entrance gate

JAHANGIR’S PERIOD

AKBAR'S TOMB
Akbar’s mausoleum was built by his
son, the Emperor Jahangir, 8 years
after Akbar’s death, completed in
1613.

The scheme of the mausoleum is on

a grand scale, its perimeter walls
enclosing a large square garden,
while the tomb structure situated in
the centre of the enclosure is a
square in plan of 320’ side and over
100’ high.

In the middle of each side of the

enclosure is a gatehouse, three of
which are false doorways added for
symmetry and the southern being
the main entrance.

The main gateway is a minor

monument in itself, with pleasing
proportions and bold inlaid
ornamentation along with 4 graceful
white marble minarets, one above
each corner.
The arrangement of the garden
beyond the gateway shows the
collaboration between the garden
designer and the builder to create a
cohesive and unified composition.
The wide flagstone causeways are
expanded at suitable locations into
square terraces containing a
fountain and a sunk basin.

The tomb building takes the form of

a low truncated pyramid built up in
three storeys.

The ground storey consists of a

massive terrace, over 300’ side and
30’ high, with a series of arches
recessed within its sides. In the
centre of each side is a tall
rectangular structure containing an
arched alcove with a graceful marble
kiosk above its parapet. A doorway
within the southern alcove leads to a
corridor going to the tomb chamber
which is a small cell confined within
the womb of the building.
Above the terrace is a series of sandstone pavilions, arcades and kiosks and is a
light and fanciful structure in complete contrast with the powerful substructure. It
may be assumed that this part of the mausoleum was built under the supervision of
Jahangir who demolished what was built at this level and reconstructed it in
accordance with his architectural ideals. The contrast between the ground and
upper storeys reflect the contrasting characters of Akbar and Jahangir.

The uppermost storey of Akbar’s tomb is in marked contrast with the rest of the
structure as it is composed entirely of white marble instead of red sandstone. It is a
massive structure with a solid projecting cornice with a tall and graceful kiosk over
each corner. The entire structure is surrounded by a range of delicately perforated
screens. The interior of this storey is an open court surrounded by arcaded cloisters
and a cenotaph in the centre. It is probable that this storey was supposed to have
dome to provide a suitable apex to the pyramidal elevation and to protect the
exquisite craftsmanship of the cenotaph.

Akbar’s mausoleum exhibits an experimental nature, its builders trying to depart

from the conventional structures and achieve an original composition. However, due
to the lack of proper vision and guidance, the experiment has produced a structure
deficient in the essentials of coherence and mass and also unity and definition
Arial view
Front Elevation
Interior of the tomb
MUGHAL GARDENS
Mughal gardens
Mughal style is incomplete without reference of Mughal Gardens. It was
their love for nature that was responsible to create such ornamental gardens.
Qutub Mohammad often speaks of paradise or heaven using the phrases ‘the finest
of highest place of garden for the followers of Islam’. There are chambers built
beneath the four rivers of paradise flow. It has a lavish provision of gardens
blossomed with chinar trees, daisies & aromatic plants along the paved pathway.
A central pillared pavilion, loggias, kiosks & arbors were erected to
provide the setting upon the earth for enjoyment of paradise pleasure.
The example of Kabul Bagh at Panipat built by Emperor Babar & famous
gardens of Kashmir such as Shalimar & Nishat Bagh by Emperor Shahajahan in
1637.
The garden design was secular art much cultivated by Islamic rulers. The
bagh are world famous. They are of Persian origin some of these formal gardens
(using symmetry) can still be seen in Kashmir. The plan of garden was generally
square or rectangular when it was called char bagh. The beautiful flower beds were
separated by water channels radiating out from central pool. Often artificial water
falls & illuminated fountains surrounded the ‘Kushk’ (Garden) at the end of the
garden. Which consisted of several ‘baradari’ (Pillered rooms). The water channel
terminated in the ‘Bhavan’ (airy halls) ‘Burz’ (Towers)werebuilt as corners of
enclosure with domed colonnade chattri(pavellions).
Plan of Taj Mahal
It was concept of luxury adopted in hostile barren deserts.
It was upon irrigation water that gave the gardens its form.
In Koran paradise is described as celestial garden in which the righteous are
surrounded by every kind of luxury.
There was no horticulture in India Before the Muslim invasion.
Firuz shah- laid out one hundred gardens.
Babur undertook extensive works of gardens on the banks of river Jumna. To
combat intolerable heat use of extensive stretches of water and shady trees was
done.
Example I
Garden by, Babur near Kabul (BAG-E-WAFA 1508) garden of fidelity, had typical
characteristic of Mughal garden, used fourfold field plot concept, water streams
flow below. Reservoir on S-W part, around which orange trees, pomegranate tress
and grass plots were planted,
Earliest concept consisted geometrics symbolism
Hanging Gardens of Persia – 8 terrace symbolize 8 fold division of paradise.
Septempartite division- related to seven planets.
‘Char bagh ‘ ( four garden) concept predominantly used in India. Its axes oriented
towards the four cardinal points with a square basic form. This form also fitted with
Hindu concept of cosmology.
In India concept of Char bagh was introduced by Humayun’s tomb .
Characteristics of Mughal Garden.
• In the middle of axial streets and water ways stood the ‘Baradari’ an open water
pavilion ( Persian Prototype). The garden was enclosed by a high wall. The place of the
pavilion may be taken by a mausoleum. The first of such monumental garden containing
a tomb is the one surrounding Humayun’s tomb in Delhi.
• In dray climates of Northern India. Mughal gardens were artificial or manmade
creations and needed care. The necessity of irrigation led to rigid geometrical divisions
by net work of channels and use of terraces to break up slope.
• The homogeneity of building and garden was achieved by use of same material for
paved path ways and face of buildings.
• Path ways along waterways are at higher level, so that the channels are situated above
the flowers beds to be watered through the outlets. Hedges and trees along the
pathways served to accentuate the square network of waterways.
• Marble and red sand stone were used in geometrical patterns for path ways and flower
beds set against green of lawns.
• Use of flowing water ( Chadar).
•The water flowed from middle of the square and flowed down in all directions. Some
times the terrain sloped in one direction.
• The water flowed ceaselessly through slopes. This flowing water was utilized to make
little waterfalls or marble water chutes ( called as chadars). Means the white foaming
and sloping stretches of water formed between the upper and lower channels. Chadar
are a common feature in Mughal Gardens. Water fountains, cascades, pools, hammams
for water palaces were also extensively used.
• The Mughal garden were a setting created for the grand building of tomb structures.
The masses of flowers, fruit trees, fountains and stretches of lawns were the transition
element to lead from inbuilt to built forms.
• Vegetation used consisted of fruit trees such as apple, pear, plum, apricot, cherry,
pink and aromatic plants were used along the paved path ways.

EXAMPLES OF MUGHAL GARDENS:

Example – II – Shalimar Bagh , at Shrinagar Kashmir – beginning of 17th century.
• The largest and best known Mughal gardens of the “halls of love” it has all the
characteristic of a typical Charbagh .
• It consists of two Charbaghs. Each square is a self sufficient entity separated from
each other by level difference.
• The entrance is through lower garden accessible to the public. It was here that the
ruler and his counselors lived.
• Along the north side is a bath- house, enlarged to accommodate the small royal
house hold, incase the Great Mughal spend several days of summer here in the cool
of mountains.
• The raised part of garden was meant for the used of women.
Example III : Shalimar Bagh at Lahore
Shalimar Bagh
Nishat Bagh, Srinagar
 -: Chashmashahi

Chadur:-