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Sikh architecture is a style of
architecture Architecture is the art and technique of designing and building, as distinguished from the skills associated with construction. It is both the process and the product of sketching, conceiving, planning, designing, and constructing buildings ...
that was developed under
Sikh Empire The Sikh Empire was a state originating in the Indian subcontinent, formed under the leadership of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, who established an empire based in the Punjab. The empire existed from 1799, when Maharaja Ranjit Singh captured Lahor ...
during 18th and 19th century in the
Punjab Punjab (; Punjabi Language, Punjabi: پنجاب ; ਪੰਜਾਬ ; ; also Romanization, romanised as ''Panjāb'' or ''Panj-Āb'') is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia, specifically in the northern part of the I ...
region. Due to its progressive style, it is constantly evolving into many newly developing branches with new
contemporary Contemporary history, in English-language historiography, is a subset of modern history that describes the historical period from approximately 1945 to the present. Contemporary history is either a subset of the late modern period, or it is o ...
styles. Although Sikh architecture was initially developed within
Sikhism Sikhism (), also known as Sikhi ( pa, ਸਿੱਖੀ ', , from pa, ਸਿੱਖ, lit=disciple', 'seeker', or 'learner, translit=Sikh, label=none),''Sikhism'' (commonly known as ''Sikhī'') originated from the word ''Sikh'', which comes fro ...
its style has been used in many non-religious buildings due to its beauty. 300 years ago, Sikh architecture was distinguished for its many curves and straight lines; Shri Keshgarh Sahib and the Sri Harmandir Sahib ( Golden Temple) are prime examples. Sikh Architecture is heavily influenced by Mughal and
Islamic Islam (; ar, ۘالِإسلَام, , ) is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion centred primarily around the Quran, a religious text considered by Muslims to be the direct word of God (or '' Allah'') as it was revealed to Muhammad, the ma ...
styles. The onion dome,
fresco Fresco (plural ''frescos'' or ''frescoes'') is a technique of mural painting executed upon freshly laid ("wet") lime plaster. Water is used as the vehicle for the dry-powder pigment to merge with the plaster, and with the setting of the plast ...
es, in-lay work, and multi-foil arches, are Mughal influences, more specially from
Shah Jahan Shihab-ud-Din Muhammad Khurram (5 January 1592 – 22 January 1666), better known by his regnal name Shah Jahan I (; ), was the fifth emperor of the Mughal Empire, reigning from January 1628 until July 1658. Under his emperorship, the Mugha ...
's period, whereas ''
chattris ''Chhatri'' are elevated, dome-shaped pavilions used as an element in Indo-Islamic architecture and Indian architecture. Originating as a canopy above tombs, they serve as decorative elements. The earliest example of chhatri being used in the ...
'', oriel windows, bracket supported eaves at the string-course, and ornamented friezes are derived from elements of
Rajput architecture Rajput architecture is a architectural style notable for the forts and palaces of the many Rajput rulers, which are popular tourist attractions, many of the Rajput forts are UNESCO World Heritage Site. Rajput architecture represents diffe ...
. Apart from religious buildings, Sikh architecture includes secular
forts A fortification is a military construction or building designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is also used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from Latin ''fortis'' ("strong") and ''facere'' ...
, ''bungas'' (residential places), palaces, and colleges. The religious structure is called '' gurdwara'' (a place where the Guru dwells). The word ''gurdwara'' is a compound of ''guru'' (guide or master) and ''dwara'' (gateway or seat). So, it has an architectural connotation. Sikh ''gurdwaras'' are generally commemorative buildings connected with the ten gurus in some way, or with places and events of historical significance. Some examples are Gurdwara Dera Sahib (halting place), in Batala in Gurdaspur district. It was erected in memory of the brief stay of
Guru Nanak Gurū Nānak (15 April 1469 – 22 September 1539; Gurmukhi: ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ; pronunciation: , ), also referred to as ('father Nānak'), was the founder of Sikhism and is the first of the ten Sikh Gurus. His birth is celebrated w ...
along with his companions on the occasion of his marriage. Gurdwara Shahid Ganj (Martyr's Memorial) in
Muktsar Sri Muktsar Sahib (/ʃriː ˈmʊktsər saːhɪb/) (often referred to as Muktsar (/ˈmʊktsər/)) is a historical city and district headquarters in Punjab, India. The 2011 Census of India put the total population of Sri Muktsar Sahib municipali ...
in
Faridkot district Faridkot district is one of the 23 districts in the state of Punjab, India with Faridkot city as the district headquarters. Etymology The district is named after its headquarters, Faridkot city, which in turn is named in the honor of Baba F ...
commemorates the cremation spot of Sikhs who were killed in a battle between
Guru Gobind Singh Guru Gobind Singh (; 22 December 1666 – 7 October 1708), born Gobind Das or Gobind Rai the tenth Sikh Guru, a spiritual master, warrior, poet and philosopher. When his father, Guru Tegh Bahadur, was executed by Aurangzeb, Guru Gobind Sin ...
and the Mughals in 1705. Gurdwara Shish Mahal (hall of mirrors) in Kiratpur in
Ropar district Rupnagar district is one of twenty-two districts in the state of Punjab, India. The city of Rupnagar is said to have been founded by a Raja called Rokeshar, who ruled during the 11th century and named it after his son Rup Sen. It is also the ...
was made where Guru Har Kisan was born. There are over 500 historical ''gurdwaras''.


Gallery

File:Gurdwara Dera Sahib and Samadhi of Ranjit Singh.jpg, Golden dome of
Gurdwara Dera Sahib Gurdwara Dera Sahib () is a gurudwara in Lahore, Pakistan, which commemorates the spot where the 5th guru of Sikhism, Guru Arjan Dev, was martyred in 1606. Location The gurdwara is located just outside of the Walled City of Lahore, and is pa ...
in Lahore File:The Entrance of Janam Asthan-2.jpg, The Gurdwara Janam Asthan in
Nankana Sahib Nankana Sahib () is a city and capital of Nankana Sahib District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is named after the first Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Nanak, who was born in the city and first began preaching here. Nankana Sahib is the mos ...
,
Pakistan Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...
, commemorates the site where Guru Nanak is believed to have been born. It was rebuilt by the Pakistani Government File:Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur 04.jpg, Darbar Sahib, gurdwara commemorating
Guru Nanak Gurū Nānak (15 April 1469 – 22 September 1539; Gurmukhi: ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ; pronunciation: , ), also referred to as ('father Nānak'), was the founder of Sikhism and is the first of the ten Sikh Gurus. His birth is celebrated w ...
, in Kartarpur, Pakistan File:Hazur Sahib, Nanded, Maharashtra, September 2012.jpg, Shri Hazoor Sahib is a gurdwara in
Nanded Nanded is a city in Maharashtra state, India. It is the tenth largest city in the state and the seventy-ninth most populous city in India. It is the second largest city in Marathwada region. It is the district headquarters of Nanded distri ...
,
Maharashtra, India Maharashtra (; , abbr. MH or Maha) is a state in the western peninsular region of India occupying a substantial portion of the Deccan Plateau. Maharashtra is the second-most populous state in India and the second-most populous country subdivi ...
; is one of the five . File:Front view of Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, Delhi.jpg,
Gurudwara Bangla Sahib Gurudwara Bangla Sahib () is one of the most prominent Sikh gurdwaras, or Sikh house of worship, in Delhi, India, and known for its association with the eighth Sikh Guru, Guru Har Krishan, as well as the holy pond inside its complex, known as t ...
is one of the most prominent
Sikh Sikhs ( or ; pa, ਸਿੱਖ, ' ) are people who adhere to Sikhism, Sikhism (Sikhi), a Monotheism, monotheistic religion that originated in the late 15th century in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent, based on the revelation of Gu ...
gurdwara in
Delhi, India Delhi, officially the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi, is a city and a union territory of India containing New Delhi, the capital of India. Straddling the Yamuna river, primarily its western or right bank, Delhi shares borders w ...
and known for its association with the eighth
Sikh Guru The Sikh gurus (Punjabi: ਸਿੱਖ ਗੁਰੂ) are the spiritual masters of Sikhism, who established this religion over the course of about two and a half centuries, beginning in 1469. The year 1469 marks the birth of Guru Nanak, the found ...
, Guru Har Krishan, as well as the pool inside its complex, known as the "Sarovar."


References

*Arshi, Pardeep Singh, ''Sikh Architecture in the Punjab'', Intellectual Pub. House, 1986. *Brown, Percy, Indian Architecture (Islamic Period), Fifth Edition, 1965, Bombay. *Brown, Percy, Indian Architecture (Hindu and Buddhist Period), Fifth Edition, 1965, Bombay. *Singh, Mehar, ''Sikh Shrines In India'', Publications Division, Government of India, 1974, New Delhi. *Singh, Darshan, ''The Sikh art and architecture'', Dept. of Guru Nanak Sikh Studies, Panjab University, 1987. *Marg, Volume XXX, Number 3, June 1977, Bombay.


Further reading

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External links


Article on Sikh Architecture
{{Architecture of India Architectural styles Indian architectural history Pakistani architectural history