Heart Pleasing and Praiseworthy Buildings: Reviewing Mughal Architecture in the light of Primary Sources

Saleh Kambo, a court historian of Shah Jahan (1628-58), while discussing the buildings, frequently used the phrases such as “makan dilnasheen hai az nasheman hai nuzhat aafreen” which means “heart pleasing buildings and praiseworthy mansions”. Every Mughal building designed surpassed its predecessor in terms of its design quality and decorative details. From the selection of the site to final design, specialized knowledge and expertise were employed to achieve the final product. The buildings and spaces around them not only had experiential qualities but were also practical in use. Throughout the Mughal period there has been constant experimentation in art and architectural design, which resulted in highly refined structures. This paper discusses the architecture of Mughal period, in terms of form, composition and its practical use, as described in the primary sources of the period. The paper also highlights the variety of expertise and knowledge, which Mughal architects and builders possessed, from the process of site selection to finalization of building designs and its minutest details.