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The Glory of the Sultans: Islamic Architecture in India 1100-1880

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The rich history of Islamic architecture is often overlooked by many these days but "The Glory of the Sultans: Islamic Architecture in India 1100-1880" will serve as an introduction or reminder of a fascinating period.

Author Yves Porter, with the help of Gerard Degeorge serving as photographer, have captured the stories and images of a faded time in history when the mix of Islamic culture--Turkish, Indian and Persian, among others--fed a building boom and cultural proliferation. Some of the results are slightly known in the West; the Taj Mahal, for example, was built between 1632-1653, about midpoint of the time frame covered by this book (12th to 19th Centuries).

Many of the sites are mausoleums, mosques or palaces, some kept up in good condition, others showing deep neglect. The stonework is often faded red, with varying splashes of gold but other colors crop up, too. The mausoleum of Yusuf Gardzi, in Multan, Pakistan is nearly entirely blue. Some of the structures are military sites, such as the fort of Golconda, India, which is built on top of a rocky hill overlooking the city. The structures and surrounding land often include minarets, friezes, gardens, terraces, pillars and arches, all presented in a pleasing and distinctive style.

Most buildings include incredibly intricate artwork of flowers, geometric designs and animals but few depictions of humans, some in gold inlays, others carved directly into the stone.