Medieval Architecture Styles (Other than Indo-Islamic)

Rajput Architecture Style

Rajput palaces – built as innercitadels surrounded by the city and enclosed by a fortified wall as at Chittorgarh and Jaisalmer. Some forts, such as those at Bharatpur and Deeg, were protected by wide ditch filled with water surrounding the fort.

• Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Jodhpur, Udaipur and Kota Palaces [arr] Built approx. 17^th to early 18^th century
• Bikaner is encircled by 5.63 km long Stone wall made of rich pink sandstone with five gates & three sally ports
• Jodhpur Fort dominates the city, which is surrounded by a huge wall nearly 9.5 km long with 101 bastions
• Meherangarh fort stands on a cliff with a sheer drop of over 36 metres.

Man Mandir

• The largest palace in Gwalior, was built by Raja Man Singh Tomar (1486-1516)
• Has two storeys above, and two below ground level overhanging a sandstone cliff
• This gigantic cliff is punctuated by five massive round towers, crowned by domed cupolas and linked by delicately carved parapets

Man Mandir

Jaipur

• Built by Jai Singh, represents a synthesis of Rajput and Mughal architectural styles.
• The city is enclosed by a wall and has bastions and towers at regular intervals.
•  Prominent structures at Jaipur

• Hawa Mahal (1799) has a five-storeyed symmetrical facade composed of 953 small casements in a huge curve each with a projecting balcony and crowning arch.
• Jantar Mantar, the largest of five observatories built by Jai Singh II in the early 18^thcentury, others being Ujjain, Mathura, Varanasi & New Delhi.

Hawa Mahal

Jantar Mantar

Avadh Architecture Style

• • Safdar Jung’s tomb, built in the honour of Safdar Jung (1739-1753)
  • Bara Imambara [arr] Built by the Nawab in 1784. Absence of pillars in the main hall (Simple & symmetrical in design)

• Chattar Manzil [arr] Main attractions are the underground rooms and a beautiful dome surrounded by a gilt umbrella
• Kaiser Bagh [arr] A quadrangular park with a baradari (pavilion) and yellow-coloured buildings on three sides.
• Roshanwali Kotiand Begum Koti [arr] Situated at Hazratgunj  with Italian style being more prominent

Kashmir Style

• Typified by use of woodwork.
• log construction using deodar trees for the construction of wooden bridges cold kadals or the wooden shrines called ziarats.
• Mosque of Shah Hamdan in Srinagar and the Jami Masjid at Srinagar built by Sikandar Butshikan (1400 AD) – examples of the wooden architecture.
• Fort of Hari Parbat, the Pattar Masjid (1623) and the Akhun Mulla Shah’s mosque (1649) are illustrations of art of stone building in Kashmir.

Punjab Architecture Style

• • Influenced by the Mughal Style
  • Features [arr] multiplicity of Chattris /kiosks, fluted dome generally covered with copper or brass gilt and enrichment of arches by numerous foliations

• Notable example [arr] Golden Temple at Amritsar (1764) built by the fourth Sikh Guru Ramdas.

Jain Architecture Style

• Prominent Feature [arr] Chamukhs or four-faced temples.
• Four Tirthankars placed back-to-back to face four cardinal points.
• Entryinto these temples is also from four doors
• Notable example includes Chamukh temple of Adinath (Ranakpur) (1618 AD)

• Most spectacular of all Jain temples are found at Ranakpur and Mount Abu in Rajasthan
• Deogarh (Lalitpur, U.P.), Ellora, Badami and Aihole also have some of the important specimens of Jain Art