Mughal tombs of the sandstone and marble shows Persian influenced. The Red Fort at Agra (1565–74) and the walled city of the Fatehpur Sikri (1569–74) were among the architectural
achievements of this time is the Taj Mahal, built as a tomb for Queen Mumtaz Mahal by Shah Jahan at 1628–58. Employing the double domes, the recessed
archways, white marble and parks while stressing on the symmetry and the detail was
visible during the reigns of Shah Jahan. Quranic verses were described the walls of
the building. However, the depiction of any living being an
essential part of pre-Islamic traditions of India was forbidden under the Islams. The Architecture during the Mughal Period has shown the very good
blend of Indian style with the Persian styles.
Colonial Era (1500 AD—1947
AD)
Out
siders rolled India more than 200 years in that time they also contributed some
their own style of architecture.
British
colonial Era:1615 to1947
The British arrival in 1615
overthrew the Mughal empire. Britain reigned India for over three hundred years
and their legacy still remains through building and infrastructure that
populate their former colonies.
The major cities colonized
during this period were Madras, Calcutta, Bombay, Delhi, Agra, Bankipore,
Karachi, Nagpur, Bhopal and Hyderabad[
St Andrews Kirk, Madras is renowned
for its colonial beauty. The building is circular in form and is sided by two
rectangular sections one is the entrance porch. The entrance is lined with
twelve colonnades and two British lions and motto of East India Company
engraved on them. The interior holds sixteen columns and the dome is painted
blue with decorated with gold stars.
The staple of Madras was
Fort St. George, a walled squared building adjacent to the beach. Surrounding
the fort was White Town settlement of British and Indian area Black Town later
to be called Georgetown.
Black Town described in
1855 as "the minor streets, occupied by the natives are numerous,
irregular and of various dimensions. Many of them are extremely narrow and
ill-ventilated ... a hallow square, the rooms opening into a courtyard in
the centre."
Garden houses were
originally used as weekend houses for recreational use by the upper class
British. Nonetheless, the garden house became ideal a full-time dwelling,
deserting the fort in the 19th Century.
Calcutta – Madras and
Calcutta were similar bordered by water and division of Indian in the north and
British in the south. An Englishwoman noted in 1750 "the banks of the
river are as one may say absolutely studded with elegant mansions called here
as at Madras, garden houses." Esplanade-row is fronts the fort with lined
palaces.
French Era: 1673 to1954
The French colonized a
fishing village (Pondicherry) in Tamil Nadu and transformed it into a
flourishing port-town. The town was built on the French grid pattern and
features neat sectors and perpendicular streets and divided into two sectors,
French Quarter (Ville Blanche) and the Indian quarter (Ville Noire). French
styled villas were styled with long compounds and stately walls, lined houses with
verandas, large French doors and grills. Infrastructure such as banks, police
station and Pondicherry International Port still hold the French presence.
To preserve Pondicherry an
organization named INTACH was formed. Authorization is needed from INTACH, to
annihilate any original French Architecture.
French expanded their
empire by colonizing coastal towns, Yanam in Andhra Pradesh, Karaikal in Tamil
Nadu and Mahe in Kerala with a French atmosphere of quiet towns around beaches.
French spelling on signage and traffic signs still remains.
Duchtes Era: 1605 to 1825
Dutch entered India
with only interests of Trade in early 17th Century. During their 200
years in India, they colonized the many palces included Surat, Bharuch, Venrula, Ahmedabad, Malabar
Coast, Kochi and Sadras.
Surat :Is a Dutch factory in
1630’s Bharuch: Trading Post of the Dutch East India Company had the Dutch cemetery. Venrula: It is the warehouse was built for 3000 Guilders by the
Leendart Janszoons and castle for the protection of Dutch. Ahmedabad:
The Dutch cemetery was lies on the bank of Kankaria. It holds a mix of Indian
and European styled grave, with the domed tombs, pyramid, walled and plain grave
stone. Malabar Coast Kochi: The Dutch Palace was originally built by the Portuguese, it was fell into the hands of
the Dutch when the Portuguese lost the control of Kochi. Dutch cemetery runs parallel to the beach and is the oldest European cemetery in
India. It holds 104 tombs that visually narrate the Dutch influence in the
Architecture during this era. The cemetery is guarded by heavy walls and entrance pillar still carries the original calligraphic inscription 1724
David Hall : which was the residence of the famous Dutch commander and governor
of the Kochi, Adriaan van Reed lot Drakestein was build in 1695. The hall has been
restored as a cultural centre and arts café for young, visual and performing the
artists. Bastion bungalow : This Dutch styled building near Fort Kochi
beach was built to protect their harbor. Thakur House : the Dutch built this
bungalow look as the sea as a club. Sadras : 17 km from the rock cut temples of Mamallapuram is the another Dutch
settlement. Pullicat : Pullicat lake is 55 km north of
Madras is the million years old and the second largest lagoons in India. It was most important in trading post of the Dutch. They built two big cemeteries. One
was ruined due to the negligence and at the entrance is flanked by the stone pillars,
having 76 tombs. Images of skeletons are carved into the gravestones,
symbolizing the life and death.
Portuguese
Era: 1498 to 1961
The
Portuguese arrived India as merchants in the 1498 and were more driven by a Catholic
missionary zeal than gaining powers in the India. Portuguese gained a foothold
in the Goa and ruled it for 400 years.
Portuguese
dominance in the Goa still remains evident. Colonizers' missionary spirit built
many magnificent cathedrals, churches, basilicas and seminaries.
The Basilica of Bom Jesus, Old Goa,
former capital during the Portuguese rule. The three storied Renaissance styled
church was built of plaster and laterite in the 1605, and holds the mortal remains
of the famous St. Francis Xavier. The interior is built in a Mosaic-Corinthian styles
and adorned with wood and gold leaf. The walls embrace old painting of saints
as the floor is laid with pure white marble
Republic India (1947 to present)
 |
| Vidhan Soudha |
In recent times there
has been a movement of population from rural areas to urban centres of
industry, leading to price rise in property in various cities of
India. Urban housing in India balances space constrictions and is aimed to
serve the working class. Growing awareness of ecology has influenced
architecture in India during modern times.
 |
| High Court |
Climate responsive
architecture has long been a feature of India's architecture but has been
losing its significance as of late. Indian architecture reflects its
various socio-cultural sensibilities which vary from region to
region. Certain areas are traditionally held to be belonging to
women. Villages in India have features such as courtyards, loggias,
terraces and balconies. Calico, chintz, and palampore—of Indian
origin—highlight the assimilation of Indian textiles in global interior
design. Roshandans, which are skylights-cum-ventilators, are a common
feature in Indian homes, especially in North India.
