ALAIDARWAZA

Also known by variant names such as : Alai gate Alai gateway Gateway of Ala al Din KhaljiType of Building:military,public monumentsBuilding Usage:gate,symbolic structureIs a part of Qutab group of Monuments,a UNESCO World Heritage Monument,which along with other monuments,tombs and mosques make up the Qutab Minar Complex all of which are located in Mehrauli Archeological ParkMain gateway to the Quwwatu’l-Islam MosqueFirst building that completely uses Islamic principles of arcuate construction and geometric ornamentationHas influence of seljukian art.

BRIEF HISTORY…………

A number of gates were built around Delhi over the centuries.One of the oldest gates in Delhi is the Alai Darwaza. This is a gate in the Qutub Complex that is very historic and features a number of interesting carvings on it. It is also very large in size and has an amazing build that is incredibly symmetrical

It is on the southern part of the complex near its entrance. It was constructed in 1311. Alla-Ud-Din Khilji made this large gate as the first of four gates that he wanted to build. However, this ended up being the only gate that he did make. He died five years after this gate was constructed and never got around to the other three gates.

The construction of the Alai Darwaza features mostly red sandstone, thus making it similar in its construction to other buildings around the area from that time. This is not the only material used in the construction of the gate. There is also a great amount of white marble found around the gate. This white marble is used as the inlay to the gate.

There are many architecture carvings found around the white marble inlay for the Alai Darwaza of Mehrauli Delhi. There are several different verses from the Quran featured around the inlay. These include a few quotes from the Hadith books. These are critical books to the Islamic faith. The inscriptions around the gate are very elaborate and appealing.

The inlays and designs are symmetrical to each other. They appear to be nearly the same on both the left and right sides of the gate. The only real differences between the two sides can be found through how they have been weathered in different ways over time.

A few windows are used around the sides of the gate. These feature latticework that features stars with six points and a few circular shapes around the area. The design of the latticework is very consistent in its pattern.

The arch around the gate is in a semi-circle. It has a point at the central part of the gate. The symmetry in this gate is nearly perfect just like with the rest of the gate.

A dome is also included. This dome is supported by an octagonal base and a series of squinches to help get the dome to blend in with the rest of the build around the gate. A plaster material is also used on the outside part of the dome to keep it protected and to give it a uniform appearance.

The Alai Darwaza is the first true dome constructed in India. Earlier the attempts to make domes were not successful particularly the tomb of Iltutmish.

The dome was constructed on highly scientific principles. A series of squinches of pointed shape, one recessed within the other, in the upper section of each angle of the hall, changes the square into an octagon and next the octagon into the circle of the dome with an interweaving sixteen-sided shaft formed by a bracket at each end of the octagon. Through fastidious application of geometrical principles, the load of the dome has been gracefully conveyed to the ground, from the circle to the sixteen-sided shaft, from the latter to the octagon and then to the four walls of the square chamber. The pointed shape of the squinches matches well the shape of the entrance arches.

ABOUT THE DESIGN……..

In contrast to the existing Qutb Mosque, which was built with the spolia of the existing temples on the site, the Alai Darwaza was a new structure.

Square in planExterior length :17.22mWall thickness:3.3mInterior length:10,6mHeight from floor to domed ceiling:14.3m

.Its wide, shallow dome rests on an octagonal base, and the transition from the octagonal base to a circular dome is achieved with squinches (muqarnas). On the exterior, the dome is plastered. 

squinch

The gate stands on a plinth clad with red sandstone with carved friezes. On the south (main) elevation of the gate, steps beginning at the plinth lead into the gate itself. Its exterior is clad with intricately carved red sandstone and white marble bands carved with calligraphic inscriptions in Naksh script or geometric patterns.

In the center springs the gate itself, a true arch as opposed to the older, local trabeated construction visible in other parts of the Qutb complex, ornamented with slender pillars.

The gate is bilaterally symmetrical on its south elevation

Flanking the gateway on either side are two small arched windows with delicate latticework (jalis) just above the plinth level.

Above these lower-level windows are shallow rectangular niches (again, two on either side of the gate) created with concentric bands of red sandstone and white marble carvings. 

On the eastern and western sides, the arrangement of central archway flanked by a jaliwork window on the lower level and rectangular niches on the upper level is repeated. However, on the western elevation, this sandstone and marble niche revetment has fallen off. Where the volume of the gate joins the complex wall, the blind window on the northwestern corner has been half-covered by the complex wall. 

The gate of the north elevation, facing into the complex, is a semicircular arch. The south, east, and west elevations each feature horseshoe arches with spearheaded decorations in the intrados and a decorative parapet above. 

The most beautiful part is the gatehouse which has arches with carved jali screens set into it. The exquisite geometric and floral designs in red sandstone and white marble are striking.

The unfulfilled dream of Ala-ud-din as the victory tower, Alai Minar stands 27 meters high built of red sandstone, uncompleted, originally planned to be built along similar lines of Qutab Minar. Alai Darwaza is the main gateway to the entire complex housing the tomb of Imam Zamin, the tomb of Altamish and the mosque. Alai Minar the unfinished base of Alauddin Khilji's tower, in the Qutab Minar Complex

ALAI MINAR….

Some detailings….

Some detailings…..

some detailings…

Vault-Alai darwaza

Tomb of Imam Zamin

Roof of Alai darwaza

interior

Qutab minar,Alai darwaza & Tomb of Imam zamin

THANK YOU….