Imperial Style (Delhi Sultanate)
Art & Culture › Architecture · Topic 1.26
The Imperial Style, or Delhi Sultanate architecture, is the Indo-Islamic building tradition of the Delhi Sultanate between 1206 and 1526 CE under the Slave, Khalji, Tughlaq, Sayyid and Lodi dynasties. It introduced the true arch and dome, the minaret, the squinch and lime mortar, joined with the skills of Indian stonemasons and decoration. Key examples are the Qutb Minar and Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque in Delhi, the Adhai Din ka Jhonpra in Ajmer (Rajasthan), the Alai Darwaza of 1311, Tughlaqabad Fort and the Lodi Garden tombs. The Qutb complex was inscribed by UNESCO in 1993.
6 min read · UPSC Prelims · Art & Culture · Architecture
At a Glance
- Period 1206 to 1526 CE
- Also called Imperial Style, Delhi Sultanate architecture
- New features True arch, dome, minaret, lime mortar
- UNESCO Qutb Minar and its monuments, 1993
- Dynasties Slave, Khalji, Tughlaq, Sayyid, Lodi
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Art and Culture: Architecture
Where Does It Fit?
This topic begins the Indo-Islamic group of the architecture macro. The Delhi style is the centre from which the provincial and Mughal styles develop. Previous topic: Temples of Kerala. Next topic: Provincial Style.
Which Are the Main Monuments of the Delhi Sultanate?
| Monument | Place and state | Builder and date |
|---|---|---|
| Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque | Mehrauli, Delhi | Qutbuddin Aibak, 1192, built from the materials of Hindu and Jain temples; the first mosque in Delhi |
| Qutb Minar | Mehrauli, Delhi | Begun by Aibak about 1199, completed by Iltutmish; a five-storey tower about 72.5 m high; later repairs by Firoz Shah Tughlaq |
| Adhai Din ka Jhonpra | Ajmer, Rajasthan | Aibak, 1199; a mosque built from an older Sanskrit college |
| Sultan Ghari | Delhi | Iltutmish, 1231; the first Islamic tomb in India |
| Alai Darwaza | Qutb complex, Delhi | Alauddin Khalji, 1311; first true arch and dome using voussoirs with red sandstone and white marble |
| Tughlaqabad Fort | Delhi | Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq, 1320s, with sloping walls |
| Tomb of Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq | Delhi | Sloping walls and a marble dome |
| Firoz Shah Kotla | Delhi | Firoz Shah Tughlaq, 1354, with an Ashokan pillar brought from Topra |
| Lodi Garden tombs | Delhi | Sayyid and Lodi period octagonal tombs, including Sikandar Lodi’s tomb |
What Are the Features of the Imperial Style?
- True arch: a curved arch built with wedge-shaped stones called voussoirs, first seen at the Alai Darwaza
- Dome: a rounded roof over a square chamber, supported by squinches
- Minaret: a tall tower attached to a mosque, used for the call to prayer
- Lime mortar: a binding material that allowed larger spans
- Calligraphy: Quranic verses in Arabic script as decoration
- Geometric patterns: arabesques and star shapes, which avoid human forms
- Indian craft: lotus, bell and chain motifs from Hindu carvers
- Material: red sandstone, quartzite and marble
What Else Should You Remember?
- Iron Pillar: the Iron Pillar of the 4th to 5th century stands in the Quwwat-ul-Islam courtyard and is far older than the mosque
- Qutb Minar names: named for either Qutbuddin Aibak or the Sufi saint Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki, and the dates of the storeys vary
- Storeys: the first three storeys are of red sandstone, and the last two of marble and sandstone, rebuilt under Firoz Shah Tughlaq
- Early methods: Hindu masons used the corbelled arch, and the true arch came with Turkish builders
- Tughlaq style: plain, sloping walls called batter, strong forts, and fewer ornaments, shaped by the austere court
- Firoz Shah: built many towns, such as Firozabad, and canals, and repaired older buildings
- Sayyid and Lodi: octagonal tombs in gardens, the double dome and raised platforms, which prepared the Mughal garden tomb
- Alai Minar: an unfinished tower started by Alauddin Khalji to be twice as high as Qutb Minar
- Siri and Hauz Khas: Alauddin founded Siri and dug the Hauz Khas tank, and Firoz Shah later added the madrasa and his own tomb there
- Alternate spellings: Quwwat-ul-Islam is also written Quwwatul Islam, and Adhai Din ka Jhonpra as Adhai-din-ka-Jhonpra
- Next phase: these forms were taken further in Provincial Style and Mughal Style
- Contrast with earlier work: compare corbelled and pillar-beam building as in Nagara Style
- Meaning of Jhonpra: the name of the Ajmer mosque means a hut of two and a half days, a legend of its quick construction, and it is not a historical date
- Spolia: the use of pillars and carved stones from older Hindu and Jain temples in the Quwwat-ul-Islam is called spolia, and historians treat it as showing both conquest and craft reuse
- Tomb of Balban: the tomb of Balban is regarded as an early example of the true arch in Delhi, and the claim over the first true arch is debated, so questions usually accept Alai Darwaza
- Hindu motifs: bell, lotus, kalash and chain designs on Qutb Minar pillars show that Hindu carvers worked on the buildings
- Conservation: the Qutb Minar is closed to climbing since 1981 after a stampede, and the ASI manages the whole complex as a protected monument
Why Does It Matter for the Exam?
- Match questions: Qutb Minar with Aibak and Iltutmish, Alai Darwaza with Alauddin
- Firsts: Sultan Ghari first tomb, Alai Darwaza first true arch and dome
- Features: arch, dome, minaret, lime mortar
- UNESCO: Qutb Minar inscribed in 1993
- Common errors: giving Qutb Minar to the Mughals, or the Iron Pillar to the Sultanate
As an analytical point, Delhi Sultanate architecture is a record of cultural exchange, with Turkish forms and Indian craft in the same wall. It supports the idea of a composite culture while also raising questions about the reuse of older temples.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Qutb complex Frequent questions
- Firsts Arch and tomb
- Features Indo-Islamic synthesis
What Came Next?
The next topic covers the provincial styles that grew in the regional sultanates. Next topic: Provincial Style.
Key People and Terms
- Aibak Slave dynasty founder
- Iltutmish Completed Qutb Minar
- Voussoir Wedge stone in an arch
- Squinch Corner support for a dome
- Batter Sloping wall
- Alauddin Khalji Builder of Alai Darwaza
Related Topics in Maarg Manthan
Study this topic together with these linked topics from other subjects.
- Medieval Indian Architecture (Indo-Islamic Styles, Mughal Gardens) (Medieval History)
- Slave (Mamluk) Dynasty (Qutb-ud-din Aibak, Iltutmish, Razia Sultan, Balban) (Medieval History)
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Qutb Minar: Aibak and Iltutmish.
- First true arch and dome: Alai Darwaza, 1311.
- First tomb: Sultan Ghari.
- Tughlaq: sloping walls.
- UNESCO: 1993.
Do Not Confuse With
- Sultanate and Mughal tombs Octagonal and plain versus large charbagh tombs
- Corbelled and true arch Overlapping stones versus voussoirs
- Qutb Minar and Alai Minar Completed tower versus unfinished one
Memory Hook
Aibak began, Iltutmish raised, Alauddin arched, Tughlaq sloped, Lodi domed.
Mains Angle
Questions ask about synthesis and conservation. These points give a balanced frame.
- Synthesis Turkish and Indian craft
- Reuse Spolia and its debate
- Conservation Delhi monuments
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Delhi Sultanate architecture reflects a synthesis of Indian and Islamic elements. Discuss with examples.”
How to Answer
- Intro Period and dynasties.
- New features Arch, dome, minaret.
- Indian input Motifs and masons.
- Examples Qutb, Alai Darwaza, Tughlaqabad.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Imperial Style of architecture?
The Imperial Style is the Delhi Sultanate architecture of 1206 to 1526 CE under the Slave, Khalji, Tughlaq, Sayyid and Lodi dynasties. It brought the true arch, dome, minaret and lime mortar to India and mixed them with Indian craft, as at the Qutb Minar and the Alai Darwaza in Delhi.
Who built the Qutb Minar?
Qutbuddin Aibak began the Qutb Minar around 1199 CE and his successor Iltutmish completed it. It is a five-storey tower, about 72.5 metres tall, in the Qutb complex at Mehrauli, Delhi. Firoz Shah Tughlaq repaired it, and UNESCO inscribed the monument in 1993.
Which monument shows the first true arch in India?
The Alai Darwaza, built by Alauddin Khalji in 1311 in the Qutb complex at Delhi, is regarded as the first monument with a true arch and dome using voussoirs. It is made of red sandstone with white marble inlay and carries calligraphy and geometric patterns.
Where is Adhai Din ka Jhonpra located?
Adhai Din ka Jhonpra is in Ajmer in Rajasthan. Qutbuddin Aibak built it around 1199 CE as a mosque on the site of a Sanskrit college and temple. Its screen of arches and its carved pillars show Indian craft in an early Indo-Islamic building.
What is the difference between Sultanate and Mughal architecture?
Sultanate buildings are plainer, made of rubble and red sandstone, with simple domes, sloping walls and octagonal tombs. Mughal buildings use marble, double domes, large garden tombs, pietra dura and symmetrical gardens. The Sultanate style set the base from which Mughal work grew.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 The Qutb Minar was completed by Iltutmish.
Aibak began it and he completed it.
2 Sultan Ghari is the first Islamic tomb in India.
It was built by Iltutmish in 1231.
3 The Alai Darwaza was built by Muhammad bin Tughlaq.
It was built by Alauddin Khalji.
4 Tughlaq buildings often have sloping walls.
Called batter.
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