Shah Jahan period architecture
Shah Jahan period architecture is distinguished by the extensive use of symmetry, the embellishing of structures through features such as the Shahjahani column and the use of red sandstone and white marble as essential building materials.
[1] His reign lasted 30 years to 1658, when Shah Jahan's son, Aurangzeb gained power and made a declaration as the new Mughal emperor.
[1] Shah Jahan showed an early interest in architecture and is affiliated with the construction of numerous gardens and buildings prior to his rule.
These broader Mughal architectural practices involved the organising and placement of imperial buildings which overlooked rivers and artificial lakes.
[5] The imperial buildings were mostly constructed using white marble, whilst the public spaces, built away from water sources tended to use red sandstone.
[8] The construction of Shahjahanabad received much attention from Shah Jahan with his chronicler describing an active involvement in the designing process.
This involvement and unity in the design highlight the influence and prominence of Shah Jahan period architecture in the Mughal Empire.
The function of the palace gardens varied, but Ebba Koch highlighted the symbolic power described by a contemporary poet, Amir Khusraw.
The column was originally unique to distinguished imperial buildings, however, in the late period of Shah Jahan architecture, it became widely used in public spaces.
The extensive use of white marble in the mausoleum, the high-vaulted domes and its grandeur make it an iconic piece of global architecture.
The contemporary sources, from historians, poets and chroniclers also suggest the unprecedented involvement of Shah Jahan in the architectural projects.
Further, the Taj Mahal receives up to 8 million visitors per year and continues to be a valuable source of tourism revenue throughout India.
[18][19] In particular, the repeated story that following the construction of the Taj Mahal, Shah Jahan cut off his workers’ hands so they could not build another structure has received much attention from Western and non-Western sources.
[20] This leads Nicoll to characterise Shah Jahan's reign, not as the regularly touted golden era of the Mughal Empire, but one marred by cruelty.
Other sources from non-Western scholars suggest the violence associated with the construction process, but the lasting legacy of Shah Jahan is overwhelmed by the depiction as a golden-era of Mughal architecture.
