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Contents

1. The South Facade, The Turkish Sultana’s House 2. Rich Carving on Piers and Brackets, The Turkish Sultana’s House 3. Detail, Brackets supporting Verandah Lintels, The Turkish Sultana’s House 4. Carved Stone Ceiling, North Verandah, The Turkish Sultana’s House 5. Detail, Carved panels in the Verandah Ceilings, The Turkish Sultana’s House 6. Carved Dado Panel (in red sandstone), The Turkish Sultana’s House 7. Detail, Balcony on the East Facade, Rajah Birbal’s House 8. The East Facade, Rajah Birbal’s House 9. Detail, The lower Parapet, Rajah Birbal’s House 10. ElevationofanExteriorDoor,south-eastupperfloorroom,RajahBirbal’sHouse 11. PanellingandCarvinguponWalls,south-eastupperfloorrooms,RajahBirbal’sHouse 12. Interiorelevationofthesoutheastgroundfloorroom,RajahBirbal’sHouse 13. Detail,entablature,north-eastgroundfloorroom,RajahBirbal’sHouse 14. Detail,Wallrecesses,south-eastgroundfloorroom,RajahBirbal’sHouse 15. Detail, Capitals of Pilasters, Rajah Birbal’s House 16. Detail, Bases of Pilasters, Rajah Birbal’s House 17. Detail, Carved Panels upon the Pilasters, Rajah Birbal’s House 18. Detail, Carved Panels upon the Pilasters, Rajah Birbal’s House 19. CarvedstoneCeiling,northwestgroundfloorroom,RajahBirbal’sHouse 20. Elevationofthemainentrance,JodhBai’sPalace 21. Detail,Balconiesoverthemainentrance,JodhBai’sPalace 22. Niche,JodhBai’sPalace 23. Detail,JaliWindows,JodhBai’sPalace 24. Medallionsunderthedomes,JodhBai’sPalace

Fatehpur Sikri - 1

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The Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT) is involved in research anddocumentationforcollectionofresourcesonvariousaspectsofCulture.Theaimistoproduceprintedandaudio-visualmaterialonCulturalEducationforinstitutionsand for individuals.

The CCRT was able to acquire a portfolio on ‘Indian Architectural Drawings, Part1,onFatehpurSikri’preparedunderthedirectionofEdmundW.SmithoftheArchaeological Survey North West Provinces and Oudh, (Nainital, 1897).

The original drawings were prepared ‘under the compiler’s direction andsupervision by Indian draughtsmen,who received preliminary training in variousIndianschoolsofartbeforeenteringtheArchaeologicaldepartment.’Thesedrawings,prepared to illustrate a report of the Archaeological Survey of India entitled ‘The Moghul Architecture of Fathpur Sikri’, were reproduced in photolithography by MessersW.GriggsandSons,HanoverStreet,Peckham,London,in1897.EdmundW.Smithinhisprefacetotheporfolio,expressedthehopethatthedrawings’willspreada knowledge of themost interesting period of IndianArchitecture’ to ‘architects,engineers, art students and others’.

Since this portfolio is now largely inaccessible, theCCRT is presenting somedrawingsintwosetsofFolios.Thefirstsetcontainsdrawingsof:

Fatehpur Sikri - The Turkish Sultana’s House Fatehpur Sikri - Rajah Birbal’s House FatehpurSikri-JodhBai’sPalace

ThetownshipofFatehpurSikriwasbuiltbythegreatmughalEmperorAkbarwhoruledbetween1556-1605C.E.Itisoneofthemostexquisiteexampleofarchitecturaldesign,calligraphy,carvingandjaliwork.Geometricalandfloralmotifsinalltheirgloryhavebeenetchedonthewallsofthiscomplexwithgreatdelicacyandaestheticsensibility by the artisans of yore.

The construction of the capital city began around 1570 C.E. Perched on a hillock, thecitycomplexstandsself-containedwithreligiousandsecularbuildings,palacesand courtyards. After sixteen years, however, the city is reported to have been abandoned for a variety of reasons.

The size and speed with which the building project was put into execution required alargegroupofarchitects,artisansandcraftsmen.Akbar,itissaid,broughtartistsfromallpartsofhisempire,andtheygavetoFatehpurSikrithe‘architecturalidiomoftheirregion’.Thediversityofstylesandarchitecturalformsareheldtogetherinanoverallvisualunitybytheuseoftherichredsandstonethatwasquarriedfromtheridge on which the city was built.

Todaythecityliesdeserted.Yetthemagnificenceofthebuildingsandsculptureddecorations are testimony to the artistic achievements and splendour ofAkbar’scity.

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About the Centre

The CCRT has been set up in the service of education specialising in the area of linkingeducationwithculture.Initsacademicprogrammesithasconductedresearchinthestudyofmethodologiesforprovidingaculturalinputincurriculumteaching.TheCCRTorganisesavarietyof trainingprogrammes for administrators, teachereducators,inserviceteachersofalllevelsandstudents.Theseaimatsensitisingtheparticipantstotheaestheticandculturalnormsgoverningallcreativeexpressions.Educational visits to historical sites andmuseums focus onwidening the horizonof teachersbyusing theseascentresof learning.Themajor focusof the training,however, is on Project Work and preparation of action plans for integrating various educational disciplines using a cultural base. The training also provides an opportunity toacquireskillsintraditionalartsandcraftssothatthisknowledgemaybeusedtodiscover the creative potential of the students.

Tosupplement the training, theCCRTcollects resources in the formof soundrecordings, slides and photographs, films and other audio-visualmaterials on thearts and crafts. This is then used to produce teaching materials for creating anunderstanding and appreciation of the diversity and continuity of the Indian cultural traditions.

TheCCRT’saudio-visualandprintedmaterialontheartsandcraftsofIndiaarebeingwidelyusedforculturaleducation.Thoughsomeofthesematerialsfocusonaspecificartform,theyarealsousedtoenrichteachingofdifferentdisciplinesofthecurriculum.ThepublicationsincludeHandbooksandWorkbooks,Folios,postersandalsosetsof illustratedmaterialwithsuggestedactivitiesforstudentsandteachers.Theslides,withdescriptionscoverawiderangeofculturalmanifestation.Theaudioandvideocassettesonthetraditionalperformingartsandonhistoricalandculturalsitesarenotonlyinformativebutaestheticallyproduced.

TheCCRTisimplementingtheCulturalTalentSearchScholarshipSchemeandisgiving scholarships to talented school going children to study the traditional arts and crafts of their regions.

The CCRT has also instituted a few awards for trained teachers who are doing commendableworkinthefieldofeducationandculture.Theaimistosensitisetheyouthtothehighlystylisedandaestheticqualityofcreativeexpressionsofhumanbeings through the ages.

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Centre for Cultural resourCes and trainingfunctional Chart

training and Community and Collection of Production Cultural talent search administration evalution extension Programmes resources scholarship scheme and finance

Training Evaluation Documentation and Audio-Visual Award to General Library Services Materials scholarships to Administration (a) Orientation (a) Bi-annual reports (a) Educational tours outstanding and Finance. Courses (b) Refresher Courses (b) Youth Camps (a) Studio and field (a) Cultural kits students for study (b) Courses on (c) Seminars for (c) Workshops for photography (b) Audio recordings of traditional music Puppetry evaluation and students (b) Audio recordings (c) Video films (vocal and for Education feedback (d) Visit of artists (c) Video-recordings (d) Slide-tape instrumental), (c) Workshops (d) Teachers’ Award and craftsmen (d) Films presentations dance, drama, (d) Refresher (e) Others to schools (e) Books, Magazines (e) Others painting, sculpture, Courses (e) Cultural and Journals rare art forms (e) Seminars education (f) Art and Craft Publications : and crafts. (f) Others in schools objects (a) Cultural Youth Camps (f) Others (g) Others Packages Seminars for Gurus (b) Charts/Folios/ Preparation of

Posters Syllabi (c) Workbooks (d) Handbooks (e) Others

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The South Facade.1.

The Turkish Sultana’s House was erected between 1565-1605 C.E. It is one of the finest specimens ofearly Moghul Architecture extant. It is built entirely of red sandstone. The fanlights over the doorways were originally filled in with beautifulpierced screens in stone. The interior of the house is carved as elaborately as the exterior.

The roof is formedof solid slabs of stone, beautifully carved on the soffit.

HariDuttaandEdmd.W.Smith,del.

SCALE OF FEETSection through covered way leading to Turkish Sultana’s bath.

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2. Piers and brackets carrying lintels of verandah roof.

Erected between 1565-1605 C.E. The rich carving upon the brackets and piers, which are in red sandstone, is varied considerably. This is shown on the detail of the bracket,fromthesouthsideofthehouse.

SCALE OF FEET

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The Turkish Sultana’s House was erected between 1565-1605 C.E.ItisoneofthefinestspecimensofearlyMoghulArchitectureextant. It is built entirely in red sandstone. Surrounding the house isaverandah,andthebracketsshownonthediagramsupportthelintels spanning thebaysbetween the columns.They are in onepiece of stone.

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3. Detail of brackets supporting verandah lintels.

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4. Carved stone ceiling, north verandah.

Erected between 1565-1605 C.E. The verandahs on the north, south and east sides of the house are covered

by lean-to roofs, cut out of solid blocks of stone, notchedontomouldedwallplates,andtolintels,

on the outside, supported on brackets and columns.

Asthediagramshows,thesoffitoftheverandahs are divided into a series of long oblong panels separated fromeach other by ornamented and

raised borders, corresponding to the rafters of an ordinary

wooden roof.

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Erected between 1565-1605 C.E. The dotted lines show the construction lines of the figures, many ofwhich are very intricate. The drawing should be studied in conjunction with the diagramoftheentireceiling.

5. Detail of carved panels in the verandah ceilings.

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Erected between 1565-1605 C.E. The stone dado round the bottom of the room is dividedinto eight oblong panels, each of which is enclosed by a stone border carved with the Swdstika. Each panel is decorated with conventional carving, some ofwhich is Chinese-like in touch and feeling. Different scenes are depicted on the panels; one shows a forest view with birds, lions,andotheranimals;anothera garden; another palm-trees;and so on. Between the top of the dado and the cornice round the ceiling is a stone lattice 6 inches deep, which served the purpose of an almirah or open cupboard.

6. Carved dado panel (in red sandstone).

SCALE OF FEET Section

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Erected C.E. 1571 by Rajah Birbal. The balconies project 3 feet from the face of thewall, andare supported on massive stonebrackets tailed into the wall. The sides are partially filled in withopen stone trellis balustrades, and a deep dripstone along the top affords protection,toanextent,fromthesunand rain.

Detail of balcony on the East Facade.7.

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Plan

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Erected in C.E. 1571 by Rajah Birbal for his daughter.The house is thefinestdomestic building in the city, and,like the Turkish Sultana’s house, is elaborately carved both inside and out. It is built entirely of red sandstone, with the exceptionoftheoutsideofthedomesandporchroofs,whicharecoatedincement.

8.

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The East Facade.

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Erected C.E. 1571 by Rajah Birbal. The parapet continues right round the house on a level with the first floor, and cuts the facade intotwomainportions.Liketherestofthe building, it is in red sandstone.

Detail of the lower parapet

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9.

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Erected C.E. 1571 by Rajah Birbal. The entire doorway is in red sandstone, and the architraves are mouldedand prettily carved with leaves. The tympanum between the arch and thelintelispiercedwithafanlightfilledinwith jali tracery, the depth of which is shown on the section.

Elevationofwestexteriordoor,south-eastupperfloorroom.10.

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Section

Plan

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Erected C.E. 1571 by Rajah Birbal. Like the lower, the walls of the upper rooms are “wainscotted”in red sandstone. The lower portion of the wainscotting is solid, and is

panelledwithanuncommongeometricaldevice, but the upper is pierced by a recess 1 foot 6 inches in depth, divided into two parts by a shelf. The front of the shelf, like the sides of the recesses and panels, is neatly chiselled with a continuous leaf scroll. The pilasters are elaborately ornamentedwith floral andgeometricaldevices,andthearchitravesround the doors are carved in keeping with the surroundings.

Panellingandcarvinguponwalls,south-eastupperfloorrooms.11.

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Plan

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12. Interiorelevationofthesouth-eastgroundfloorroom.

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Erected C.E. 1571 by Rajah Birbal. The rooms on thegroundfloormeasuresome15ft. square, and the stone ceilings — covering them are carriedon a bold cornice, supported on the exquisite frieze shown on thediagram,whichiswrought,like the rest of the building, in red sandstone.The design speaks for itself. The carving upon the cornice, buttresses and pendentives is beautifully executed.

Detailofentablature,north-eastgroundfloorroom.13.

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Section through Pendentive

Plan of Pendentive

Plan of Buttress

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Erected by Rajah Birbal C.E. 1571. In the walls of eachofthegroundfloorroomsareeightniches,oneoneach side of the doorways, of which there are four. As furniture was scantily used, they served the purposes of cupboards.Theymeasure3ft.9in.inheightand2ft.9in. in breadth, and are 1 ft. in depth. The carving upon the framingroundthearchedopeningsinthecentresoftheniches is varied.

14.Detailofwallrecesses,south-eastgroundfloorroom.

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Erected by Rajah Birbal C.E. 1571. Carved in red sandstone. The caps and bases of the pilasters throughout the house, both inside andout,aremoreorlesselaboratelydecorated by carving.

Details of capitals of pilasters.15.

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Erected by Rajah Birbal C.E. 1571. A strong Hindu influence istraceable throughout the design of Birbal’s house. Some of thedoorways are carvedwith animals,birds,etc.,anduponmostofthebasesa semi-lotus rosette is sculptured,surrounded by an undulating band of raised ornamentation. Themouldingsuponthetopofthebasesare crude, and are characteristic of early Moghul work.

Details of bases of pilasters.16.

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Erected by Rajah Birbal C.E. 1571. The illustration represents some of the carvedpanels upon the pilasters.

There are three panels upon each pilaster, enclosedbycarvedfloralborders.Thedesignsof the panels vary considerably, but the upper andlowerpanelsgenerallyassimilate.Allarein red sandstone.

17. Details of carved panels upon the pilasters.

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Erected by Rajah Birbal C.E. 1571. The illustration shows how numerous andvaried the patterns upon the pilasters are. They consist chiefly of geometricaltraceries; many are veryintricate, and are traceable to Persian and Arabian examples. The patternsmarkedAarecarvedwiththeswastika or cross, a symbolof great antiquity, and found in the rock-cut temples ofWestern India, as the filfot in Europe and elsewhere.

18.

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Details of carved panels upon the pilasters.

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Erected by Rajah Birbal C.E. 1571. The ceiling is in red sandstoneandismadeupofninemonoliths,extendingfromwalltowall,adistanceof16ft.,varyingfrom1ft.3in.to2ft.1in.inthickness.Theyarejoinedatintervalsbyironcramps,and the ends rest on a cornice.

Carvedstoneceiling,north-westgroundfloorroom.19.

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Section through Patera

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Built in red sandstone, and erected about 1565 C.E. The palace is about the oldest in the city, and the plainness of its architecture shows the earliness of the work. On each side of the door were seats for the attendants.

Elevationofthemainentrance.20.

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Front and side elevation of the bracket above the entrance

Detail of cusping upon the arch

Panel

Patera

PlanFeet

ElevationDetail of plinth

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Built in red sandstone and erected about C.E. 1565 The stone brackets supporting the balcony are of one piece of stone, and are well tailed into the wall. The balustrades are also of one piece of stone, asistheflooronwhichtheyrest.The dripstone is caught on a wall plate, supported on brackets. The roof, with the exception of the finials andridge,isofcement.

Detailsofthebalconiesoverthemainentrance.21.

Front and side elevation of bracket, A

Detail of capitals

Detail of parapet, B

Plan of balcony

Foot

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Foot

SCALE

Plan of bracket

ElevationSection

Section and elevation of patera

Balustrade around the balcony

Raised carving upon the spandrils over the entrance

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Build in red sandstone, about the year C.E. 1556. The niche was probably used for a statue of a Hindu deity, as the palace was built for Akbar’s Hindu wife. Throughout the design a strong Hindu influence is noticeable—moresothaninanyotherbuildingof Fathpur Sikri. Carved upon thepedimentwe see thebell andchain, and on the cornice of square chequerings. These ornamentsare commonly met with in 12thcentury Hindu architecture

22. Detail of Niche

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Elevation

DetailofPediment

Detail of dies upon corners ofpediment

Feet

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Section

Inches

Inches

Inches

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Detail of capital

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Built in red sandstone about 1565 C.E. Glazed windows were not used in early Moghul architecture, but in place of these jali, or stone lattices, were employed. Theperforationswerenotverybig,butweresufficientlylargetoadmitlightandfreshair.Theyweregenerallyprotectedfrom the rain and sunbydeepeavesordrips, supportedon stone wall-plates carried on curiously shaped brackets.

Details of jali windows.23.

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Detail of plinth

Inches

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Feet

Plan

Detailofwindowjamb

Elevation

Section

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BuiltabouttheyearC.E.1565.Themedallionsare7feet3inchesindiameter,andareofstucco.ThedesignssavouragooddealofMoorishwork.ThestyleofornamentationisfrequentlymetwithatFathpurSikri.Thedesignswerefirst sketchedonthefinishedfaceoftheplaster,andthencarefullycutwithsharpinstruments.

Medallionsunderthedomes.24.

SCALE OF FEET

Feet

Section