architecture of malwa

ARCHITECTURE OF MALWA DHAR AND MANDU

15 century

Ruled by the Paramara dynasty

were patrons of literature; not much of art and architecture

not many skilled craftspersons in the region

Timur’s invasion of Delhi : Malwa declares independence

retains Dhar as the capital, later shifted to Mandu due to

strategic reasons

most buildings built by craftspersons from Delhi

Influence of Imperial style:

battered walls

Arches with spear head fringes

shape of the dome

pyramidal roofs

structural systems :

arches with beam and bracket

Decorative motifs

Techniques developed Indigenously:

Treatment of arch with beam and bracket

long flight of steps to reach buildings

decorative techniques:

Sandstone and coloured marble quarried locally

Precious stone inlays

Glazed encaustic tiles: heritage of tile making probably

from Multan

Three phases according to Percy Brown

1. Reassembling

2. Preliminary

3. Classical

first phase exemplified by 4 mosques

2 at Dhar : kamal maula , Lat masjid

2 at Mandu : Dilawar Khan’s and Malik Mughis’

Malik Mughis’ mosque: built last, so exemplifies the style best

high plinth with arched chambers to the east

portico approached by a flight of steps

domical turrets at quoins

Malik Mughis’ mosque:

East entrance of the mosque


Three equal domes supported on octagonal drums and

merlon parapets

Single aisle cloister

100’X100’ courtyard

4 aisle sanctuary

Column spacing varied for nave

and aisles

Columns salvaged from Hindu templs

and brought together by forming pointed arches b/w them.

Spandrels treated with screen work

Columns rubbed, redressed and recarved to fit the scheme

of the mosque


Sagar talao

Hushang shah shifts capital to Mandu

Large variety of monuments scattered all over the plateau

Ashrafi mahal

Haft Minar

Jami Masjid Hushang’s tomb

Jami masjid

and

tomb of Hushang Shah

Priests’ entry

288’ side square

Domed entrance

hall with flight of

steps 2 aisled cloister in the

east

5 aisled sanctuary

With pointed arches

Main entry to the

tomb

Jami masjid

and


Masjid raised on a high plinth

Arcaded Chambers on the east served as a serai

Courtyard with aisles around

Each bay topped by a cylindrical dome

Jami masjid

and


Ornate central mihrab with mimbar

Red sandstone, colored marble

and glazed tile decoration

Relies more on the composition of parts than

ornamentation

Jami masjid

and


Square in plan

Raised platform of 118’ side

Tomb chamber of 86’ side

The entrance gate seen in the background

Jami masjid

and


Arched opening on two sides: main entry south

Tomb of Darya khan

Other tombs with similar architecture

Dai ka mahal

Ashrafi mahal and haft minar

Complex of three buildings assembled over a period of time

: madrassa,tomb and victory tower


320’ side square in plan

Cells arranged around a large courtyard

Circular towers at corners


Pyramidal roof

Central courtyard filled in to provide high

base for Mahmud shah’s tomb


Remains of the tomb

65’ square tomb chamber with domical roof

Pillared portico with loggia : entrance to the

tomb chamber


Remains of the victory tower or Haft Minar

Carved door way

remains

Detail on the wall with colored stone

Hindola mahal or swinging palace

T-shaped plan showing addition

6 arches with sloping buttress

Slope of 77 degrees

60’

110’

Main

entrance

Built under Hoshang shah

Was used as a durbar hall

Located in the palace quarters


5 arches , supporting the roof with wooden

beams

View of the main entrance


View of the northern extension

showing 2 floors

Divided into 2 :retiring hall and a larger hall

70’X40’

Projecting balconies, ornate doors

and oriel windows

Jahaz mahal or ship palace


Situated on the banks of kapur talao and munja talao


Housed the harem of Ghiyas al din

double storeyed, rectangular structure that is 361 by 56 feet

long and 33 feet high


Ground floor consist of large halls, small rooms, corridors

and pavilions overlooking the lakes

View from the entrance side


A pool in the ground floor

The palace also contains pools and

fountains in the ground floor

Arcaded interior


View from the interior

A pavilion in the lake

Bright glazed tile deco


Pool in the terrace,

Upper floor has hamams, pillared

halls ,corridors, pavilions

View of a pavilion with pyramidal

roof and central dome

Pavilion with oriel windows

Baz bahadur’s palace

Other palaces in the fort

Rupmati’s pavilion with a view of

Narmada

Other palaces in the fort

Mandu fort…. Similar architecture also found in Chanderi

architecture of malwa

Documents

tomb of hushang shah

tomb chamber ashrafi

tomb of hushang shah

square tomb chamber

mosque malik mughis

ornamentation jami masjid

background jami masjid

corners ashrafi mahal