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{{short description|Indo-Islamic architectural style}}
'''Qutb Shahi architecture''' is the distinct style of [[Indo-Islamic architecture]] developed during the reign of the [[Qutb Shahi dynasty]], also known as the Golconda Sultanate.

Qutb Shahi buildings are seen in the city of [[Hyderabad]] and its surroundings. The [[Golconda Fort]], which predates the founding of the city is the earliest example. The style reached its zenith during the reign of [[Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah]], who founded the city of Hyderabad and constructed the [[Charminar]] as its centerpiece.

The style is similar to that of the [[Bahmani Sultanate]] and other [[Deccan sultanates|Deccan Sultanates]], whose monuments can be seen in [[Gulbarga]], [[Bijapur]], and [[Bidar]]. It is heavily influenced by Persian architecture.

Several buildings in the style were put by [[UNESCO]] on its "tentative list" to become a [[World Heritage Site]] in 2014, with others in the region, under the name [[Monuments and Forts of the Deccan Sultanate]] (despite there being a number of different sultanates).<ref>[https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5887/ UNESCO "tentative list"]</ref>

== Features ==
The Qutb Shahi buildings consist of:

* Expansive mosques and palaces built out of granite
* Inscriptions including Persian poetry and verses from the [[Quran]]
* Heavy [[stucco]] ornamental work and [[jali]] latticed screens

=== Parapet ===
<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Lambourn |first=Elizabeth |authorlink= Elizabeth Lambourn |title=A Self-conscious Art? – Seeing Micro-Architecture in Sultanate South Asia |url=https://www.academia.edu/380515}}</ref>

== Mosques ==
{{Multiple image
| image1 = Golconda, tombe qutb shahi, moschea grande 02.jpg
| caption1 = Mosque at the Qutb Shahi tombs
| image2 = Toli Masjid in Hyderabad.jpg
| caption2 = [[Toli Masjid]]
| total_width = 600
| footer = The Qutb Shahi mosque would have five arched entranceways. The facade would be flanked with two galleried minarets. Elaborate stucco work would be used to embellish the facade
| caption_align = center
| footer_align = center
| image3 = Mecca Masjid Hyderabad.JPG
| caption3 = [[Makkah Masjid, Hyderabad|Mecca Masjid]]
| align = center
}}
The number of arches on the facade would be either five, symbolizing the [[Ahl al-Kisa|Panjtan]], or three, symbolizing God, Muhammad, and Ali.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last1=Jayyusi |first1=Salma K. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nY2DqJNPmioC&q=chowk |title=The City in the Islamic World, Volume 94/1 & 94/2 |last2=Holod |first2=Renata |last3=Petruccioli |first3=Attilio |last4=Raymond |first4=Andre |date=2008 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=978-90-04-16240-2 |pages=611–613 |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Sherwani |first=H. K. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Fg9wDQEACAAJ |title=History of the Quṭb Shāhī Dynasty |date=1974 |publisher=Munshiram Manoharlal |isbn=978-81-215-0339-6 |language=en}}</ref> The mosques would be set within caravanserais or shops nearby would be endowed to the mosque in order to ensure funding.

In some Hyderabad mosques, the entire facade has been decorated with low-relief work. The most used motifs are medallions above the arches, and a flower resting on the point of the arch.<ref name=":1" />

=== Dome ===
The importance of the dome decreased in Golconda mosques, and in later mosques it is altogether eliminated. Shallow domes, which would not be visible from the outside, would be used to support the roof. The [[Toli Masjid]] represents the final phase.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last=Mate |first=M. S. |date=1963 |title=Islamic Architecture of the Deccan |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/42930820 |journal=Bulletin of the Deccan College Research Institute |volume=22 |pages=1–91 |jstor=42930820 |issn=0045-9801}}</ref><ref name=":2" />

=== Minarets ===
[[File:Hayat_Bakshi_Mosque_12.jpg|thumb|Minaret]]
Golconda mosques generally have two minarets, flanking the mosque facade. Two, smaller minarets are provided at the rear in some mosques. However, the rear minarets are uncommon.<ref name=":2" />

They constitute the dominant feature of the mosque, as domes are reduced in importance, especially in later mosques. Instead of an open balcony, as seen in Bahmani structures, the balconies are covered and projecting outward in the form of galleries. Consequently, the minarets are heavy-looking. The towers generally taper upwards, and each upper balcony is smaller than its lower counterparts.<ref name=":1" />

=== Interior ===
The use of black basalt to decorate the qibla wall is typically seen.<ref name=":2" />

== Tombs ==
There is some variety in the design of the Qutb Shahi tomb. The most common type is square, highly influenced by the [[Bahmani Tombs|Bahmani]] and [[Barid Shahi tombs|Barid Shahi]] tombs.<ref>{{Cite book |last=H.k. Sherwani |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.153598/page/n301/mode/2up |title=History Of Medieval Deccan |date=1974}}</ref>

== History ==

=== Golconda Fort ===
[[File:Golconda_Fort_008.jpg|thumb|[[Golconda Fort]]]]
[[File:Tomb_of_Sultan_Quli_Qutb_Shah_03.jpg|thumb|[[Qutb Shahi tombs]]]]
[[File:Taramati-Baradari.jpg|thumb|[[Taramati Baradari]]]]
The [[Golconda Fort]] is the earliest example of the style.

=== Later architecture ===

==== Qutb Shahi tombs ====
The [[Qutb Shahi tombs]] are the necropolis of the Qutb Shahi rulers, set in a vast garden on the outskirts of the Golconda Fort.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/restoring-the-charm-of-qutb-shahi-tombs/article24919658.ece|title=Restoring the charm of Qutb Shahi tombs|last=Nanisetti|first=Serish|date=2018-09-11|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-11-12|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>{{Sfn|Haig|1907|p=59}} The tombs share a common features: an [[onion dome]] atop a cube surrounded by an arcade with rich ornamental details, with small minarets featuring floral motifs.{{Sfn|Khalidi|2009|p=70}}

==== Charminar ====
The [[Charminar]] is one of the most recognizable examples of Qutb Shahi architecture.{{Sfn|Haig|1907|p=210}} It was built by [[Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah]] in 1591 as a centerpiece for the newly built capital city of Hyderabad. The Charminar is a large building, square in plan, having an arch in each of its faces and a lofty decagonal minaret at each of its angles. To the south of the Charminar is the [[Makkah Masjid, Hyderabad|Mecca Masjid]], which is one of the largest mosques of India.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/archaeology-dept-puts-its-all-into-restoring-mecca-masjid/article26425148.ece|title=Archaeology dept. puts its all into restoring Hyderabad's Mecca Masjid|last=Nanisetti|first=Serish|date=2019-03-03|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-12-18|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

To the north of the Charminar is the [[Gulzar Houz]] fountain, which is surrounded by four arches called the [[Char Kaman]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/after-years-of-neglect-charkaman-set-to-regain-glory/article21382371.ece|title=After years of neglect, Charkaman set to regain glory|last=Nanisetti|first=Serish|date=2017-12-09|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-11-12|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> The arches are simple and do not have many embellishments. There used to be other Qutb Shahi palaces, as well as a rose garden in the vicinity, but they were probably destroyed during the [[Siege of Golconda]].

==== Other monuments ====
Another early structure was the [[Purana pul|Purana Pul]], built in 1578{{Sfn|Bilgrami|1927|p=10-12}} across the Musi River.{{Sfn|Khalidi|2009|p=17}} The [[Tomb of Abdul Qadir Amin Khan]] at Patancheru is also from this period.

The Qutb Shahi rulers built elaborate [[caravanserai]]s, or resthouses, including the [[Shaikpet Sarai]] and [[Taramati Baradari]]. The former had had 30 rooms, stables for horses and camels, a mosque and a tomb of an unknown [[Sufism|sufi]] saint.

Other mosques built during this time include the [[Khairtabad Mosque]],<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/archaeology-dept-turns-its-focus-on-khairatabad-masjid/article25195183.ece|title=Archaeology Dept. turns its focus on Khairatabad Masjid|last=Nanisetti|first=Serish|date=2018-10-11|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-11-12|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> [[Hayat Bakshi Mosque]], [[Musheerabad Masjid]],{{Sfn|Khalidi|2009|p=52}} and [[Kulsum Begum Masjid|Kulsum Begum Mosque]].

The Qutb Shahi rulers also made considerable additions to the [[Gandikota|Gandikota Fort]].

== Revival ==
Later structures built by the Asaf Jahi rulers, such as the [[Afzal Gunj Masjid]], were built in a revival Qutb Shahi style.<ref name=":0" />

== Gallery ==
{{Gallery
| title =
| align =
| footer =
| style =
| state =
| height =
| width =
| captionstyle =
| File:Jali wall and Minarets on the facade of Toli Masjid.jpg
| Stucco work on the facade of the [[Toli Masjid]]
| alt1=
| File:Golconda, tomba di Mohammad Quli Qutb Shah IV, m. 1611, 03.jpg
| Tomb of Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah
| alt2=
|File:Gandikota Jumma Masjid.jpg
|Mosque at the [[Gandikota|Gandikota Fort]]
| alt3=
}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

=== Bibliography ===

*{{Cite book|title=Landmarks of the Deccan|last=Bilgrami|first=Syed Ali Asgar|publisher=Government Central Press, Hyderabad|year=1927}}
*{{Cite book|url=https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Historic_Landmarks_of_the_Deccan|title=Historic Landmarks of the Deccan|last=Haig|first=Wolseley|year=1907|location=The Pioneer Press, Allahabad}}
*{{Cite book|url=https://libraries.mit.edu/img/libs/rotch/HyderabadGuide_2009.pdf|title=A Guide to Architecture in Hyderabad, Deccan, India|last=Khalidi|first=Omar|year=2009|author-link=Omar Khalidi|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925143941/https://libraries.mit.edu/img/libs/rotch/HyderabadGuide_2009.pdf|archive-date=2019-09-25|url-status=live}}

{{Qutb Shahi Monuments}}{{Architecture of India}}

[[Category:Qutb Shahi architecture| ]]

Qutb Shahi architecture - Revision history

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