Read Book Online : http://www.archive.org/stream/architectureofan00cole#page/n7/mode/2up

Download pdf Book : http://ia700407.us.archive.org/4/items/architectureofan00cole/architectureofan00cole.pdf

The architecture at & around Qutub Complex can be described as an excellent example of Early Afghan architecture in India. The Ghoris came with an army of soldiers who knew how to throw a boat bridge across the river to ford it, but did not know how to construct an arch though they were familiar with the arch, it being their way of spanning a wall opening. So while constructing the Quwat-ul-Islam mosque at Qutub (to impress the vanquished population) they had to rely on Hindu stone masons who were adept at handling stone, and went through it like going through butter with a hot knife. They were explained what the victors wanted in terms of arch, and Hindu stone mason came up with corbelled arch with their own experience of building with stones. Re it being Hindu, 27 temples in the vicinity were destroyed to get the building elements like columns and beams to construct the mosque quickly. The Hindu motifs on the columns and beams were first being chiseled off, but it took too long and hence were covered with lime plaster. Unfortunately, lime plaster has a habit of falling off after 900 years and hence the motifs were exposed again. In fact, the Quwat-ul-Islam mosque itself is probably built on the plinth of the Great Temple of Lalkot as the area was known then, and was the Capital of Tomar Rajputs and later the Chauhans, in whose time the place was known as Qila Rai Pithora (corrupted version of Qila of Raj Prithvi).

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