Forts

• In medieval times, constructing monumental forts with embattlements was a common practice, symbolizing the king’s seat of power and dominance. These imposing structures were strategically placed on commanding heights, making them both functional and awe-inspiring. Notable examples that continue to captivate visitors include the forts of Chittor, Gwalior, Daulatabad (formerly known as Devgiri), and Golconda.
• Forts like Daulatabad were built with advanced defensive features, such as staggered entrances designed to thwart enemy advances. These clever architectural elements ensured that even elephants could not force open the gates, highlighting the strategic brilliance behind these ancient military structures.

• It also had twin forts, one within the other but at a higher elevation and accessed by a complex defence design arrangement. 

• The Gwalior Fort was invincible because its steep height made it impossible to scale. It had many habitations and usages. 

• An interesting aspect associated with forts is that within the palace complexes stylistic and decorative influences were absorbed most liberally.

Minars

In the subcontinent, another form of tower known as the minar was commonly seen. Two remarkable minars from medieval times are the Qutub Minar in Delhi and the Chand Minar at Daulatabad Fort.

Features: 

• The everyday use of the minar was for the azaan or call to prayer. 

• It’s phenomenal height, however, symbolised the might and power of the ruler. 

• The Qutub Minar also came to be associated with the much-revered saint of Delhi, Khwaja Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki. 

• It is characterised by highly decorated balconies and bands of inscriptions intertwined with foliated designs.

• Chand Minar, built in the fifteenth century, is a 210- feet-high tapering tower divided into four storeys. 

• Painted peach now, its façade once boasted of chevron patterning on the encaustic tile work and bold bands of Quranic verses. 

Tombs 

Monumental structures over graves of rulers and royalty were a popular feature of medieval India. Some well-known examples of such tombs are those of Ghyasuddin Tughlaq, Humayun, Abdur Rahim Khan-i-Khanna in Delhi, Akbar and Itmad Ud Daulah in Agra. 

• According to Anthony Welch, the idea behind the tomb was eternal paradise as a reward for the true believer on the Day of Judgement. 

• This led to the paradisiacal imagery for tomb construction. 

• Beginning with the introduction of Quranic verses on the walls, the tomb was, subsequently, placed within paradisiacal elements such as a garden or near a body of water or both, as is in the case of the Humayun’s tomb and the Taj Mahal, which follows the charbagh style. 

Sarai

A hugely interesting feature of medieval India was the sarais which ringed cities and dotted the vast space of the Indian subcontinent. 

• Sarais were largely built on a simple square or rectangular plan and were meant to provide temporary accommodation to Indian and foreign travellers, pilgrims, merchants, traders, etc. 

• In effect, sarais were public domains which thronged with people of varied cultural backgrounds. 

• This led to cross-cultural interaction, influences and syncretic tendencies in the cultural mores of the times and at the level of the people