Maratha Architecture | History of Architecture

short note on History of Maratha Architecture

1. Maratha Architecture
HISTORY OF
Ar. PranayKumar Tode
Conservation Architect
[email protected]

2. Genealogy of
The Marathas
Ar. PranayKumar Tode
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3. Spread of Maratha Empire
Ar. PranayKumar Tode
Earlymarathaperiod-13thcenturytillbeginningof
14thcentury:
•YadavasofDevagiriareconsideredasfirst
Marathaempire.
•RamadevyadavawasdefeatedbyAlla-ud-din
Khiljiin1294,kingdomwasgivenbackinlieuof
hugeamountofransomandannualtribute.
•Theamountwasnotpaidtill1307AD,when
MalikKafurwassenttoretakethekingdom.
•RuledbyAlla-ud-dinKhiljitill1317AD,Devagiri
renamedas‘DAULATABAD’.
•Afterthattherewasaperiodofanarchytill
Mohammed-binTughlaqshiftedhiscapitalto
Daulatabadin1340AD.
•Alla-ud-dinbamanshahaPersianofficial
establishedhiskingdominGulbargainDeccan.

4. Ar. PranayKumar Tode
Spread of Maratha Empire
5 divisions of Islamic rule in Deccan:
1. Berar -ImadShahi(1490-1574 AD)
2. Ahmednagar –Nizamshahi(1490 –1636 AD)
3. Bijapur-Adil shahi (1490-1686 AD)
4. Bidar –Barid Shahi (1492-1619 AD)
5. Golkonda-Kutubshahi (1518-1687 AD)
6. Several Jagirdarsand Sardarswere also in rule in
smaller parts.
•ChatrapatiShivajiMaharajagaveafightagainstthe
SultanatesandlateralsoagainstMughalemperor
Aurangzebtillhisdeathin1680AD.
•LaterhissonsSambhaji(1657-1689AD)andRajaram
(1670-1700AD)alsocontinuedthefight.
•TheactualMaratharulespansfrom1749–1818.

5. Ar. PranayKumar Tode
Spread of Maratha Empire
MarathaPeriod1749-1818AD:
•ReinofthePrimeMinistersofMarathaRulers.
•Punewasestablishedasthecapitalandempireextended
uptoPunjab,Kashmir,Bengal,Mysore,Tanjoreandmajor
landsofwestandcentralIndia.
•GreaterMarathaKingdomsoftheGreatimportancewere
establishedasIndore(TheHolkars),Gwalior(TheScindias),
Baroda(Giakwads).

6. Architecture of Maratha Empire
Ar. PranayKumar Tode
-Civil
Town-planning, Roads and Bridges, Wadas, Houses,
mansions and palaces, Gardens and fountains, water-
supply, Sanitary arrangements, Step-well.
-Military
Gadis, Civil Defence, Forts.
-Religious
Maratha Temples Type A (Neo-Yadav)
Maratha Temples Type B (Indo-Aryan)
Maratha Temples Type A (Maratha)
Ghats, Dharamshalasand KundsChhattrisand Samadhis.

7. Architecture of Maratha Empire
Ar. PranayKumar Tode
Wadas-whichwerethetraditionalresidentialformofMaratha
architecture,evolvedunderthereignofPeshwas.Awadawastypicallya
largebuildingoftwoormorestoreywithgroupsofroomsarranged
aroundopencourtyards.
Typesofwadas:
•PalaceWadas
•NoblemanWadas
•OrdinaryWadas
•ItsstylewasanamalgamationwherefeaturesfromMughal,Rajasthan,
andGujaratarchitecturewerecombinedwithlocalconstruction
techniques.SettlementsdevelopedaroundthePeshwa’sresidence.
LandaroundthePeshwaresidencewasdividedintowardscalled
peths.SimilarlythewadaswerebuiltinrestoftheMaharashtra.
•Thestreetsandroadsinthesettlementwerenarrow.Roadswere
neverstraightasthegrowthofthesettlementwasorganic.Theplots
forconstructionofwadaswererectangularandlayrightnexttothe
streets.Awadaneverhadagardenorvistasleadingtoit.Theurban
formofthesettlementappearedlikeamazeoftwoorthreestoried
structureshavinginternalopenspaces,placedalongtheroadnetwork
withverylittleopencommunityspace.

8. Architecture of Maratha Empire
Ar. PranayKumar Tode
•ShaniwaradaisahistoricalfortificationinthecityofPunein
Maharashtra,India.Builtin1732,itwastheseatofthePeshwasofthe
MarathaEmpireuntil1818,whenthePeshwaslostcontroltothe
BritishEastIndiacompanyaftertheThirdAnglo-MarathaWar.
FollowingtheriseoftheMarathaEmpire,thepalacebecamethe
centerofIndianpoliticsinthe18thcentury.
•TheShaniwarwadawasoriginallytheseven-storeycapitalbuildingof
thePeshwasoftheMarathaEmpire.Itwassupposedtobemade
entirelyofstonebutafterthecompletionofthebasefloororthefirst
storey,thepeopleofSatara(thenationalcapital)complainedtothe
Shahu(King)sayingthatastonemonumentcanbesanctionedand
builtonlybytheShahu(King)himselfandnotthePeshwas.Following
this,anofficialletterwaswrittentothePeshwasstatingthatthe
remainingbuildinghadtobemadeofbrickandnotstone.Eventoday
ifyouvisitandseethewallscarefully,theyarepartlymadeofstone
andpartlybybricks.TheWadawasthencompletedanduponbeing
attackedbytheBritishArtillery90yearslater,allthetopsixstories
collapsedleavingonlythestonebase,whichwasimmunetothe
Britishartillery.HenceonlythestonebaseoftheShaniwarWada
remainsandcanbeseeneventodayintheolderpartsofPune.

9. Architecture of Maratha Empire
Ar. PranayKumar Tode
•Distinctzoningcanbeseen.
•Separateentrancesforguests,domestichelp,peoplevisitingthe
durbar,separateentriesforthepeopleperforminginthedurbar
andaseparateentryintothecattleshed.
•Privacyforthewomengivenapriority.Threemaincourtyardsor
chowks.
•Thewadahasit’sentranceinthesouthernside.
•Themostsignificantfeaturesofthewadawasthewayit’szoning
ofpublic,privateandsemi-privatespaceswasdone.
•Thiscanbeseenverydistinctlyintheplan.
•Threemaincourtyards.
•ArchitecturalDetailsCourtyardofWadaWoodenwindowDetails.
Brickofsize12inchesx24inchesx15incheswereusedfor
constructionofwallswhichwereplasteredwithlimeplaster.Door
andwindowopeningsweredoneinteakwoods
•Columnsmadeofgreatdarkprocessedsaag(teak)columnsand
creamwalls.Intricatelycurvedornamentalteardropteakpillars.
Thebananaflowerembellishmentarecharacteristictothe
Peshwaera.WoodenmakaraDetailmadeupofteakwood.
WoodenBeam-BracketDetailmadeupofteakwood.

10. Architecture of Maratha Empire
Ar. PranayKumar Tode
Military Structures
•Nearly350fortsofdifferenttypesarefoundinMaharashtramanyofthemwerebuiltbychatrapatishivaji
•maharaja.
•ChatrapatiShivajiMaharaja,founderofmarathaempireinwesternindiain1664,waswellknownforhisforts;hewas
inpossessionofaround370atthetimeofhisdeath.Many,likePanhalaFortandRajgadexistedbeforehimbut
others,likeSindhudurgandPratapgadh,werebuiltbyhimfromscratch.
•Mostofthesefortswerebuiltmainlyalongthehighwaystocheckontheenemies.
•MarathakingsmainlyShivajimaharajabuiltmanyfortsSeveraldefensivearchitecturalfeatureswereevolvedforthe
guerillawarfaretactics,
Fortsaremainlyofthreetypes:
1.Hillforts
2.Seaforts
3.Landforts

11. Architecture of Maratha Empire
Ar. PranayKumar Tode
Military Structures
Notable features of Maharaja Shivaji'sforts:
•Design changes with the topography and in harmony of the contour, no monotony of design.
•No ornate palaces or dance floors or gardens.
•No temple complexes.
•Not much difference in the area of higher or lower ranks.
•Marvelous acoustics in the capital.
•Sanskritizationof fort names.
•Community participation in the defense of forts.
•Three tier administration of forts.
•System of inspection of forts by higher ups including the king.
•Distinct feature of forts like double line fortification of Pratapgad, citadel of Rajgad.
•Foresight in selection of sites.

12. Architecture of Maratha Empire
Ar. PranayKumar Tode
Military Structures
Raigad Fort (Mahad, Raigad District)
•Shivajiseized the fort in 1656, then known as the fort of Rairi
from ChandraraojiMore, The King of Jawali.
•Shivajirenovated and expanded the fort of Rairiand renamed it
as Raigad (King's Fort). It became the capital of Maharaja
Shivaji'sMaratha Empire.

13. Architecture of Maratha Empire
Ar. PranayKumar Tode
Religious Structures
Developed from Hemadpantistyle as well as gradually got fused with Islamic features.
Both Dravidian & Nagara(specially Gujarat, Rajasthan) influences were synthesized.
The evolution of temples could be grouped in three categories :
1.Neo-Yadava
2.Nagara style
3.Maratha style
Neo-Yadavastyle
•Developed from the earlier Yadavastyle
•Introduced Islamic arcuatedsystem of construction with dome in Garbhagriha.
•Vimanawith dressed black trap (basalt) stone with mortar & shikharahas stucco with conical upward sweep lotus petal
base
•Horizontal bands with motifs
•Domical amalakafinial with kalash
•Monolithic pillars of square, octagonal, round profile, with motifs and capital.
Nagarastyle
•Followed Nagarastyle of Gujarat & Rajasthan
•More Islamic style adapted for construction & decoration like arches in porch, dressed stone with mortar
•Two types of Shikharafound-plain domes, conical Nagarastyle, decorated with motifs Devdeveshwartemple, Pune

14. Architecture of Maratha Empire
Ar. PranayKumar Tode
Maratha style
•Most popular since 1725 AD during Peshwaperiod
•Adapted Islamic methods of construction & features widely (domes, arches, mineratemotifs)
•characterized by plain shrine & rich row of columns
•Main features are arches (cusped, pointed circular) cyprusscolumn, wooden pillars.
•Example
1. KartikSwami temple at Parvati, Pune
2. Tulsibag temple, Pune
3.Omkareshwar temple, Pune
OmkareshwaraTemple, Pune
•OmkareshwartempleissituatedinShaniwarPethonthebanks
ofriverMutha.Itisoneofthebiggestandoldesttemplesinthe
city.TheholyabodewasbuiltbyShivaramBhat,spiritualguruof
Peshwasbetween1740to1760.Templeproclaimsthesplendor
ofthefallenPeshwaEmpire.
•ChimajiAppa,commanderofMarathaEmpireandbrotherof
BajiraoPeshwaprovideddonationstobuiltthetemple.The
samadhiofChimajiAppaisinthetemplewhereheregularly
visitedandleftforheavenlyabode.

15. Architecture of Maratha Empire
Ar. PranayKumar Tode
Maratha style (OmkareshwarTemple, Pune)
Omkareshwaraboastsofsplendidarchitecture,hugedomes,and
intricatecarvingsthatcharmandamazedevoteeswithitsbeauty.
Spaciousverrandahwithartisticcolumnsenhancethegrandeurofthe
shrine.Thecolumnsareintheshapesofcircles,polygonsandsquares.
InadditiontotheShivatemple,youhavesixothertemplesinthe
premises.TheseincludeLordShani,LordHanuman,LordVishnu,Lord
GaneshandGoddessDurga
Thewhitedomeofthetempleismadeofsoftsoapstonedisplaying
intricatecarvingonupperportionaswellasonthestoneroofof
temple.
NandiMandap:Asyouentertheshrinethroughagateway,youcansee
abeautifulmandapahomeofNandiMaharaj.
Shivling:IntheGarbhagriha,devoteesmindfillswithspiritualemotions,
astheyseepleasingShivlingdecoratedbythepriests.Devoteesoffer
flowers,baelleaves,andmilkfortheblessingsofthemostdivinehindu
god,Shiva

16. Architecture of Maratha Empire
Ar. PranayKumar Tode
Maratha style (OmkareshwarTemple, Pune)
•The temple is surrounded by verandaaeach column
•These columns are carved in polygons, squares and circles,
•The temple provides nice showcase of the creativity and charm of
that period.
•The temple has become well known for its extravagant style of
construction.
•This temples at puneis built in Nagarastyle of architecture and
consist of five distinct layers which
•represents the different hinduGods.

17. Conclusion
Ar. PranayKumar Tode
•ThecharacteristicoftheMarathastylefromlaterbuildingssuchasfortspalacesandtemples.Brick,wood,mortar
andstonewerethematerialsuseforconstruction.Besidesotherapartments,thepalacescontaineddarbarhalls
andrangaandchitramandirs.
•Theuseofthearchwaskepttotheminimumand,whereused,followedtheDeccanstyle.Fortswerenaturallythe
mostcommonfeatureoftheearlierperiod.
•Thedecorativefeaturesofthemansionswere“pointedarches,heavycarvedstonebrackets,narrowbalconies
projectingonrowsofsuchbrackets,domicalshallowceilingsrestingonavarietyofsquinches,thechiefbeingthe
interwoventype”.
•Thetemplesconstructedduringtheperiod,wemayrefertotheVitthalwaditemplenearPoonaandthetempleof
ShambhuMahadvatShinganapur.BothofthemaresaidtohavebeenconstructedduringthetimeofShivaji.These
templesfollowedtheearlierstyleoftheYadavatemples.
•TheMarathatemplesgenerallyprovidedwithahugelampstand(deepmala)representsarenaissanceofthe
medievalwesternChalukyanorShilharasanctuaryoftencombinedwiththeMughalarchesandcoupolas,itsspire
isacurioustranspositionoftheancientshikara(tower)intoDeccan-Mughalforms,abulbouslotusdome(inplace
ofamalaka)risingontopofseveralstoreysofdomedchhattris(pavilion).
•TheMarathaarchitecturelackedthebeautyandgraceofthebuildingsoftheMughals,andtheRajputs.Butthe
Marathasexcelledinfortarchitecture.Thewoodworktheyusedtodecoratetheirpalacesandothercivilbuildings
wasintricateandminute.Marathaartcouldhavedevelopedandattainedadistinctivecharacterbutitwasnot
possiblebecauseoftheunstabletimes.
https://nptel.ac.in/content/storage2/124/106/124106009/MP4/mod03lec14.mp4

18. References
Ar. PranayKumar Tode
http://cdn.iiit.ac.in/cdn/eerc.iiit.ac.in/IHE/Wada.pdf
http://www.ijera.com/papers/Vol7_issue3/Part-1/B0703011222.pdf
https://nptel.ac.in/courses/124/106/124106009/#
https://archive.org/details/dli.ernet.53927
https://nptel.ac.in/content/storage2/124/106/124106009/MP4/mod03lec14.mp4