Early Indo-Islamic Architecture

Timeline

1. 1290–1350Tughlaqabad · IndiaThe Tughluq dynasty built sturdy fortresses and mosques around Delhi, using battered walls, plastered surfaces, and stone reused from Hindu temples, creating a massive, austere early Islamic architectural character.
2. 1351–1360Firuz Shah Kotla · DelhiAfter Firuz Shah Tughluq acceded to the throne, he built Firuz Shah Kotla, the Quwwat-ul-Islam (Kutb) Mosque, and numerous canals and hospitals, promoting a plain Islamic style and banning superfluous decoration; his building policies profoundly shaped the North Indian urban landscape.
3. 1451–1526Lodi Gardens, Delhi · IndiaThe Lodi sultans built octagonal tombs and garden-style mausolea in Delhi, with increasingly refined combinations of arcades and domes, providing direct formal precedents for Mughal structures such as the Taj Mahal.
4. 1526–1701Agra · Uttar PradeshMughal rulers such as Babur and Akbar inherited the Delhi Sultanate's arch-and-dome tradition and introduced Persian gardens and white marble craftsmanship; early Indo-Islamic elements reached worldwide influence in masterpieces such as the Taj Mahal.