![Charminar-Pride_of_Hyderabad](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d1/Charminar-Pride_of_Hyderabad.jpg)
Qutb Shahi architecture is the distinct style of
Indo-Islamic architecture
Indo-Islamic architecture is the architecture of the Indian subcontinent produced by and for Islamic patrons and purposes. Despite an initial Arab presence in Sindh, the development of Indo-Islamic architecture began in earnest with the establi ...
developed during the reign of the
Qutb Shahi dynasty, also known as the Golconda Sultanate.
Qutb Shahi buildings are seen in the city of
Hyderabad
Hyderabad ( ; , ) is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Telangana and the ''de jure'' capital of Andhra Pradesh. It occupies on the Deccan Plateau along the banks of the Musi River, in the northern part of Southern India ...
and its surroundings. The
Golconda Fort
Fort (Telugu: గోల్కొండ, romanized: ''Gōlkōnḍa'') is a historic fortress and ruined city located in Hyderabad, Telangana, India. It was originally called Mankal. The fort was originally built by Kakatiya ruler Pratāparud ...
, which predates the founding of the city is the earliest example. The style reached its zenith during the reign of
Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah
Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah (4 April 156511 January 1612) was the fifth sultan of the Qutb Shahi dynasty of Golkonda and founded the city of Hyderabad, in South-central India and built its architectural centerpiece, the Charminar. He was an able adm ...
, who founded the city of Hyderabad and constructed the
Charminar
The Charminar () is a mosque and monument located in Hyderabad, Telangana, India. Constructed in 1591, the landmark is a symbol of Hyderabad and officially incorporated in the emblem of Telangana The Charminar's long history includes the existe ...
as its centerpiece.
The style is similar to that of the
Bahmani Sultanate and other
Deccan Sultanates, whose monuments can be seen in
Gulbarga,
Bijapur, and
Bidar
Bidar (/ biːd̪ər/) is a city in the north-eastern part of Karnataka state in India. It is the headquarters of Bidar district, which borders Maharashtra and Telangana. It is a rapidly urbanising city in the wider ''Bidar Metropolitan area ...
. It is heavily influenced by Persian architecture.
Several buildings in the style were put by
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...
on its "tentative list" to become a
World Heritage Site
A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for h ...
in 2014, with others in the region, under the name
Monuments and Forts of the Deccan Sultanate (despite there being a number of different sultanates).
Features
The Qutb Shahi buildings consist of:
* Expansive mosques and palaces built out of granite
* Inscriptions including Persian poetry and verses from the
Quran
The Quran (, ; Standard Arabic: , Quranic Arabic: , , 'the recitation'), also romanized Qur'an or Koran, is the central religious text of Islam, believed by Muslims to be a revelation from God. It is organized in 114 chapters (pl.: , s ...
* Heavy
stucco ornamental work and
jali
A ''jali'' or jaali (''jālī'', meaning "net") is the term for a perforated stone or latticed screen, usually with an ornamental pattern constructed through the use of calligraphy, geometry or natural patterns. This form of architectural d ...
latticed screens
History
Golconda Fort
![Taramati-Baradari](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9e/Taramati-Baradari.jpg)
The
Golconda Fort
Fort (Telugu: గోల్కొండ, romanized: ''Gōlkōnḍa'') is a historic fortress and ruined city located in Hyderabad, Telangana, India. It was originally called Mankal. The fort was originally built by Kakatiya ruler Pratāparud ...
is the earliest example of the style.
Later architecture
Qutb Shahi tombs
The
Qutb Shahi tombs
The Qutub Shahi Tombs are located in the Ibrahim Bagh (garden precinct), close to the famous Golconda Fort in Hyderabad, India. They contain the tombs and mosques built by the various kings of the Qutub Shahi dynasty. The galleries of the sma ...
are the necropolis of the Qutb Shahi rulers, set in a vast garden on the outskirts of the Golconda Fort. The tombs share a common features: an
onion dome
An onion dome is a dome whose shape resembles an onion. Such domes are often larger in diameter than the tholobate upon which they sit, and their height usually exceeds their width. These bulbous structures taper smoothly to a point.
It is a typ ...
atop a cube surrounded by an arcade with rich ornamental details, with small minarets featuring floral motifs.
Charminar
The
Charminar
The Charminar () is a mosque and monument located in Hyderabad, Telangana, India. Constructed in 1591, the landmark is a symbol of Hyderabad and officially incorporated in the emblem of Telangana The Charminar's long history includes the existe ...
is one of the most recognizable examples of Qutb Shahi architecture. It was built by
Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah
Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah (4 April 156511 January 1612) was the fifth sultan of the Qutb Shahi dynasty of Golkonda and founded the city of Hyderabad, in South-central India and built its architectural centerpiece, the Charminar. He was an able adm ...
in 1591 as a centerpiece for the newly built capital city of Hyderabad. The Charminar is a large building, square in plan, having an arch in each of its faces and a lofty decagonal minaret at each of its angles. To the south of the Charminar is the
Mecca Masjid
Makkah Masjid or Mecca Masjid, is a congregational mosque in Hyderabad, India. It is one of the largest mosques in India with a capacity of 10,000 people. The mosque was built during the 17th century, and is a state-protected monument. It se ...
, which is one of the largest mosques of India.
To the north of the Charminar is the
Gulzar Houz
Gulzar Houz is a historical fountain located in Hyderabad, India. It is located near Charminar. The fountain is in the middle of the road between Charminar and Madina building.
The area between the four arches of Charkaman was a vast square ...
fountain, which is surrounded by four arches called the
Char Kaman. The arches are simple and do not have many embellishments. There used to be other Qutb Shahi palaces, as well as a rose garden in the vicinity, but they were probably destroyed during the
Siege of Golconda
The siege of Golconda occurred in January 1687, when the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb led his forces to besiege the Qutb Shahi dynasty at Golconda Fort, home of the Kollur Mine. The siege of Golconda lasted 8 months, and on various occasions it pu ...
.
Other monuments
Another early structure was the
Purana Pul, built in 1578 across the Musi River.
The Qutb Shahi rulers built elaborate
caravanserais, or resthouses, including the
Shaikpet Sarai
Shaikpet Sarai is a sarai (resthouse) in Hyderabad, India.
History
It was built by Abdullah Qutb Shah in the 17th century. It is a heritage structure and in need of restoration.
Architecture
The sarai had 30 rooms, stables for horses an ...
and
Taramati Baradari
Taramati Baradari is a historical sarai as part of Ibrahim Bagh, a Persian style garden built during the reign of Ibrahim Quli Qutub Shah, the fourth Sultan of Golconda.
History
The Baradari was constructed on the banks of the Musi river. Tod ...
. The former had had 30 rooms, stables for horses and camels, a mosque and a tomb of an unknown
sufi saint.
Other mosques built during this time include the
Khairtabad Mosque
Khairtabad Mosque is in Khairatabad. Today Khairtabad is a well-known locality built around the mosque. The area had become a major business and IT hub of Hyderabad, India.
History
Khairtabad Mosque was built by Khairunisa Begum in 1626 AD, al ...
,
Hayat Bakshi Mosque
Hayat Bakshi Mosque also Hayat Bakshi Begum Masjid or Grand Mosque is a mosque located in Hayathnagar, near Hyderabad, India. It was constructed in 1672 during the reign of Abdullah Qutb Shah the fifth Sultan of Golconda, and named after Hayat Ba ...
,
Musheerabad Masjid
The Musheerabad MasjidOr MASJID E KALAN, (also known as Musheerabad Badi Masjid, or Jama Masjid Musheerabad) is a mosque located in the Musheerabad locality of Hyderabad, India. The original portion was constructed in 1560 AD by Ibrahim Quli Qut ...
, and
Kulsum Begum Mosque.
The Qutb Shahi rulers also made considerable additions to the
Gandikota Fort
Gandikota is a village and historical fort on the right bank of the Penna river, 15 km from Jammalamadugu in Kadapa district, Andhra Pradesh, India. The fort was the centre of power for various dynasties, such as the Kalyani Chalukyas, P ...
.
References
Bibliography
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{{Architecture of India