Magnificent Akbar Architecture

Magnificent Akbar Architecture

Akbar: 1556-1605

Akbar had inherited from his father Humayun and grandfather Babur a taste for fine arts.

A. Factors Influencing Building Construction

• The order and prosperity of his long reign were important factors for the development of building construction.

• Abul Fazal has written that the emperor used to plan beautiful buildings and gave the form of stone and mortar to the thoughts of his mind and heart.

B. Materials Used in Akbar’s Buildings

• Most of the buildings built under Akbar were made of red sandstone. That's why his age is known as the 'Red Sandstone Age'.

• White marble has also been used in some places to enhance the beauty of the buildings.

C. Capitals of the Mughal Empire during Akbar’s Reign

• Delhi & Agra: 1556-64

• Agra: 1564-73

• Fatehpur Sikri: 1573-85

• Lahore: 1585-98

• Agra: 1598-1605

D. Prominent Forts (Qilas) Built by Akbar

• Agra Fort (1564)

• Lahore Fort (1566)

• Ajmer Fort (1570)

• Attock Fort (1581)

• Allahabad Fort (1585)

E. Categorization of Buildings of Akbar Period

For convenience of study, the buildings of the Akbar period are divided into three groups:

1. Buildings of Delhi

2. Buildings of Agra Fort

3. Buildings of Fatehpur Sikri

A. Buildings of Delhi

1. Khair-ui-Manazil Masjid

   • 1561-62, built by Maham Anaga

2. Adham Khan's Maqbara

3. Humayun's Maqbara

   • 1562: built by Akbar

   • 1565-72: built by Bega Beghum (also known as Hazi Beghum)

4. Ataga Khan's Maqbara

   • 1566-67; tomb of Ataga Khan, (husband of Ji Anaga)

B. Buildings of Agra Fort

• Agra Fort was the first fort built by Akbar.

• Year of construction: 1564-80.

• It had 4 gates initially, but later 2 gates had closed.

• The other 2 gates are

  1. Delhi Dwar (also known as Hathiya Paur/Hathiya Pol because there were two statues of Hathi (elephant) installed)

  2. Lahore Dwar (also known as Akbar Dwar because Akbar was the builder; Shahjahan renamed it "Amar Singh Dwar")

• According to Abul Fazal, Akbar built 500 buildings in Agra Fort. Few buildings of Agra Fort still remained: Akbari Mahal, Jahangiri Mahal, etc.

1. Akbari Mahal

• Two-story building; built around 1569

2. Jahangiri Mahal

• Built in 1570; later Jahangir built a bath-tub known as Hauz-i-Jahangir (Jahangir's tub), a monolithic and portable bath-tub, now fixed at the main gate of Jahangiri Mahal

• Jahangiri Mahal was inspired by the Man Mandir (Man's palace) of Gwalior

C. Buildings of Fatehpur Sikri Fort

• Originally, Sikri was a village where Sheikh Salim Chisti was born.

Reason for Building the Sikri Fort

• Since Akbar got a son, Salim (later Jahangir), at Sikri with the blessing of Salim Chisti, he thought Sikri village was a lucky charm and decided to build a fort there.

• Sikri Fort was built during 1571-85.

• Akbar shifted his capital from Agra to Sikri in 1573.

• Sikri was renamed Fatehpur to commemorate Gujarat Fateh (Gujarat victory by Akbar). That’s why Sikri was called Fatehpur Sikri.

• Fatehpur Sikri was abandoned by Akbar in 1585. It is unclear whether he abandoned Sikri due to a lack of water or moved to Lahore due to strategic reasons.

Main Buildings of Fatehpur Sikri Fort

1. Buland Darwaja

   • Built during 1575-76 to commemorate the Gujarat victory (1573)

   • 15-storey building

   • Persian inscriptions on the central part:

     • Saying of Jesus Christ: Isa (Jesus), son of Mary: "The world is a bridge, pass over it, but build no houses upon it"

     • Sayings of Prophet Mohammad: Ayats of the Quran

2. Jama Masjid

   • Replica of the Masjid of Mecca, but a fusion of Islamic and Hindu styles

   • Badshahi Darwaja in the eastern part of the Masjid

   • Tomb of Sheikh Salim Chisti and his grandson Islam Khan (built by Jahangir in 1617)

3. Mariam-uj-Jamani Mahal

   • The biggest palace of Sikri Fort, the residence of Mariam-uj-Jamani, the mother of the world

4. Birbal Mahal

   • Original name of Birbal-Mahesh Das, a jewel of Akbar's Nine Jewels (Navratna)

5. Mariam Palace

   • Residence of Akbar's Goan wife Mariam

6. Hawa Mahal (Panch Mahal)

   • 5-storey building; inspired by Buddhist Vihara

7. Tansen Mahal

   • Original name of Tansen-Ramtanu Pandey, a jewel of Akbar's Nine Jewels (Navratna)

8. Other Buildings

   • Turkey Sultana Mahal

   • Diwan-i-Khas

   • Diwan-i-Aam

   • Naubat Khan/Naqqarkhana

   • Khan Mahal

   • Ibadatkhana

   • Abul Faizi Mahal

   • Abul Fazal Mahal

   • Raja Todarmal Mahal

   • Shahi Ghursal

   • Shahi Taksal

   • Shahi Khazana

   • Caravan Sarai

   • Hiran Minar

   • Naumahal

   • Aankh-Michauli

   • Pachisi Prangan

   • Mina Bazar, etc.

Final Thoughts

Akbar (1556–1605) inherited a love for fine arts from his father, Humayun, and grandfather, Babur, and his prosperous reign encouraged magnificent constructions. Most buildings were made of red sandstone, giving his era the name “Red Sandstone Age,” with white marble used for beauty. Capitals like Delhi, Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, and Lahore each showcase iconic structures.

In Delhi, notable buildings include Khair-ul-Manazil Masjid and Humayun’s Maqbara, while Agra Fort has Akbari Mahal and Jahangiri Mahal.

Fatehpur Sikri, built in honor of Sheikh Salim Chisti, features Buland Darwaja, Jama Masjid, Hawa Mahal, and grand palaces like Mariam-uz-Jamani Mahal. Akbar’s architecture blends Islamic and Hindu styles, reflecting his vision, creativity, and cultural richness.