Akbari Architecture
Encyclopedia
Akbari Architecture refers to the style of Indo-Islamic architecture conceived during the reign of Mughal
Emperor Akbar. His successors further added to this style, leading to the unique and individualistic 'Mughal' Style as we know it today. Some shining examples of this style are Humayun's Tomb
, which was the first of a long succession of garden-tombs (and a predecessor of the Taj Mahal
), the Agra Fort
, the abandoned city of Fatehpur Sikri
and Akbar's own tomb.
ancestry and the desire to embrace India as a native country, were the beginnings of his religious and design philosophies.
In its essence, the style consisted of a synthesis of earlier styles, Timurid, Persian and Indian. Abul Fazl, Akbar's court chronicler, and one of his 'Navratnas' or nine gems of his court, describes the architects and designers as lofty minded mathematicians and says the Emperor's style of architecture was understandable only to the scientifically oriented
The artisans who migrated with his father form Persia brought in their styles, which mingled with the indigenous styles of India.
The lavish use of red sandstone sought to minimize the stylistic clashes consequent to the mixing of these disparate elements
All these buildings reflected Akbar's design and architectural philosophy. This "Akbari" style of architecture
For example, Akbar's tomb, though Islamic in spirit, is a blend of styles. The magnificent entrance, use of exquisite patterns, excellent jaali work (intricately perforated decorative stone screens), fine Persian style calligraphy, the charbagh garden layout (four-quartered garden layout, with the main building at the center), etc., are representative of Islamic influence.On the other hand, the absence of a dome, use of chhatris (small domed canopies, supported by pillars), tiers of airy pavilions, etc., reflect a local influence, which are also found in the buildings built by Akbar in Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri.
As with all the other administrative and political aspects of Akbar's imperial career, it was Sher Shah Suri's architecture that he drew inspiration from. Suri architecture was a continuation of the older Lodi Style.
Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire , or Mogul Empire in traditional English usage, was an imperial power from the Indian Subcontinent. The Mughal emperors were descendants of the Timurids...
Emperor Akbar. His successors further added to this style, leading to the unique and individualistic 'Mughal' Style as we know it today. Some shining examples of this style are Humayun's Tomb
Humayun's Tomb
Humayun's tomb is the tomb of the Mughal Emperor Humayun. The tomb was commissioned by Humayun's wife Hamida Banu Begum in 1562 AD, and designed by Mirak Mirza Ghiyath, a Persian architect...
, which was the first of a long succession of garden-tombs (and a predecessor of the Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal is a white Marble mausoleum located in Agra, India. It was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal...
), the Agra Fort
Agra Fort
Agra Fort, is a monument situated at Agra, is a UNESCO World Heritage site located in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India. It is about 2.5 km northwest of its more famous sister monument, the Taj Mahal...
, the abandoned city of Fatehpur Sikri
Fatehpur Sikri
Fatehpur Sikri is a city and a municipal board in Agra district in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. Built near the much older Sikri, the historical city of Fatehabad, as it was first named, was constructed by Mughal emperor Akbar beginning in 1570...
and Akbar's own tomb.
History of the style
The style was conceived by Akbar the Great, the third Mughal Emperor and also the architect of the Mughal Empire in India. Although he was illiterate, Akbar showed a profound interest in Literature and the Arts. That, coupled with his pride and curiosity of his TimuridTimur
Timur , historically known as Tamerlane in English , was a 14th-century conqueror of West, South and Central Asia, and the founder of the Timurid dynasty in Central Asia, and great-great-grandfather of Babur, the founder of the Mughal Dynasty, which survived as the Mughal Empire in India until...
ancestry and the desire to embrace India as a native country, were the beginnings of his religious and design philosophies.
In its essence, the style consisted of a synthesis of earlier styles, Timurid, Persian and Indian. Abul Fazl, Akbar's court chronicler, and one of his 'Navratnas' or nine gems of his court, describes the architects and designers as lofty minded mathematicians and says the Emperor's style of architecture was understandable only to the scientifically oriented
The artisans who migrated with his father form Persia brought in their styles, which mingled with the indigenous styles of India.
The lavish use of red sandstone sought to minimize the stylistic clashes consequent to the mixing of these disparate elements
All these buildings reflected Akbar's design and architectural philosophy. This "Akbari" style of architecture
For example, Akbar's tomb, though Islamic in spirit, is a blend of styles. The magnificent entrance, use of exquisite patterns, excellent jaali work (intricately perforated decorative stone screens), fine Persian style calligraphy, the charbagh garden layout (four-quartered garden layout, with the main building at the center), etc., are representative of Islamic influence.On the other hand, the absence of a dome, use of chhatris (small domed canopies, supported by pillars), tiers of airy pavilions, etc., reflect a local influence, which are also found in the buildings built by Akbar in Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri.
As with all the other administrative and political aspects of Akbar's imperial career, it was Sher Shah Suri's architecture that he drew inspiration from. Suri architecture was a continuation of the older Lodi Style.