommodated the local and regional cultural traditions and social requirements, economic prosperity, and religious practice of the time. Medieval Indian architecture is a synthesis of indigenous styles and external influences which has lent it a unique characteristic of its own. The medieval period saw the synthesis of Persian and indigenous styles of architecture. Structures meant for public activity including temples, mosques, tanks, wells, bazaars were built highlighting the combination of needs, imagination, capacities of the builders and capabilities of the workers.

Body:

Characteristics of Medieval Indian architecture:

• The extension of Islam into India in the 11th and 12th centuries introduced typical Muslim architectural elements into mosques, tombs, and other structures on the subcontinent.
• These elements included such forms as the dome and the pointed arch as well as Islamic styles of decoration.
• A Muslim kingdom known as the Delhi sultanate dominated northern India from the 1200s to the 1500s. The Pashtun style of Islamic architecture developed in this period.
• Among the typical features of this style are red sandstone surfaces with white marble inlays and arches in the shape of a pointed horseshoe. Windows were fitted with perforated screens.
• The buildings feature intricate and abundant decoration. Notable early Pashtun architecture in Delhi includes the Quwat-ul-Islam mosque, a tall tower called the Qutb Minar, the tomb of the sultan Iltutmish, and the Ala?i Gate. Later Pashtun styles are represented by the tombs of the Sayyid and Lodi kings.
• Many forts were built with sophisticated defence system. Most of these forts had ingenious water structures designed for harvesting and storage, including step-wells, elaborate reservoirs and channels.
• For example- The famous Srirangapatna fort, also called Tipu’s palace, in Mysore, Karnataka, was built in 1537 in Indo-Islamic style. This magnificent fort is considered to be the second toughest fort of India.
• From the mid-16th to the late 17th century, under the rule of the Mughal dynasty, northern India saw a striking revival of Islamic architecture.
• Persian, Indian, and various local architectural styles were successfully combined. Mughal architects produced structures of unusual refinement and quality.
• Though the Hindu and the Muslim architecture possessed the distinct features of their own, the mingling of the two led to the rise of a new school of architecture sometimes designated as “Indo-Islamic architecture”.
• Certain scholars have described it as “Indo Saracenic” or “Pathan”.
• It represented a blend of Brahmanical, Buddhist and Jain styles with those of western and central Asia and northern African styles which the Muslims brought with them to India.
• It is very difficult to ascertain how much this architecture owed to the Hindu style and how much to the Islamic system.
• Many grand mausoleums were built in the memories of royal members. For example, the Taj Mahal, the mausoleums of Akbar (at Agra), Humayun (Delhi), Mohammed Adil Shah (Bijapur) etc.
• Gardens with running water like Nishat Bagh in Kashmir, the Shalimar Bagh at Lahore and the Pinjore garden in the Punjab were laid down.
• Many stepwells were built in medieval times. Stepwells are wells or ponds in which the water is reached by descending a set of steps. They may be multi-storied with a bullock turning a water wheel to raise the well water to the first or second floor.
• They are most common in western India and are also found in the other more arid regions of the Indian subcontinent, extending into Pakistan.
• Some of the examples of Baori in medieval times are: Rani ka Vav(Gujarat), Chand baori in Rajasthan, Agrasen ki Baoli in Delhi.

Rationale behind the synthesis of indigenous styles and external influences:

• The arrival of Turks during the thirteenth century led to the introduction of- the architectural styles of Persia, Arabia and Central Asia.
• The salient features of these buildings were the domes, arches and minarets. So, during the course of time blend of Islamic style with the Indian architecture culminated into Indo-Islamic architecture with syncretic features.
• The palaces, mosques and tombs built by the rulers had these features which were blended with the features of the indigenous architecture and a new synthesis in architecture was achieved.
• This happened because the Turkish rulers of Delhi utilized the services of the local Indian craftsmen who were very skilful and had already constructed beautiful buildings.
• Though the buildings were designed by Muslim architects to suit the requirements of their religious ideas, yet they were constructed by Hindu craftsmen who formed the finest artistry of the world. Obviously the buildings had a combination of Indo- Islamic architecture.
• In the buildings that came up we find the simplicity of the Islamic structure as well as the detailed sculptures and designs they made on their own indigenous structures.
• The early Muslim rulers constructed their palaces, mosques and other buildings out of the materials acquired from demolition of Hindu temples and other buildings.
• A large number of mosques of this period were constructed by destroying certain portions of Hindu temples and making the necessary changes in the buildings according to the Islamic requirements.
• The Muslim rulers, particularly dismantled the Sikhars and roofs and erected domes and lofty minars.
• In addition, the spirit of toleration and harmony was also to a large extent responsible for the synthesis of the two architectures. A middle path was followed in all their designs in the architecture of this period.

Conclusion

Thus, the historic structures ranging from military and defensive structures, mortuary, royal courts, mosques, temples showcased the entire range of structures that catered to life in the medieval period in India.