Buildings and Rulers
Architecture reached new heights during the Mughal rule. Babur, Humayun, Akbar, Jahangir, and mainly Shah Jahan were immensely interested in literature, art, and architecture. In his autobiography, Babur mentioned his interest in laying out gardens.
These gardens were called Chahar bagh(four gardens). After Akbar, some of the most beautiful Chahar baghs were constructed by his descendants in Kashmir, Agra, and Delhi.
There were many prominent architectural innovations that took place during Akbar’s rule.
During Shah Jahan’s reign, various prominent elements of Mughal architecture were fused together to make great constructions. A lot of construction activities happened during the rule of Shah Jahan mainly in Agra and Delhi. The ceremonial halls were built for public and private audiences. Shah Jahan’s audience halls were particularly built to simulate a mosque. The podium on which his throne was there was generally described as the qibla, The concept of the king as an agent of God on earth was proposed by these architectural appearances.
The relationship between justice and the court was highlighted by Shah Jahan in his newly built court in the Red Fort, Delhi. The development of Shah Jahan’s audience hall was anticipated to convey that the king’s integrity would treat the rich and the poor as equals forming a world where all could live together in peace. His capital was Agra in the beginning years of his rule. In this city, the king constructed homes on the banks of the river Yamuna. These were set in the center of gardens constructed in the Chahar bagh arrangement. Shah Jahan accustomed the river-front garden in the design of the Taj Mahal, the greatest architectural accomplishment of his rule.
Why were the temples first targets of the conquerors?
Temples and mosques were wonderfully built because they are the places to worship. They exhibit the power, abundance, and greatness of the ruler. The rulers often invest a lot of money, decoration, and maintenance for temples and so the foreign conquerors make it their first target. Most prominent examples are Somnath in Gujarat, attacked and looted several times by Mahmud of Ghazni who carried away many things from it.