The Indo-Saracenic Revival (also known as Indo-Gothic, Mughal-Gothic, Neo-Mughal) was an architectural style movement by Indian British architects in the late 19th century in British Raj. It drew elements from native Indo-Islamic and Indian architecture, and combined it with the Gothic revival and Neo-Classical styles favoured in Victorian Britain. The style gained momentum in the west with the publication of the various views of India by William Hodges and the Daniell duo, (William Daniell and his uncle Thomas Daniell) from about 1795. Saracen was a term used in the Middle Ages in Europe for Arab Muslim peoples.
The first Indo-Saracenic building is said to be the Chepauk Palace, located in the neighbourhood of Chepauk, in present-day Chennai (Madras). Chennai is said to possess many buildings of this architecture, some of which are the Victoria Public Hall, Madras High Court, Senate House of the University of Madras, Chennai Central station, etc. Most of these buildings are now classified under the Heritage buildings category as laid down by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) owing to the need for their preservation.The main building of the school Mayo College, completed in 1885, is also in the Indo-saracenic style, the architect being Maj Mant.
Confluence of different architectural styles had been attempted before during the mainly Turkic, Delhi Sultanate and Mughal periods. Turkic and Mughal conquest in the Indian subcontinent, introduced new concepts in the already rich architecture of India. The prevailing style of architecture was trabeate, employing pillars, beams and lintels. The Turkic invaders brought in the arcuate style of construction, with its arches and beams, which flourished under Mughal and Taluqdar patronage and by incorporating elements of Indian architecture, especially Rajasthani Temple architecture