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Mughal Imperial Karkhana
The Mughal emperors' royal workshop system (karkhana) centrally managed architecture, textiles, metals, painting, and arms manufacture, peaking under…
Timeline
- 1628–1630Agra Fort · AgraAfter ascending the throne, Shah Jahan strengthened royal workshop management, bringing architects, artisans, painters, and logistics personnel into the karkhana system to prepare for large-scale monumental architecture and court luxury production.
- 1631–1640Agra (Taj Mahal construction site) · AgraAfter construction of the Taj Mahal began in 1632, the court workshops coordinated thousands of artisans while maintaining brocade, pietra dura inlay, firearms, and painting production; the 1630s were the most concentrated period of material output for Mughal architecture and decorative arts.
- 1638–1648Delhi · DelhiShah Jahan planned to move the capital to Delhi and build the Red Fort; the court workshops' production focus gradually shifted north, with karkhanas in Agra and Delhi operating in parallel to support the empire's grandest architectural plans.
Sources
- Ebba Koch, Mughal Architecture: An Outline of Its History and Development (1526–1858) — Ebba Koch (1991)
- Encyclopaedia Britannica: Mughal dynasty https://www.britannica.com/topic/Mughal-dynasty