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The fine arts, especially architecture, made tremendous progress during the Islamic rule in India. The architecture of this period can be divided into four categories. They are the Delhi or the Imperial Style, the Provincial Style, the Hindu Architecture and the Mughal Architecture. The Imperial Style developed under the patronage of the Sultans of Delhi. The Provincial Rulers who were mostly Muslims patronized the Provincial Style. Though the Imperial Style influenced this style yet it had its own individuality. The Hindu Architecture evolved under the Hindu kings of Rajasthan and Vijayanagara Empire with an influence of the Imperial style. The Mughal Architecture was a blend of the Islamic Architecture of Central Asia and the Hindu Architecture of India.
The development of the Muslim Style of Architecture of this period can be called the Indo-Islamic Architecture or the Indian Architecture influenced by Islamic Art. This style was neither strictly Islamic nor strictly Hindu. The Muslims provided spaciousness, massiveness and breadth to the Hindu architecture. They added mere or arch, dome and minar to the indigenous architecture. The Muslims borrowed the design of kalash on the top of the Hindu temple by placing a dome on the top of their buildings. The Hindu style of decoration was applied by the Muslims to decorate their arches.
The Provincial Rulers could not provide the grandeur similar to the Imperial or the Mughal buildings to their own buildings because of limited economic resources at their disposal. The local circumstances also influenced the Provincial Style therefore making them different not only from the Imperial Style but also from each other.
The Mughal Architecture occupies a most significant place in the history of Indian Architecture. Akbar was responsible for its origin and development. The Mughal Architecture was basically Indian though it recognized and incorporated foreign influences with in it. Some of the basic features of the Mughal Architecture are the round domes, high minarets, mehrabs, pillars, open courtyards etc. Red sandstone was used for construction of the buildings during the initial period while white marble replaced it during the later period when the stress was more on beautifying of the buildings with the use of colored designs, precious and semi-precious stones, gold and silver waters and minute carvings.
The Muslims mostly constructed tombs, minarets, mosques, palaces and forts while the Hindus mostly constructed temples, forts, palaces, stambhas (victory towers), gopurams, and mandapas in the temples. Though there was no positive effort for the fusion of the Hindu and Muslim architecture yet the synthesis took place and gave birth to the Ind-Islamic style of architecture. The Mughals constructed many mausoleums, mosques places etc. it was influenced by theprovincial architectures of the times.
The outstanding examples of this period are the Qutub Minar, Alai Darwaza, Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque, Tughlaqabad Fort, Vithala temple, Kirti Stambha, Fatehpur Sikri, Agra Fort, Taj Mahal, Red Fort etc.
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