Q. Which of the following features are characteristic of the Lodhi style of architecture (a subset of Indo-Islamic architecture)?
1.The introduction of the double dome system to provide strength to the structure and reduce the internal ceiling height.
2.The use of the True Arch (voussoir technique) as the primary method for constructing entrances and interior vaulting.
3.The use of buildings with an external appearance of two storeys but containing a single large hall inside, such as the Bara Gumbad.
Select the correct code:
Answer: C
Notes:
Explanation:
- Statement 1: Correct. The double dome (two shells: an outer shell for height and an inner shell for the ceiling) was perfected under the Lodis and is seen in the Tomb of Sikandar Lodi. It solved both aesthetic and structural problems.
- Statement 2: Incorrect. The True Arch was introduced much earlier by the first Sultans (Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque and Alai Darwaza), marking the start of Indo-Islamic architecture. It was not an innovation of the Lodis.
- Statement 3: Correct. A key feature of Lodi tombs and monumental structures (like the Bara Gumbad) is the visual staging of two stories on the exterior, concealing a single, grand interior chamber.
