History of Architecture

BENGAL ARCHITECTURE
ADINA MOSQUE
 Brief description:
This gigantic Mosque built and completed by Sikandar Shah (c.1358-1390 AD)
in 1369 AD is the most remarkable existing example of Muslim architecture of
that period. It is a Quadrangular building, consisting of cloisters which
surrounded a central area of the same form. It extends 507½ feet from north
to south and 285½ feet from east to west. On the east side, through which the
shrine is entered by an insignificant door, the cloisters are 38 feet wide and
have 3 aisles. The total number of domes covering the cloisters was 306 in all.
The upper chamber (Badshah-Ka-Takht) which is situated to the north of the
Central hall, was apparently intended to provide separate accommodation for
the King and his family during services. The prayer niches on this area in the
west wall are embellished with beautiful ornamental Tughra inscriptions. To
the northern half of the back wall of the mosque and west of the Badshah-Ka-
Takht lies a roofless room, 42 feet square, known as Sikandar Shah's tomb.
CHAMKATTI MASJID
 BRIEF HISTORY :
• Erected possibly by Sultan Yusuf Shah this brick built Mosque
(damaged) is resting on stone pillars up to the height of
springing point of its single dome. The verandah in front, has
three arched entrances and noted for use of glazed tiles
lending a graceful appearance. Three doorways lead into the
interior square hall.
Dakhil Darwaja
 BRIEF HISTORY :
• This impressive gateway built of brick was probably built by Sultan Barbak
Shah (c.1459-74 AD) and served as the main entrance on north into the
citadel of Gaur. It was also called 'Salami Gate' as salutes were fired from
its sides. The facade of the gateway measures 73' 4" in breadth and rises
to a height of 60'. The gateway represents the height of excellence that
the brick masons of Bengal were capable of achieving. The archway which
is 34' high up to the apex of the pointed arch, is flanked by a pylon like
buttress, one on each side of the frontage and guarding the portal. The
archway between the two pylons provides a deep and wide portico
containing the arched opening, which leads into a central vaulted passage,
with a guard room on each side. The entire structure has beautiful
terracotta ornamentation and a guard example of the intermingling of
Islamic thought and regional characteristic features.
Firoz Minar
 BRIEF HISTORY :
ALTERNATELY KNOWN AS FIROZA MINAR OR 'BLUE TOWER' THIS TOWER
25.60 M HIGH WITH SPIRAL STAIRCASE HAVING 73 STEPS WAS PROBABLY
CONSTRUCTED BY SAIFUDDIN FIROZ AN ABYSSINIAN COMMANDER OF THE
ROYAL FORCES WHO BECAME THE SULTAN BY AVENGING THE KILLING OF
SULTAN JALALUDDIN FATH SHAH, THE LAST RULER OF THE ILIYAS SHAHI
DYNASTY. FROM THE FOOT OF THE DOOR THE TOWER RISES IN THREE
STOREYS OF TWELVE SIDES, EACH STOREY DEMARCATED BY ORNAMENTAL
BANDS. THE FOURTH AND FIFTH STOREYS ARE CIRCULAR WITH REDUCED
DIAMETER. THE LAST STOREY ORIGINALLY AN OPEN ARCHED ROOM
COVERED BY A DOME HAS BEEN CHANGED INTO AN OPEN FLAT ROOF BY
SOME RESTORER. THIS IS CONSIDERED AS A VICTORY TOWER AS ITS BUILDER
IS CREDITED WITH MANY VICTORIES IN BATTLES. SCHOLARS ATTRIBUTE IT AS
A BENGALI VERSION OF THE QUTB MINAR (1486 - 89 AD).
KOTWALI DARWAJA
BRIEF HISTORY :

THIS MAGNIFICENT ARCHED GATEWAY TOP PART OF WHICH

COLLAPSED LONG BACK IS THE CENTRAL GATE IN THE SOUTH WALL
OF THE CITY OF GAUR. THE GATEWAY HAD A BRICK ARCH 30 FEET
HIGH AND 16 FEET VINE METES SPAN. THERE ARE BATTLEMENTS ON
THE EAST AND WEST SIDES. IT APPROXIMATES IN STYLE TO DELHI
ARCHITECTURE AND WAS PROBABLY BUILT BETWEEN THE DATE OF
THE EARLIEST MUSLIM INSCRIPTION FOUND IN GAUR, 1235 I.E. THE
TIME OF ILTUTMISH AND THE DEATH OF ALAUDDIN KHALJI IN 1315
WHEN THE INFLUENCE OF DELHI WAS STRONG IN LAKHNAUTI
Lottan Masjid
BRIEF HISTORY:
THE MOSQUE WAS PROBABLY BUILT BY SULTAN YUSUF
SHAH (C.1474-81 AD) BUT TRADITIONALLY ASCRIBED TO A
ROYAL COURTESAN WITHOUT MUCH GROUND. THIS IS A
SINGLE DOMED BUILDING WITH A SQUARE CHAMBER
AND A CORRIDOR IN FRONT. THERE ARE THREE ARCHED
ENTRANCES ON THE EAST AND SIDES. IT WAS ONCE
COVERED WITH A ENAMELED BRICK WORK OF FOUR
COLORS, GREEN, YELLOW, BLUE AND WHITE LENDING A
COLORFUL APPEARANCE.
Qadam Rasul Masjid
BRIEF HISTORY :

IT IS A MISNOMER TO CALL THIS A MOSQUE, IN

ACTUALITY IS A BUILDING TO CONTAIN THE PROPHET'S
FOOT PRINTS IN STONE SAID TO HAVE BEEN BROUGHT BY
A SAINT FROM ARABIA. THE BUILDING HAS A CENTRAL
SQUARE ROOM WITH A WIDE VERANDAH. THE EASTERN
FACADE IS HIGHLY DECORATED. THE CENTRAL ROOM IS
COVERED BY A SINGLE DOME, CROWNED WITH A LOTUS
TANTIPARA MASJID
BRIEF HISTORY :
This brick-built Mosque is an oblong building
with stone columns in double aisles and
was originally covered with 10 domes, 5 in
each row. It has also bold floral panels on
its surface.
Its ornamentation is rich and effective, and
the large decorated panels stand out in
high relief against the plain walls. Tanti Para
means the quarter for the weaver class. This
mosque was probably built by Mirshad
Khan in 1480 AD.
EKLAKHI MAUSOLEUM
BRIEF HISTORY :
This brick built Mausoleum is the most beautiful building in
this place. It forms a square roofed by a dome with a
small turret at each corner. The inside plan of the
structure is octagonal. The walls are exquisitely
ornamented in the outer part by carved tiles and
decorative motifs on bricks. Tradition runs that this
construction cost 1 lakh rupees so the name. Amongst
the three graves inside, one is regarded as tomb of
Sultan Jalaluddin, son of Raja Khans, the other two of his
wife and son Ahmad Shah. There is divergence of
opinion among scholars about the identification and
orientation of the graves. This structure was probably built
in the early c.15th century AD.
Qutub Sahi Masjid
BRIEF HISTORY :

THIS MASJID WAS BUILT BY MAKHDUM SHEIKH IN

C.1582 AD. IT WAS BUILT OF BRICK AND STONE AND
HAD TEN DOMES. THE ROOF HAS FELL DOWN, BUT
THE WALLS AND PULPIT ARE STANDING. IT WAS
CALLED QUTUB SHAHI MASJID AS A MARK OF
RESPECT TO THE SAINT NOOR QUTB UL ALAM.