Budding architects learn history of Mughal architecture

There is no better way to learn architectural history of any prominent building than revisiting these heritage places. Aligned with this thought, third-year students of Apeejay Institute of Technology – School of Architecture & Planning (AIT-SAP) recently went on an educational trip to Agra along with  faculty members Ar. Gunjan Tyagi & Ar. Kuldeep Mishra . 

The idea was exposing these budding architects to Mughal architecture and the contributions of Mughal emperors Akbar and Shahjahan. Students learned about various historical monuments like the Taj Mahal in Agra and the Buland Darwaza complex in Fatehpur Sikri.

Observational learning is a powerful method of knowledge acquisition. The journey included exploring the intricacies of various structures like the Hawa Mahal, Diwan-I-Aam, Diwan-I-Khas, Jodha Bai Palace and Anup Talao at Fatehpur Sikri built in red sandstone. 

Towards the culmination of the trip, architectural students visited Taj Mahal, which is built in Makrana Marble and has architectural features like multifoil arches, dome, pietra dura, iwan and pishtaq, and minarets.

Sharing about the educational trip, Ar. Gunjan Tyagi, Assistant Professor mentioned, “An educational trip’s main goal is to allow students to learn first-hand by visiting the historical sites they’ve read about in textbooks. A visit to the monuments is required for the history of architecture course in order to gain an understanding of the architectural components, the context of the surroundings, the climate in which the building is located, and the historical context. Higher academic achievement in the subject is the result of these outings.”

She further added,  “An educational tour provides the ideal relaxed environment for engaging talks that help us maintain our point of view and make learning more effective.”