♦️During his brief reign, Sher Shah built few monuments. He built the Qila-e-Quhunah (Mosque of the Old Fort) mosque in Delhi.
♦️He built the famous Rohtas Fort in Pakistan and the Sher Shah Suri Masjid in Patna in Afghan style to mark his reign. His period is a transition from Lodi style to Mughal style of architecture.
♦️ He also undertook the re-construction and extension of an old Mauryan route and renamed it as Sadak-e- Azam (Great Road) which was later called as Grand Trunk Road. He ensured adequate presence of sarais and trees for travellers.
♦️Sher Shah Suri’s tomb was built at his birthplace Sasaram. It was made up of red sandstone and is situated inside a lake.
♦️ The constructions under Sher Shah continued the traditions of the Delhi Sultanate period. After Akbar ascended the throne of Delhi in 1556, the golden period of Mughal art and architecture started.
ARCHITECTURE DURING AKBAR'S REIGN
♦️Akbar took a keen interest in the development of art and architecture. The principal feature of the constructions during Akbar’s reign was the use of red sandstone. He also introduced the use of ‘Tudor arch’ (four centred arch). Some of the prominent construction works undertaken during Akbar’s reign are described below:
📍AGRA FORT
♦️It was one of the first constructions which started during the reign of Akbar.
♦️However, most of the structures present inside the fort were done during the reign of Shah Jahan. Some of the prominent buildings here are:
♦️Moti Masjid, by Shah Jahan.
♦️ Diwan-i-aam (Hall of Public Audience) by Shah Jahan.
♦️ Diwan-i-khas (Hall of Private Audience) by Shah Jahan.
♦️Jahangiri Mahal
♦️Sheesh Mahal (Turkish Bath)
The gardens inside the fort are built using the Charbagh style. During the
reign of Akbar, more than 5000 women stayed in his harem inside this fort.
🔖Forts built by Shah jahan.
♦️Shah jahan, the greatest builder among the Mughal emperors, modified the agra fort built by akbar.
♦️Shish mahal [ palace made of glass], Diwan i aam, and Diwan i khas, moti masjid, Nagina masjid and musamman burj.
♦️The jami masjid of Agra was built by shah jahan’s daughter jahanara.
♦️Shah jahan also constructed the city of Shahjahanabad at delhi.
♦️The Red fort of delhi and jama masjid of delhi, located inside the city of shahjahanabad, were also built by shah jahan.
♦️The red fort of delhi was known as Qila-e-mualla. It had 14 gates in different directions. The fort had rang mahal, Diwan-i-aam and Diwan-i-khas and canal called Nahar-i-Bashisht.
🔖Salimgarh fort
♦️Salimgarh fort was constructed on 1546AD in delhi by salim shah suri – son of sher shah suri.
♦️During the Mughal period, several Mughal rulers such as Humayun and shah jahan camped at this fort.
♦️Humayun camped in this fort for 3 days before launching attack to recapture the city of delhi.
♦️Aurangzeb converted this fort into a prison . this practice was continued by the British who established their control over this fort in 1857.
🔖Jahangiri Mahal
♦️Located inside Agra fort.
♦️Built by Akbar for his Rajput wives. Nur jahan also used it as her residence.
🔖Shahjahani Mahal
♦️Located inside Agra fort.
♦️It was built between khas mahal made of white marble and jahangiri mahal made of red sandstone.
🔖VARIOUS FORTS IN DELHI
♦️The Rajput rulers constructed fortified settlement near surajkund in 10 century AD. Chauhan ruler prithvi raj iii constructed a Qila-i-raj-i-pithaura near Lalkot in 12th century AD.
♦️A fortified settlement was established by qutb-ud-din aibak at the end of 12th century AD.
♦️Muizzuddin kaiquabad erected a fort known as Kilokhari.
♦️Siri Fort was built by Alauddin khilji in 1303 AD.
♦️Ghiyas ud din Tughluq constructed Adilabad fort and the city known as Jahan panah in 1329.
♦️Firoz shah Tughluq built Firoz shah kotla fort in 1354.
♦️Khizrabad fort and Mubarakabad fort were constructed during the rule of sayyid sultans.
♦️Ismail shah constructed Salimgarh fort in 1550.
♦️Humayun constructed dinpanah in 1553. Sher shah built Purana qila at the site of Dinapanah fort by destroying it.
