Provincial Style
Art & Culture › Architecture · Topic 1.27
The Provincial Style is the group of regional Indo-Islamic architectural styles that grew in the independent sultanates of the 14th to 16th centuries, after the Delhi Sultanate weakened. Main schools are Jaunpur (Uttar Pradesh) with the Atala Masjid, Bengal with the Adina Mosque at Pandua (West Bengal), Gujarat with the Jama Masjid and Sidi Saiyyed mosque at Ahmedabad, Malwa with Mandu (Madhya Pradesh), the Deccan with Gol Gumbaz at Bijapur (Vijayapura, Karnataka) and Charminar at Hyderabad (Telangana), and Kashmir with timber mosques. Each blended local materials and Hindu craft with Islamic forms.
5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Art & Culture · Architecture
At a Glance
- Period 14th to 16th century CE
- Cause Rise of regional sultanates
- Main schools Jaunpur, Bengal, Gujarat, Malwa, Deccan, Kashmir
- UNESCO links Champaner-Pavagadh 2004
- Trait Local material and Hindu craft
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Art and Culture: Architecture
Where Does It Fit?
This topic follows Imperial Style (Delhi Sultanate). It shows how the same arch and dome were reshaped in each region, before the Mughals joined these lines into one style. Previous topic: Imperial Style (Delhi Sultanate). Next topic: Mughal Style.
Which Are the Main Provincial Schools and Monuments?
| School | Monument and state | Builder and date, features |
|---|---|---|
| Jaunpur (Sharqi) | Atala Masjid, Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh | Ibrahim Shah Sharqi, 1408; massive propylon gateway, no minarets; also Jama Masjid and Lal Darwaza mosque |
| Bengal | Adina Mosque, Pandua, West Bengal | Sikandar Shah of the Ilyas Shahi line, 1374 to 75; one of the largest mosques of the Indian subcontinent; brick and stone |
| Bengal | Eklakhi Tomb, Pandua; Bara Sona Masjid, Gaur | Brick with terracotta, curved bangla roofs |
| Gujarat | Jama Masjid, Ahmedabad, Gujarat | Ahmad Shah I, 1424; pillared hall with many domes and Hindu-Jain carving |
| Gujarat | Sidi Saiyyed Mosque, Ahmedabad | Famed for its stone lattice work, the tree of life jali, 1572 to 73 |
| Malwa | Hoshang Shah’s Tomb, Mandu, Madhya Pradesh | First marble tomb in India, 15th century; Jahaz Mahal and Hindola Mahal also at Mandu |
| Deccan (Bahmani) | Jama Masjid, Gulbarga (Kalaburagi); Madrasa of Mahmud Gawan, Bidar, Karnataka | Gulbarga mosque has no open courtyard, covered by a dome; Bidar madrasa has Persian influence |
| Deccan (Adil Shahi) | Gol Gumbaz, Bijapur, Karnataka | Muhammad Adil Shah, 1656; one of the largest domes in the world, a whispering gallery |
| Deccan (Qutb Shahi) | Charminar, Hyderabad, Telangana | Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, 1591; four minarets |
| Kashmir | Shah Hamadan Mosque, Srinagar; Jama Masjid, Srinagar | Timber and pagoda-like roofs, from the Sultan Sikandar and Zain-ul-Abidin period |
What Are the Common Features of Provincial Styles?
- Local materials: brick in Bengal, stone in Gujarat and the Deccan, timber in Kashmir
- Hindu and Jain craft: carved pillars, brackets and lotus motifs, especially in Gujarat
- Climate response: curved roofs for rain in Bengal, jalis for ventilation in Gujarat
- Domes and arches: larger and more varied than Delhi, with pointed and four-centred arches
- Minarets: some schools omit them, as at Atala Masjid
- Terracotta: ornament in Bengal, in place of stone carving
- Gardens and palaces: at Mandu, with water and pavilions
- Tombs: domed square tombs with Persian influence in the Deccan
What Else Should You Remember?
- Rise of provinces: after the Timur sack of Delhi in 1398 and weakening of the Tughlaqs, governors set up kingdoms in Jaunpur, Malwa, Gujarat, Bengal and the Deccan
- Bahmani and successors: the Bahmani Sultanate split into the five Deccan sultanates of Bijapur, Golconda, Ahmednagar, Bidar and Berar
- Gol Gumbaz dome: the dome spans about 44 m on the outside above a cube about 47.5 m wide, and it is often called the second largest dome in the world after St Peter’s Basilica, though rankings differ with the measure used
- Champaner: Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park in Gujarat was inscribed by UNESCO in 2004 and has the Jama Masjid of Champaner
- Adina Mosque: also spelt Adina Masjid and sometimes called Hazrat Pandua
- Atala Masjid name: named for the Atala Devi temple on which it stands, an example of reuse of an earlier site
- Mahmud Gawan: the minister of the Bahmanis who built the Bidar madrasa
- Kashmir: Zain-ul-Abidin, called Budshah, encouraged crafts such as papier mache and shawl weaving
- Ahmedabad: founded by Ahmad Shah I in 1411, Ahmedabad City was inscribed by UNESCO in 2017 as India’s first World Heritage City
- Rani ki Vav comparison: the stepwell form is Solanki Hindu work and not a Provincial Style monument
- Next step: the styles flow into Mughal Style, and the Rajput forts remain separate as in Rajput Architecture
- Compare with Delhi: contrast with the plain forms of Imperial Style (Delhi Sultanate)
Why Does It Matter for the Exam?
- Match questions: Atala Masjid with Jaunpur, Adina Mosque with Pandua, Gol Gumbaz with Bijapur
- State questions: Charminar in Telangana, Mandu in Madhya Pradesh
- Material questions: brick and terracotta in Bengal
- UNESCO: Champaner-Pavagadh 2004, Ahmedabad 2017
- Common errors: putting Gol Gumbaz in Hyderabad or Charminar in Bijapur
As an analytical point, Provincial styles show that Indo-Islamic architecture was not one block but a set of regional responses. This supports the idea of cultural pluralism and local craft networks.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Match tables Monument and state
- UNESCO Champaner and Ahmedabad
- Materials Regional response
What Came Next?
The next topic covers the Mughal style, which brought the long Indo-Islamic tradition to its height. Next topic: Mughal Style.
Key People and Terms
- Sharqi Jaunpur dynasty
- Bahmani Deccan sultanate
- Jali Lattice screen
- Propylon Gateway screen
- Mahmud Gawan Bidar minister
- Quli Qutb Shah Charminar builder
Related Topics in Maarg Manthan
Study this topic together with these linked topics from other subjects.
- Bengal Sultanate (Medieval History)
- Sultanate of Jaunpur (Avadh Region) (Medieval History)
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Jaunpur: Atala Masjid.
- Pandua: Adina Mosque.
- Bijapur: Gol Gumbaz.
- Hyderabad: Charminar.
- Mandu: Hoshang Shah tomb.
Do Not Confuse With
- Gol Gumbaz and Charminar Bijapur dome versus Hyderabad four minarets
- Jaunpur and Gujarat Propylon gateway versus jali and domed hall
- Bahmani and Adil Shahi Parent sultanate versus a successor
Memory Hook
Atala gate, Adina brick, Mandu marble, Gol dome, Char minars.
Mains Angle
Questions ask about regional diversity and syncretism. These points give a balanced frame.
- Diversity Region shapes style
- Syncretism Hindu craft in mosques
- Heritage cities Ahmedabad and Champaner
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Why did Indo-Islamic architecture take different forms in the provinces? Illustrate.”
How to Answer
- Cause Regional kingdoms.
- Local factors Material, climate, craft.
- Examples Jaunpur, Bengal, Gujarat, Deccan.
- Result Pluralism.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Provincial Style architecture?
Provincial Style architecture is the set of regional Indo-Islamic styles that grew in the independent sultanates of Jaunpur, Bengal, Gujarat, Malwa, the Deccan and Kashmir in the 14th to 16th centuries. Each used local materials and Hindu and Jain craft, so they differ from the Delhi Sultanate style.
Where is the Atala Masjid located?
The Atala Masjid is at Jaunpur in Uttar Pradesh. Ibrahim Shah Sharqi of the Sharqi dynasty built it in 1408 on the site of an Atala Devi temple. It has a huge central gateway, or propylon, with no minarets, and it is the best-known mosque of the Jaunpur school.
Which monument is in Pandua in West Bengal?
The Adina Mosque at Pandua, West Bengal, was built by Sikandar Shah of the Ilyas Shahi dynasty in 1374 to 1375. It is one of the largest mosques of the Indian subcontinent. Bengal buildings in general use brick and terracotta with curved roofs suited to heavy rain.
What is special about Gol Gumbaz?
Gol Gumbaz is the tomb of Muhammad Adil Shah at Bijapur in Karnataka, completed in 1656. Its dome is one of the largest in the world, and it has a whispering gallery where sounds are repeated. It is the best-known building of the Adil Shahi dynasty in the Deccan.
What is the difference between Gol Gumbaz and Charminar?
Gol Gumbaz is a tomb with a huge dome at Bijapur in Karnataka, built in 1656 by the Adil Shahis. Charminar is a square monument with four minarets at Hyderabad in Telangana, built in 1591 by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah of the Qutb Shahi dynasty.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 The Atala Masjid is at Jaunpur.
Built by Ibrahim Shah Sharqi in 1408.
2 The Charminar is at Bijapur.
It is at Hyderabad.
3 Hoshang Shah's tomb at Mandu is the first marble tomb in India.
It is in Madhya Pradesh.
4 Bengal provincial buildings made much use of brick and terracotta.
Local material in a rainy region.
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