Colonial Architecture in India.

Understanding the society and culture. By Prof. Rohit Raul

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Introduction
Colonial architecture is an
architectural style from a
mother country that has been
incorporated into the buildings
of settlements or colonies in
distant locations. Colonists
frequently built settlements
that synthesized the
architecture of their countries
of origin with the design
characteristics of their new
lands, creating hybrid designs.
In the Indian context The
lands of modern day India
were occupied by various
European powers such as:
• British
• Duch
• Franch
• Portuguese

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 Indo saracenic/ Indo gothic architecture
• Saracen was a term used in the Middle Ages in Europe for
the Arabic-speaking Muslim people of the Middle East
and North Africa, and the term "Indo-Saracenic" was first
used by the British to describe the earlier Indo-Islamic
architecture of the Mughals and their predecessors, and
often continued to be used in that sense.
• Indo-Saracenic architecture (also known as Indo-Gothic,
Mughal-Gothic, Neo-Mughal,) was a revivalist
architectural style mostly used by British architects in
India in the later 19th century, especially in public and
government buildings in the British Raj, and the palaces
of rulers of the princely states.
• It drew stylistic and decorative elements from native
Indo-Islamic architecture, especially Mughal architecture,
which the British regarded as the classic Indian style, and,
less often, from Hindu temple architecture.
• The basic layout and structure of the buildings tended to
be close to that used in contemporary buildings in other
revivalist styles, such as Gothic revival and Neo-
Classical, with specific Indian features and decoration
added.
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 The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus The Victoria Memorial, Kolkata

Khalsa College, Amritsar Parliament House, New Delhi

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Typical elements Indo saracenic / Indo gothic architecture

• Onion (bulbous) domes

• Chhajja, overhanging eaves, often
supported by conspicuous brackets
• Pointed arches, cusped arches, or
scalloped arches
• Curved roofs in bengali styles such as
char-chala
• Domed chhatri kiosks on the roofline
• Pinnacles and towers or minarets.
• Open pavilions or pavilions with
bangala roofs
• Jalis or openwork screens
• Mashrabiya or jharokha-style screened
windows
• Iwans, in the form of entrances set
back from the facade, under an arch.
• Prominent elements such as

Daly College, Indore

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Fort Bombay
The defensive fort, Fort George, built by the British East India Company around Bombay Castle. The area extends from the
docks in the east, to Azad Maidan in the west; Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus in the north to Kala Ghoda in the south.

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Calcutta Fort (Fort William)
Fort William is a fort in Hastings, Calcutta
(Kolkata). It was built during the early years of
the Bengal Presidency of British India. It sits on
the eastern banks of the Hooghly River, One of
Kolkata's most enduring Raj-era edifices, it
extends over an area of 70.9 hectares. The Fort
is built of brick and mortar in the shape of an
irregular octagon with an area of 5 km2. Five of
its sides face landward, and three towards the
Hooghly River. The design is that of a star fort,
suited to defense against cannon firing solid
shot, and dates from before the advent of
explosive shells. A dry moat 9 meters deep and
15 m broad surrounds the fort. The moat can be
flooded but is designed as an area in which to
use enfilade (or flanking) fire against any
attackers reaching the walls. There are six
gates: Chowringhee, Plassey, Calcutta, Water
Gate, St Georges and the Treasury Gate. There
are similar forts at places like Thalassery in
Kerala.
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Calcutta Fort (Fort William)

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Madras Fort (Fort Saint George)
Fort Saint George, citadel built by the British East India Company in Madras (now Chennai), India, later becoming the
British capital in south India. The fort, named in honour of Britain’s patron saint, is well preserved by the state of Tamil
Nadu (formerly Madras).
The fort was completed on 23 April 1644
coinciding with St George's Day. The fort
faced the sea and some fishing villages, and
it soon became the hub of merchant activity.
It gave birth to a new settlement area called
George Town (historically referred to as
Black Town), which grew to envelop the
villages and led to the formation of the city
of Madras. It also helped to establish
English influence over the Carnatic and to
keep the kings of Arcot and Srirangapatna,
as well as the French forces based at
Pondichéry, at bay. In 1665, after the EIC
received word of the formation of the new
French East India Company, the fort was
strengthened and enlarged while its garrison
was increased.

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Madras Fort (Fort Saint George)

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Portuguese Colonial Architecture in India
• The Portuguese landed in 1498 when Vasco de Gama docked ship at
Calicut in Kerala.
• Many of the early architecture of the Portuguese are manifested in
churches, cathedrals and schools. Western India, especially Goa and
Daman and Diu have seen the maximum influence of Portuguese
colonization.
• Goa is in fact, where the Portuguese ruled for more than 400 years
until in 1961 the Indian Armed Forces annexed the territory.
• Old Goa is home to a number of churches and cathedrals that have a The Basilica of Bom Jesus
distinct Portuguese style of architecture.
• The Basilica of Bom Jesus in Old Goa, with its three stories and
baroque style reminds one of the late Renaissance architecture.

The Basilica of Bom Jesus Interior The Basilica of Bom Jesus Exterior The Basilica of Bom Jesus Sanctuary
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• The Cathedral de Santa Catarina is a mix of Tuscan and
Corinthain styles and home to its big Golden Bell. Other religious
structures that are heavily influenced with Portuguese style of
building and were built during their reign include the Church of
Saint Francis of Assisi, Convent of Santa Monica, Chapel of the
Weeping Cross, Sanctuary of Saint Joseph Vaz and more.
• many Goan homes are structured on the Portuguese style of
architecture. Colorful painted exteriors that could be seen by
sailors from far, the Goan homes with their pillared porches,
wrought iron balconies and inner courtyards were built mostly
during the 18th century.
The Cathedral de Santa Catarina

Examples of old Portuguese style homes

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 • Various historical sites such as, Fort Aguada, Reis Magos Fort as well as,They were utilitarian buildings with angled
edges to deflect cannon fire.

Reis Magos Fort Fort Aguada Light House Fort Aguada

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Dutch Coloneal Architecture in India
The Dutch came to India in the early 17th century and
their influence and dominance is seen most in Kerala,
though they occupied other parts of the country, such
as, some areas along the southern Coromandel Coast
and Gujarat. However, it is in Kerala, especially
Cochin that Dutch architecture finds it existence. The
Bolgatty Palace in Kochi is one of the oldest Dutch
palaces outside of Holland, St. Francis Church, Old
Harbour Hotel, the Dutch warehouse and headquarters.

The Bolgatty Palace in Kochi

The Duch colony in Kochi Old Harbour Hotel

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 The Architecture inside Fort Kochi
are some of the most prominent
Dutch architectural landmarks of
Kerala.
The territory that would be later
known as Fort Kochi was granted to
the Portuguese in 1503 by the Rajah
of Kochi, The Rajah also gave them
permission to build Fort Emmanuel
near the waterfront to protect their
commercial interests. The first part
of the name Fort Kochi comes from
this fort, which the Dutch later
destroyed. The Dutch held Fort
Kochi in their possession for 112
years until 1795, when the British
took control by defeating the Dutch.
Foreign control of Fort Kochi ended
in 1947 with the Indian
independence.

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French Colonial Architecture in India
• French Establishments in India or the French
colonies in India came after the Dutch and
English colonization and in some parts of India
the influence of the French is seen till date.
• The establishments were seen in Pondicherry,
Karikal, Yanaon on the Coromandel Coast,
Mahe on the Malabar Coast and Chandernagor
in West Bengal.
• The town of Chandernagor is rich in French
architectural history. The town was divided into
the French Quarter and Indian Quarter and the
difference between the two is evident till date.
The French architecture made use of local raw
materials and took into account the climatic
conditions of the place, unlike the early British
architecture. French shutter windows, carvings
on archways and narrow street fronts were the
French style; however, they were integrated with
the courtyards and backyard gardens of a typical
French Architecture in Chandernagor
Bengali home.

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• The same can be said about Pondicherry too. The French
architecture as well as culture is best witnessed in the
Union Territory of Pondicherry which was under the
French establishment for the longest time. With street
boards both in Tamil and French, Pondicherry’s French
Quarters also called the White Town is home to some of
the most beautiful buildings painted in soft bright colors.
It was almost 30years after the French first came to the
country, that they acquired the area of what is Pondicherry
today from a Tamil ruler. Though between the years 1693 French Palace Pondicherry
to 1697 the Dutch took over, they handed the area back to
the French East India Company.
• Pondicherry is fraught with the French essence that is seen
in many of its street names and its museum. Some of the
most prominent French architecture structures in
Pondicherry besides the homes include the French
Institute and Consulate-General, French Palace today
called the Government Square, the Romain Rolland
Library and Notre Dame des Anges church. An integration
of the Tamil and French architecture style can be seen in
the Franco-Tamil style buildings and homes of
Pondicherry. Notre Dame des Anges Church
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French Colonial Architecture in Pondicherry

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