Ancient Architecture of India and (Case Study: Spatial Planning of Taj Mahal)

2. Ancient Architecture
In India(3300 BCE)
Indus valley Civilization or Harrapan
civilization is known as the one of the
cradles of the old world.
The quality of municipal town planning
suggests the knowledge of urban
planning and efficient municipal
governments which placed a high priority
on hygiene.
(image: Great bath at Mohenjo-Daro

3. Ancient Architecture In Ancient India
(3300 BCE)
Harrapan Civilization’s urban
plan included the world's first known
urban sanitation systems.
Waste water from households was
directed to covered drains, which lined
the major streets.
The ancient Indus systems of
sewerage and drainage were far more
advanced than any found in
contemporary urban sites in some
countries.

4. Classical Period
(320 BCE)
During this time, India was united under the
emperor Ashoka.
Under his rule, the architecture style had Buddhist
inspiration.
The capital city of Pataliputra was an urban marvel
described by the Greek
ambassador Megasthenes.
The Indian emperor Ashoka (rule: 273—232 BCE)
established the Pillars of Ashoka throughout his
realm, generally next to Buddhist stupas.

5. The Lion capital of
Ashoka
The Ashoka Pillar at Sarnath is the sculpture of
four Asiatic lions standing back to back, on an elaborate
base that includes other animals.
The graphical representation of the Lion Capital is used
with along with the words ‘सत्यमेव जयते’ (‘Truth alone
triumphs’) below as the official emblem of India.

6. Early Middle
ages(550CE-1200CE)
After the decline of Mauryan empire, The
architecture throughout India were influenced
by various kingdoms such as Cholas, Pallavas
and Rastrakutas.
One such example is the Kailash temple. It’s a
Megalith made out of a single rock. Its The
Kailasa Temple is notable for
its vertical excavation—carvers started at the
top of the original rock and excavated
downward.

7. Late Middle Ages
(1100 CE—1526 CE)
One of the fine examples of this period is the Sun
Temple at Konark.
the temple represents a chariot of the Sun God,
with twelve pairs of wheels drawn by seven horses
evoking its movement across the heavens.
The two wheels are used to predict time when
sun moves east to west

9. • The Taj Mahal (Crown of Palace) represents the finest and most sophisticated example of Mughal
architecture. The distraught Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan commissioned the mausoleum upon the
death of his favorite wife Mumtaz Mahal. Taj Mahal is recognized by Eternal Symbol of Love.
• Today it is one of the most famous and recognizable buildings in the world and the white domed
marble mausoleum is the most familiar part of the monument.
• Area is about 22.44 hectares and includes subsidiary (tombs, waterworks infrastructure, the small town
of 'Taj Ganji' and a 'moonlight garden' to the north of the river).
• Construction began in 1632 AD, on the south bank of the River Yamuna in Agra, and was substantially
complete by 1648 AD
• The architects Ustad Ahmad Lahauri and Mir Abdul Karim.
• Architectural style is a combination of Persian, Turkish and Indian styles.
• 20 thousands people & 1000 elephant worked for building Taj Mahal
• One of 7 Wonders in the world
• The cost is estimated to be 50.2 Million Rupee= 827 Million US $

10. • The main building of the Taj Mahal was designed using the Golden Ratio.
• The rectangles that served as the basic outline for the exterior of the building
were all in the Golden Proportion.

11. Mosque
GuestHouse
Tomb
Main
Gateway
Servant
Quaters
RoyalTombs
CharBagh
OrnamentalPool
Forecourt
Parts of the TajMahal

12. The Taj Mahal complex can be conveniently divided into 5 sections:
1. The moonlight garden to the north of the river Yamuna.
2. The riverfront terrace, containing the Mausoleum, Mosque and Jawab.
3. The Charbagh garden containing pavilions.
4. The jilaukhana for the tomb attendants and two subsidiary tombs.
5. The Taj Ganj, originally a bazaar and caravanserai only traces of which are still preserved.
The great gate lies between the jilaukhana and the garden.
Levels gradually descend in steps from the Taj Ganji towards the river
Site plan
moonlight garden riverfront terrace Charbagh garden jilaukhana Taj Ganj

13. Taj Ganj

14. YamunaRiver
Well Foundation

15. •The most remarkable part of the Taj
Mahal.
•Enormous white onion shaped dome
crowning the tomb.
•Located at the exact centre of the
structure, the main dome is flanked by
four smaller ones on it four corners.
60 m
•The drum
Is also
intricately
designed
with superb
inlay work.•The onion shaped dome of the Taj Mahal
sits on a massive drum that adds support
to the circular top.
The dome

16. •The Taj Mahal's minarets detached from
the main tomb
•Standing tall at 138 feet were intelligently
designed with a slant towards the outward
side.
•This was done so that in case of any
minaret topples, it causes no damage to the
central dome.
•These four minarets rise from the plinth with an
eight sided base and a circular pillar.
•On the top of the pillar is an octagonal balcony.
Minarets

17. •The Taj Mahal is situated on a raised platform which is over 6 meters high.
•The actual Tomb of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal are in the basement
below the platform.
•Surmounted by a curving dome which is over 60m long on each side.
•Height is over 60m at its pinnacle.
•Platform covers 94 sq m area.

18. Entrance to the Mausoleum
Rauza (tomb) in the
mausoleum
Way to Cenotaph

19. The Rauza(tomb) in the Mausoleum
• The main chamber houses the false sarcophagi of
Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan.
• The actual graves are at a lower level

20. FlooringPattern

22. Calligraphy

23. Storm watermanagement

24. RAINWATERSYSTEM

25. • The Mosque was built by red stones.
• Spread over 210 feet in length and 90 feet in
width, the mosque stands on a raised
platform.
• The front face of the mosque boasts of one big
central iwan and two smaller ones perched
on either side on the main one.
• The central dome is flanked by two smaller
ones on either side and the four corners of
the mosque have small minarets.
The Mosque

26.  The planner of the Taj preferred to add to the gorgeous view of the monument from the front by
providing these delicate bud-shaped fountains in the centre.
 This is the point where the two water channels intersect dividing the garden into four sections.
The Al-Kawthar
The Celestial Pol Of Abundance
• Water channels is provided by neat
geometric paving

27. • Acid rain is a form of precipitation with high
levels of nitric and sulfuric acids.
• This is often proved to be harmful for human
beings, plants, animals and even buildings.
• This can occur in the form of rain, snow, fog,
hail or even dust that is acidic.
• This is one of the major threat which the Taj
Mahal also faces. The principal or main source
of acid rain are factories, and motor vehicles.

29. Due to marble cancer the precious stone
Onyx used in the monument has
developed greenish patches to destroy
the beauty of the monument.

30. • The Yamuna is one of the most important rivers of north India.
• At one time, it was the lifeline for the people of the area, but today it is
one of the most polluted rivers of the world.
• The amount of annual wastes collected in the river is measured in
tonnes.
• The main cause of this accumulation of wastes is the releasing of
untreated factory wastes into the river.
• Due to the accumulation of wastes, the places close to the monument
has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes because of the abundance
of algae.

31. • Oil refineries, especially the Mathura oil refinery, close to the monument
releases toxic gases such as sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, into the air.
• These gases are the major gases causing acid rain, which, as we have
already seen, leads to the discolouring of the monument.
• The dust released from these settles on the walls of the monument
destroying the beauty of the monument.
• These refineries also release untreated wastes into the river Yamuna
which further helps in the degradation of the monument.

33. British architecture
(1858-1947)
The British Architecture in India was
inspired by Mughal and Hindu style
architecture.
One of the fine examples of British
Architecture is Gateway of India, a
monument erected to commemorate
the landing of King George V and
Queen Mary.

34. Republic of India
(1947-Present)
After Independence, Indian architecture
was Influenced by all of the previous
architecture styles in the past, giving it a
rich variety.
On 31st October 2018 ‘Statue of Unity’
was inaugurated by Prime Minister
Narendra Modi on 143rd birth
anniversary of Sardar Valla Bhai Patel.
Who was a freedom fighter and united
India after Independence.