Professional Documents
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BENGAL
SUBMITTED BY-
HIMANSHU VERMA
MAHEK GUPTA
MOHINI AGARWAL
BENGAL PROVINCIAL ARCHITECTURE
• Mohammedans first established themselves at tribeni then pressed inland occupying area included within
present districts of hugli and burdwan.
• The lack of building stone in Bengal meant that most construction was carried out in brick, of which there
was an abundant supply, and this meant that no building was possible using the usual column-beam
construction so characteristic of early Islamic structures..
• Pillars were made of basalt.
• Brick thus lends Bengal architecture a style which is distinct, with its pointed arches and finishes so
different from those in stone.
• Mosques made by dismantling the temples and using their materials.
• Quadrangular plan of mosque with a central courtyard surrounded by covered arched aisles.
• Multidomed mosque.
• The buildings consisting of mosque,tombs and victory tower are almost in a ruined and damaged state.
2nd Phase(1340-1430 AD)
5 bay deep aisle on west side. High vaulted sanctuary on the western side.
Rectangular framework
Mihrab
Within this royal chapel and all along the inner face of the western wall,
alcoves containing mihrab 32 in no. have been inserted ,one opposite the
center of each bay, all exquisitely designed and sculptured.
Badshah-ka- Takht
P
Stone Doorways
25ft
75ft 25ft
75ft
Octagonal Hall
75ft
75ft
PLAN Octagonal Turrets EKLAKHI TOMB
102.5 m
TANTIPARA MASJID (1475 A.D.)
5 Pointed Archways
44ft
Domes 91 feet by 44ft
collapsed in Earthquake.
Stone pillars
71ft
PLAN
• The word “tanti” in Bengali means weaver and the mosque must have got its name for a settlement of weavers in the area.
• Five pointed archways connected by string-course of a slighter curve than the cornice above, divides it longitudinally into equal two parts.
• The arches being occupied by an upright panel containing an ornamental arch surrounded by delicate floral patterns, all in terra-cotta
relief.
• The interior consists of a fine hall measuring 76ft long and 31ft wide, and is divided into aisles by stone pillars of the square and
chamfered variety originally part of Hindu temple.
• To the East of the mosque are two tombs, which probably contain the remains of Mirshad Khan, who had the mosque built, and his
daughter.
The outer • Faced with
faces are bold floral
ornamented panels and
with flowered originally
borders, each covered with
panel being ten domes,
decorated with which have
a pointed arch, now fallen.
under which • The interior
the usual bell contains
shaped terracotta
ornament panels with
suspended beautiful
from a long vegetative
chain. patterns.
TANTIPURA MASJID
verandah
76 ft
Verandah leading to
prayer hall
168 ft
Interior view of west sanctuary having aisles of arches
West sactuary plan of masjid
Mosque Two extant
entrance gates
East gateway
General view of entrance courtyard from the south
Interior roof of the mosque Eastern (interior) wall of the ruined musalla,
with marks of fallen domes Elevated view of the ruined musalla, showing
remains of stone pillars that once supported domes
References-
•Percy Brown .Indian Architecture: Islamic Period.Kiran book Agency,Delhi.132pp
•http://www.historyofbengal.com/Maldah_article.html
•www.history of bengal.com Chandraketugarh Exclusive Articles.htm
•www.the Concrete Paparazzi Pandua (Malda) Ruins of a Former Capital.htm
•www.Eklakhi Mausoleum, Malda.htm
•www.Eklakhi Mausoleum Malda West Bengal & It's History.htm
•www.Brick and Bamboo at Bengal by Ashish Nangia.htm
•www.the Concrete Paparazzi Pandua (Malda) Ruins of a Former Capital.htm
•http://archnet.org/sites/8507/media_contents/91130