Monuments of Indo-Islamic Architecture in Gujarat
Ahmadabad in Gujarat developed as an Islamic city from the 15th to the 18th century. The architectural and political history of this city began when one Muzaffar Khan, governor of Gujarat declared independence. He was a governor on behalf of the Tughlaq Dynasty of the Delhi. His grandson, Ahmad Shah-I (1411-42), founded the capital, giving it his name, Ahmadabad, in 1411. The name of the dynasty was referred to as the Ahmad Shahi Dynasty.
- The Ahmad Shahi dynasty is known to have developed his own Islamic architecture, which can be called the Gujarat Style. Lots of monuments were created for a period of 170 years till the dynasty was brought to an end in 1573 by Akbar.
- The Gujarat Style was a judicious mix of Islamic and Indian traditions of architecture. The most notable point is that the mason’s guilds worked here and these guilds were able to retain the high techniques of stone architecture and sculpture that had greatly developed in Gujarat before the Muslim invasion. This was a significant departure from the Sultanate monuments of Delhi, where the style used was relatively archaic. However, in Ahamadabad also, false domes and archs were used such as in Rani Sipri Mausoleum.
- The first mosque Ahmad Shah‘s Mosque (1414), was made by the columns taken from existing temples. It was constructed in a wooden-like post and beam structure without using arches except for openings facing the courtyard and the Mihrab. Around the same time in 1424, the Jama Mosque was created which has great resemblance to the Jaina temples in Mt Abu and Ranakpur.
- In Gujarat style, we find a lots of use of the Jaali work in stone. The example of exquisite Jaali work is the Sidi Sayyid Mosque (1572), which employs delicate design on the motif of a tree spreading its branches, is especially celebrated.
