Mughal and British influences of Indian Cities

By Pranjal Singh Baghel

Abstract 

This essay examines the profound impact of Mughal and British rule on the urban development, architecture, and socio-cultural identity of Indian cities. The Mughal emperors introduced geometric city planning, monumental architecture, and cosmopolitan marketplaces, creating integrated urban centers defined by gardens, forts, and bustling bazaars. In contrast, British colonialists imposed rational grid layouts, segregated neighborhoods, and modern infrastructure, fundamentally restructuring city landscapes through administrative and sanitary reforms. By comparing planning concepts, architectural styles, social organization, and enduring legacies, this essay highlights how the interplay of these two eras produced India’s unique urban morphology which came out as a  blend of symbolic harmony and functional order that continues to shape the physical and cultural character of modern Indian cities.

1. INTRODUCTION

The cities of India are living palimpsests-layers of history, culture, and power inscribed upon their streets, monuments, and patterns of life. Over centuries, various dynasties, empires, and colonial regimes have contributed to their form and identity, but none more profoundly than the Mughals and the British. Each of these powers envisioned the city as a reflection of their ideals: for the

Mughals, it was a symbol of imperial glory, divine harmony, and aesthetic perfection; for the British, it became an instrument of control, order, and modernization. The Mughal period introduced a distinctly Indo-Islamic urban culture that celebrated geometry, balance, and environmental integration, visible in grand cities like Fatehpur Sikri, Agra, and Shahjahanabad. The British, arriving centuries later, reinterpreted urbanism through the lens of Western rationality, introducing wide avenues, civic institutions, and infrastructural systems that marked the onset of modern urban planning in India. Together, these two periods produced a remarkable dual legacy of the coexistence of historical beauty and colonial order-that continues to define the spatial and cultural character of Indian cities today.

2. Discussion 

2.1 Mughal Influence [ Integration of power, Aesthetics and Culture]

The Mughal emperors (16th-18th century) were visionary urban planners who infused Indian cities with a blend of Persian, Central Asian, and indigenous Indian elements. They sought to create imperial capitals that were not just centres of governance but also expressions of cosmological order, grandeur, and cultural integration. Cities like Agra, Fatehpur Sikri, Lahore, and Shahjahanabad (Old Delhi) epitomize this vision. 

Mughal urbanism prioritized symmetry and geometry like fortified walls and monumental gateways defined city boundaries, while axial avenues aligned palaces, mosques, and bazaars to create a hierarchical spatial order. The Persianinspired Charbagh gardens formed core elements, integrating nature, water, and architecture to symbolize paradise on earth and provide environmental comfort. Waterworks such as canals, tanks, and stepwells further enhanced urban functionality and aesthetics. 

Architecturally, Mughal cities were dominated by grand constructions using red sandstone and white marble. Notable features included domes, minarets, arches, jharokhas (projecting balconies), and chhatris (elevated pavilions), manifesting an Indo-Islamic style marked by intricate ornamentation and monumentality. The Red Fort and Jama Masjid in Delhi, the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort in Agra, and the Shalimar Gardens in Lahore remain testaments to this era’s artistic and urban achievements. 

Beyond architecture, Mughal cities were vibrant trade and craft centres, attracting artisans, scholars, and merchants from across Asia. Urban life was relatively integrated, with markets and neighbourhoods accommodating diverse religious and ethnic communities, fostering a cosmopolitan culture that underpinned both economic prosperity and social cohesion.

2.2 British Influence [ Rational Planning, Segregation and Modernity]

Contrasting with Mughal organic and symbolic city forms, British colonialism (18th-20th century) introduced rational, functional, and segregated urban models aligned with administrative control, military strategy, and commercial expansion. The British developed key presidency towns, for example, Calcutta (Kolkata), Bombay (Mumbai), and Madras (Chennai) by often expanding preexisting settlements or creating entirely new urban quarters.

British urban planning favoured gridiron layouts with wide, straight roads, clear zoning, and enforced segregation between Europeans and indigenous populations, embodied in the “White Town” and “Black Town” duality. Administrative buildings, cantonments, and civil lines were carefully laid out, with emphasis on sanitation, public health, and civic order. Public parks, railway stations, and colonial civic institutions like town halls and courts became prominent features of the urban landscape.

Architecturally, British cities displayed neo-classical, Gothic Revival, and IndoSaracenic styles that symbolized imperial power while incorporating local motifs. Buildings such as the Victoria Memorial in Kolkata, Gateway of India in Mumbai, and Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi display this hybrid grandeur. The creation of New Delhi as the colonial capital in the early 20th century epitomized British urban ambitions with monumental axes, hexagonal road grids, and imposing government complexes designed by architects like Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker.

Railway expansion, port development, and telegraph networks spurred industrial growth and connected colonial cities to global trade circuits. However, British urban policies often neglected Indian quarters, maintaining social segregation and reinforcing racial hierarchies.

2.3 Comparative Insights

The Mughal and British periods reflect divergent urban philosophies. Mughals emphasized symbolic imperialism, integration, and environmental harmony, while the British stressed administrative efficiency, segregation, and modern infrastructure. Mughal cities blended religious, commercial, and residential uses in hierarchical, organic patterns; British cities introduced zoning, gridiron layouts, and clear social separation. Architecturally, the Mughals emphasized Indo-Islamic synthesis; the British created eclectic hybrids with European forms and Indian motifs. Despite differences, both eras profoundly shaped Indian urban identity. Mughal heritage endures in the lively bazaars, gardens, and forts of historical cores, while British legacies structure metropolitan governance, transportation, and commercial activities, visible in central business districts and civic institutions.

Conclusion

The Mughal and British influences form intertwined yet distinct chapters in the urban history of India. Mughal cities reflected the grandeur of imperial power, artistic refinement, and cultural synthesis. Their urban form was characterized by symmetry, geometric planning, and monumental architecture that embodied both aesthetic unity and functional harmony. Features such as fortified walls, axial streets, grand mosques, bustling bazaars, and lush gardens created an environment that celebrated inclusivity and cosmopolitanism. Cities like Agra,

Delhi, and Fatehpur Sikri showcased how Mughal urbanism integrated Islamic, Persian, and Indian traditions, producing a vibrant and human-scaled urban experience.

In contrast, British colonial cities represented an entirely different set of priorities rooted in administration, control, and economic exploitation. The British introduced grid layouts, civil lines, cantonments, and segregated zones that physically and socially divided colonial elites from the indigenous population. Cities such as Bombay (Mumbai), Calcutta (Kolkata), and Madras (Chennai) became symbols of modernization and infrastructural progress, featuring railways, ports, and civic buildings in the neoclassical style. Yet, they also reflected deep spatial and racial hierarchies. Together, Mughal and British influences created a rich, layered urban morphology that continues to shape the cultural, architectural, and social identity of Indian cities today. Understanding this composite legacy is vital for informed urban conservation, sustainable development, and culturally rooted planning in contemporary India.

References 

  1. 1. Iftikhar, R. (2016). Urban formation and cultural transformation in Mughal India. International Planning History Society Proceedings.

https://journals.open.tudelft.nl/iphs/article/view/1363

  • Ministry of Culture, Government of India – “About Us / Mandate /

Heritage protection”  https://www.indiaculture.gov.in/ministry  /about-us 

  • Iftikhar, R. (2018). Urban formation and culture transformation in Mughal India. South Asian Studies, 33(1).

Click to access 4_v33_1_18.pdf

  • Din, N. U. (2022). British impact on Lahore: Colonial planning and architectural heritage. CUNY Academic Works.

https://academicworks.cuny.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3697&conte xt=gc_etds  

  1. https://ignited.in/index.php/jasrae/article/view/12761/25326