What are the monuments of India built during the Mughal Empire?

Answer 1

Huge arched gateways, bulbous domes, gigantic hall rooms, and minarets are what we think of when we hear about Mughal architecture. The Mughal reign had greatly enhanced the architecture of India and gifted Indian architecture with mosques, mausoleums, and gardens. Almost all the rulers from the Mughal dynasty were great builders and they have manufactured magnificent monuments in India, which attract tourists not only from India but from different places across the globe. Mughal emperors had built fortress gardens that enhance the beauty of the buildings. Unlike his predecessor, Akbar built a riverfront garden which influenced Mughal garden architecture by his successors. The patterns of Mughal gardens were highly influenced by the Persian style of architecture with pools, fountains, and canals inside the gardens. Agra Fort, Humayun Tomb, Fatehpur Sikri, Taj Mahal,  Shalimar Gardens, Shah Jahan Mosque, Badshahi Masjid. are some of the popular monuments of the Mughal empire in the Indian subcontinent

Taj Mahal Enduring Mughal Monuments like Taj Mahal still stands in all its beauty and finesse. The white marble mausoleum, Taj Mahal, is one of the seven wonders of the world and was constructed during the zenith of the Mughal dynasty by Shah Jahan to house the tomb of his favorite wife Mumtaz Mahal. Shah Jahan built this wondrous monument to dedicate the love and beauty of his dearest wife Mumtaz Mahal and to make her name immortal. The mausoleum is considered as a symbol of love. The monument stands on the right bank of river Yamuna from where it flows eastwards and spreads across an area of 42 acres with the terrain sloping from north to south. The beauty of the Taj Mahal is amplified manifold by the Taj Mahal garden which is like the Paradise garden mentioned in the Holy Quran. The garden starts from the end of the main gate and covers an area of 300 meters and ends near the base of the mausoleum. Four is considered as the holiest number in Islam and so the entire garden is divided into four parts. Two marble canals with fountains cross the center of the garden and there are 16 flowerbeds that are divided by the stone-paved raised pathways.

Qutub Minar Qutub-ud-din Aibak started the construction of this monument in 1192 and his successors Iltutmish and Firoz Shah Tughlaq completed the construction. The Minar is world heritage site in Delhi. Though not built by the Mughals, it is a great example of Mughal architecture. The great masterpiece is 72.5 meters high and the base measures 14.32 meters and the top structure measures 2.75 meters. The iron pillar in the Qutub Minar draws interest of many tourists. It is believed that if one stands with his back on the pillar and can encircle it with his arm then his wishes will be fulfilled. This monument is an exquisite example of Indo-Islamic Mughal architecture and is famous tourist place in Delhi.

Jama Masjid The mosque stands across the road in front of the Red Fort and it is the largest mosque in India. The mosque was built by the emperor who had built the magnificent Taj Mahal, Shah Jahan. This mosque is believed to be the last architectural work during the reign of Shah Jahan. Almost 5000 artisans built the mosque with red sandstone and marble. The Jama Masjid has four towers, two minarets, and three gateways. The Mosque has detailed carvings and the holy Koran is scribbled on its wall. The Masjid also has a collection of many things such as the holy Koran written on deerskin, Mohammad’s relics, the prophet’s red beared-hair, His footprints implanted in a marble block.

Red Fort Red Fort or Lal Qila is another monument of Mughal period. It served as the capital of Mughal dynasty during the rule of Emperor Shah Jahan. The fort conceived its name from the 33 meter high gigantic walls of red sandstone. There are two gates of the Red Fort viz. Lahori Gate and Delhi Gate. The Red Fort is a treasure trove of many beautiful buildings such as Diwan-i-Aam or the Hall of Public Audiences, Diwan-i-Khas or the Hall of Private Audiences, and Rang Mahal or the Palace of Colors. Emperor Shah Jahan used to hear complains of common people in the Diwan-i-Aam, Diwan-i-Khas, as the name suggests, was for his private guests. The Rang Mahal was used to be the palace of wives and mistresses of the emperor. The chief attraction of the Rang Mahal is a lotus-shaped fountain carved out of a single marble. The other attractions of the Red Fort are Moti Masjid or the Pearl Mosque; Shahi Burji, the private working area of emperor Shah Jahan; and hammams or the royal baths. The Red Fort now stands as a reminder of the magnificence and affluence of the Mughal dynasty.