Architecture of Tughlaq & Sayyed-Lodi

Architecture of Tughlaq & Sayyed-Lodi

Sultanate Architecture Phases

Sultanate architecture is divided into four phases: Early Turk, Khalji, Tughlaq, and Sayyid-Lodi phases. We already covered the first two of them.

Tughlaq Phase: 1320-1414

The third phase of development of Indo-Islamic architecture was completed during the Tughlaq Sultans (1320-1414). With the rise of the Tughlaqs, there were changes in the ideals and style of architecture. Dense decoration and luxurious splendor were replaced by Islamic simplicity and seriousness.

Tughlaq Style Characteristics:

• Sloping/batted walls

• Octagonal tombs

• Fortified settlements

Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq (1320-25)

Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq, the founder of the Tughlaq dynasty, was very fond of architecture. He founded a new city, Tughlaqabad, and built a tomb for himself: the Tomb of Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq.

Tombs Quadrilateral

• Kale Khan Gumbaj (Mubarak Khan Lohani, 1481, Mubarakpur)

• Bahlol Lodi Tomb (built by Sikandar Lodi, 1489, Chirag, Delhi)

• Shihabuddin Taj Khan/Bagh-i-Alam Gumbad (1501, Hauz Khas)

• Ibrahim Lodi Tomb (Panipat, Haryana)

Octagonal Tombs

• Mubarak Shah Tomb (built by Mubarak Shah, 1434, Kotla Mubarakpur, Delhi)

• Muhammad Shah Sayyed Tomb (built by Alauddin Alam Shah, 1414, Lodi Garden, Delhi)

• Sikandar Lodi Tomb (built by Ibrahim Lodi, 1517-18, Lodi Garden, Delhi)

• Hasan Khan Sur Tomb (built by Shershah, 1535, Sasaram, Bihar)

• Shershah Tomb (begun by Shershah Sur, completed by Islam/Salim Shah Sur, 1545, Sasaram, Bihar)

• Islam/Salim Shah Sur Tomb (begun by Islam/Salim Shah Sur, not completed due to death in 1554, Sasaram, Bihar)

• Isha Khan Niyazi Tomb (tomb of Isha Khan Niyazi, minister of Islam/Salim Shah Sur, 1547, Nizamuddin, Delhi)

Mosques

• Bada Gumbad Masjid (1484-94, Lodi Garden, Delhi)

• Khairpur Masjid (Khairpur gaon, Mehrauli, Delhi)

• Moth Masjid (built by Miyan Bhuwa, minister of Sikandar Lodi, 1505, South Delhi)

• Qila-i-Quhan/Purana Qila Masjid (built by Shershah Sur, 1541, Purana Qila, Delhi)

II. Provincial Architecture

Apart from Delhi, notable buildings were also built in the various provinces during the Sultanate period (1206-1526).

Important Provincial Styles and Examples:

Kashmir (1003-1540)

• Shah-i-Hamdani Masjid (1395, built by Sultan Sikandar)

• Tomb of Jainulabidin’s mother and Tomb of Madin Shah (built by Jainulabidin)

Mewar (1326-1680)

• Annapurna Temple (Chittor, built by Hammir)

• Pichhaula Lake (Udaypur, built by Laksh Singh)

• Vijay Stambh, i.e., Tower of Victory

• Kumbha Swami Temple, Chaturmukh Vihar Temple

• 32 Forts of Mewar (built by Rana Kumbha)

• Rajsamand Lake (built by Raj Singh)

Bengal (1345-1576)

• Adina Masjid (Pandua, built by Sikandar Shah, 1368)

• Chhota Sona Masjid, Bara Sona Masjid & Kadam Rasul Masjid (Gaur, built by Nusarat Shah)

• Dakhil Darwaja (1459-74, built by Barbak Shah)

• Firoz/Chirag Minar (1485-89, built by Saifuddin Firoz)

Jaunpur (1399-1484)

• Atala Devi's Masjid (built by Ibrahim Shah Sharqi, 1408)

• Jhanjhari Masjid (perforated, built by Ibrahim Shah Sharqi, 1430)

• Jami Masjid (1438-78)

• Lal Darwaja Masjid (1457)

Malwa (1401-1562)

• Kamal Maula Masjid (Dhar, 1400)

• Lal Masjid (Dhar, 1405)

• Dilawar Khan's Masjid (Mandu, 1405)

• Jami Masjid (Mandu, built by Sultan Hushang, 1405-35)

• Sultan Hushang's Maqbara, Asharfi Mahal, Hindola Mahal, Jahaz Mahal (built by Baz Bahadur, 1552-62)

• Tarkin Dargah (Nagaur, memory of Sufi Saint Sheikh Hamiduddin Nagauri)

• Shams Masjid (Nagaur)

Gujarat (1407-1573)

• Haibat Khan’s Masjid (Ahmedabad)

• Sayyed Alam’s Masjid & Jami Masjid (built by Ahmed Shah, 1411-42)

• Champaner, Junagarh & Kheda city (founded by Mahmud Begarha, 1459-1511)

• Jami Masjid (Champaner), Nagina Masjid (Champaner) (built by Mahmud Begarha)

• Rauza of Rani Sipri/Sabrai (Ahmedabad, 1514, built by Muzaffar Shah II, 1511-26)

• Sidi Sayyed Masjid (1515, built by Muzaffar Shah II)

Deccan Style

Vijayanagar Style (1336-1665)

• Vithal Swami Temple & Hazarrama Temple (Hampi)

• Tadapatri & Parvati Temple (Chidambaram)

• Varadraja & Ekambarnath Temple (Kanchipuram)

Madurai/Nayak Style (1529-1736)

• Minakshi Temple (Madurai)

• Ranganath Temple (Srirangam)

Bahmani Style (1347-1526)

• Bala Hisar & Jami Masjid (Gulbarga)

• Sola Khamba Masjid (Bidar)

• Mahmud Gawan's Madrasa (Bidar, 1472, Mahmud Gawan-prime minister)

Adilshahi Style (Bijapur)

• Jami Masjid (Bijapur)

• Gagan Mahal (1560, built by Ali Adil Shah)

• Ibrahim Rauza (1627, built by Ibrahim Adil Shah)

• Muhammad Adil Shah's Maqbara (Gol Gumbaj, 1656-60)

Nizam Shahi Style (Ahmednagar)

• Ahmednagar Fort, Qasim Khan's palace & Bagh-i-hast-bihisht (built by Malik Ahmed Nizam Shah, 1490-1510)

• Tomb of Salabat Khan/Chand Bibi’s Palace

Qutub Shahi Style (Golconda)

• Char Minar (1591, built by Quli Qutub Shah)

• Muhammad Quli Qutub Shah's Maqbara (1625)

Barid Shahi Style (Bidar)

• Amir Barid Shah's Maqbara (Bidar)

Final Thoughts

The Tughlaq Phase (1320-1414) focused on simplicity and practicality, replacing lavish decoration with sloping walls, octagonal tombs, and fortified settlements. Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq built Tughlaqabad and his own tomb, setting the style for later rulers.

Notable tombs and mosques include the Mubark Shah Tomb, Bada Gumbad Masjid, and Qila-i-Quhan Masjid, reflecting the Tughlaq emphasis on strength and durability.

Beyond Delhi, regional architecture thrived: Mewar had forts, temples, and lakes; Bengal saw grand mosques like Adina Masjid; Gujarat developed royal mosques and complexes; and the Deccan featured Vijayanagar, Bahmani, and Adilshahi styles with impressive temples and palaces. This period shows how Islamic architectural ideals blended with local traditions, leaving a lasting and diverse architectural heritage across India.