Alai Darwaza

Alai Darwaza and Qutub Minar

Alai Darwaza

The Alai Darwaza (= "Gate of Alai") in the surrounding wall of the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque in Delhi is the first monumental Islamic gateway in India . In its architecture and decor, it anticipates numerous characteristics of the later Mughal architecture .

history

According to an inscription found on the building, the Alai Darwaza was built in 1311 by order of the Sultan Ala ud-Din Khalji . The nearby Iltutmish mausoleum (around 1236) should be mentioned as the previous building ; a few years later (around 1325) the mausoleum for Ghiyas-ud-din Tughluq Shah I was built - both buildings show many similarities, but also differences. At an unknown point in time, the Alai Darwaza was badly damaged by earthquakes, but not completely destroyed. The collapsed dome was renewed under the supervision of the British colonial administration in the early 20th century.

architecture

Stone material

The core of the south-facing, cubic gate structure , accessible from three sides via approx. 2 m high internal staircases, consists of burned bricks ; these were clad with slabs of reddish sandstone and white marble , which were previously provided with calligraphic inscriptions or floral decorations.

Floor plan and elevation

The floor plan of the gate building is square with a side length of about 12 m; the total height deviates only insignificantly, so that one can speak of a cube overall. Four portals lead into the interior of the building, one of them from the south side of the mosque courtyard ( sahn ) . The building was covered by the first real dome in India; this rested on corner arches ( trumpets ).

Building decor

In addition to the architectural structure, there are several abstract, geometric decor elements:

the portals and (false) windows are framed by artistically designed columns / pillars; the outer frames are provided with calligraphic inscription bands

In addition, the slightly horseshoe-shaped portal arches are adorned with a lucky décor made of tied upside-down vases or jugs ( kalashas )

the windows are filled with stone lattices ( jalis ) , the geometric and potentially infinite ornamentation of which corresponds to the Islamic ban on images
the interior walls are covered in horror vacui fashion with geometric (mostly hexagonal) ornaments