Architect · Mughal Empire · c. 1580-1649
Ustad Ahmad Lahauri Biography, Buildings and Best Books
Persian-born Mughal architect (c. 1580-1649) traditionally credited as the chief architect of the Taj Mahal and the Red Fort in Delhi.
Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Biography
Ustad Ahmad Lahauri (about 1580-1649) was an architect at the court of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. Based mainly on writings by his son, he is traditionally named as the chief architect of the Taj Mahal in Agra and of the Red Fort in Delhi, although Mughal buildings were the work of large teams and the precise role of any one designer is debated by historians.
A Persian architect in Lahore
Little is known of Lahauri’s life. He is believed to have been of Persian origin and to have worked in Lahore, from which his name derives. His son Lutfullah Muhandis, a mathematician and poet, wrote that his father was the architect of the Taj Mahal and the Red Fort.
The Taj Mahal
Shah Jahan began the Taj Mahal in 1632 as a tomb for his wife Mumtaz Mahal. The white marble mausoleum, set on a raised platform at the end of a vast garden, was largely complete by 1643 and the whole complex by about 1653. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Red Fort and Shahjahanabad
From 1639 the emperor built a new capital, Shahjahanabad, in Delhi, with the Red Fort as its palace, completed in 1648. Lahauri is also credited with this work. He died in 1649.
The Complete Taj Mahal and the Riverfront Gardens of Agra
Ebba Koch’s definitive study of the Taj Mahal, its design, gardens and builders, based on years of research on site.
View on AmazonTimeline
- 1580Born around this year.
- 1632Construction of the Taj Mahal begins in Agra.
- 1639Construction of the Red Fort begins in Delhi.
- 1643The Taj Mahal mausoleum is largely complete.
- 1648The Red Fort is completed.
- 1649Dies.
- 1653The Taj Mahal complex is completed.
Best Books on Ustad Ahmad Lahauri
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who designed the Taj Mahal?
The Taj Mahal was built for Shah Jahan by a large team of architects and craftsmen. Ustad Ahmad Lahauri is traditionally named as its chief architect, mainly on the evidence of his son’s writings.
When was the Taj Mahal built?
Construction began in 1632 and the complex was completed around 1653.
What else did Ustad Ahmad Lahauri design?
He is also credited with the Red Fort in Delhi, built between 1639 and 1648.
What is the best book on the Taj Mahal?
The Complete Taj Mahal by Ebba Koch (Thames & Hudson) is the definitive study of the monument.
