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DIWAN-i-AM (HALL OF PUBLIC AUDIENCE, RED FORT, DELHI)
DIWAN-i-KHAS ( HALL OF PRIVATE AUDIENCE)
MARBLE PLATFORM INSIDE THE DIWAN-KHAS
A PILLAR OF DIWAN-I-KHAS
DETAILS OF THE INLAY DECORATIONS, DIWAN-I-KHAS, RED FORT. DELHI
MARBLE WALL DECOR, RED FORT, INDIA
INTERIORS OF DIWAN-KHAS.
, RED FORT, DELHI, INDIA
DIWAN-I-KHAS, RED FORT
PIETRA DURA FLOWERS , RED FORT
Precious and semi-precious stones inlaid in marble
MEMOIRS OF FRANCOIS BERNIER, A FRENCH DOCTOR
AD 1656 -1668
Do you have plans to visit New Delhi, the capital of India?
If you are planning to visit Delhi, Red Fort will surely figure as one of your tourist destinations because if you do not visit Red Fort then you have not visited Delhi.
Before you visit the Red Fort, I would request you to go through the passage written below to give you a very vivid picture of the Mogul 'Durbar'. This paragraph is a description of The Great Moguls and their lifestyle as witnessed by Bernier who was in the Mogul court from 1656 to 1668 i.e. during the rule of SHAH JEHAN (The builder of TAJ MAHAL )and his son AURANGZEB.
We should be indebted to this French doctor who wrote down his memoirs giving us a first hand account of our glorious and grand past. The following passage is an excerpt of his recordings:
THE DURBAR OF THE GREAT MOGUL, SHAH JEHAN
" The King appeared seated on his throne, at the end of a great hall (Diwan-i-Am) in the most magnificent attire. His vest was of white and delicately flowered satin, with silk and golden embroidery of the finest texture. The turban of gold cloth, had an aigrette whose base was composed of diamond of extraordinary size (Perhaps the famous 'KOHINOOR' ) and value, besides an Oriental Topaz, exhibiting a lustre like the sun."
He further writes " I can assure you that there is a confusion of diamonds as well as other jewels and that the throne is valued at Four kourous (crores)(1 crore=10 million)of roupies. ( Incidentally, he is describing the PEACOCK THRONE built by SHAH JEHAN, the builder of Taj). The throne was supported by six massy feet, said to be of solid gold, sprinkled over with rubies, emralds, and diamonds. I cannot tell you with accuracy the number or value of this vast collection of precious stones, because no person may approach sufficiently near to reckon them, or judge of their water and clearness.
The hall (Hall of public audience) has a ceiling covered with gold. The hall is raised considerably from the ground, and very airy, being open on three sides that look into the court. In the centre of the wall that separates the hall from the seraglio, and higher from the floor than a man can reach, is a wide and lofty opening, or a large window (The celebrated Jharoka, still to be seen ), where the Monarch every day sits on the throne, with his sons at his left and right; while eunuchs standing about the royal person flap away the flies with peacock's tail, agitate the air with large fans. Immediately under the throne in an enclosure, surrounded by silver rails, which are assembled the whole body of Omrahs, the Rajas, and the Ambassadors, all standing, their eyes bent downwards, and their hands crossed. At a greater length from the throne are the Mansabdars or inferior Omrahs, also standing in the same posture of profound reverence."
"The pillars of the hall were hung with brocades of gold and flowered satin. Canopies were raised over the whole expanse of the extensive apartment fastened with silken cords from which were suspended large tassels of silk and gold. "
"A tent called 'ASPEK' pitched outside, was larger than the great hall. It was completely enclosed by a great balustrade, covered with silver. It was supported by pillars overlaid by silver and gold. The outside of this magnificent tent was red and the inside lined with elegant Maslipatnam chintzes, figured expressly for that ver purpose with flowers so natural and colors so vivid, that the tent seemed to be encompassed with real parterres."
Unfortunately, the severe retribution by the English after recapturing Delhi in 1857 led to a demolition of many beautiful monuments and structures within the Red Fort. Before 1857 mutiny, the Naqar Khana (House of drums) gave on to an enclosed courtyard leading up to Diwan-i-Khas (House of public audience). However, today both these structures stand as isolated buildings , the original effects being absolutely lost.
Raj Prateek Verma
DIWAN-i-AM (HALL OF PUBLIC AUDIENCE, RED FORT, DELHI)DIWAN-i-KHAS ( HALL OF PRIVATE AUDIENCE)
MARBLE PLATFORM INSIDE THE DIWAN-KHAS
A PILLAR OF DIWAN-I-KHAS
DETAILS OF THE INLAY DECORATIONS, DIWAN-I-KHAS, RED FORT. DELHI
MARBLE WALL DECOR, RED FORT, INDIA
INTERIORS OF DIWAN-KHAS.
, RED FORT, DELHI, INDIA
DIWAN-I-KHAS, RED FORT
PIETRA DURA FLOWERS , RED FORT
Precious and semi-precious stones inlaid in marble
MEMOIRS OF FRANCOIS BERNIER, A FRENCH DOCTOR
AD 1656 -1668
Do you have plans to visit New Delhi, the capital of India?
If you are planning to visit Delhi, Red Fort will surely figure as one of your tourist destinations because if you do not visit Red Fort then you have not visited Delhi.
Before you visit the Red Fort, I would request you to go through the passage written below to give you a very vivid picture of the Mogul 'Durbar'. This paragraph is a description of The Great Moguls and their lifestyle as witnessed by Bernier who was in the Mogul court from 1656 to 1668 i.e. during the rule of SHAH JEHAN (The builder of TAJ MAHAL )and his son AURANGZEB.
We should be indebted to this French doctor who wrote down his memoirs giving us a first hand account of our glorious and grand past. The following passage is an excerpt of his recordings:
THE DURBAR OF THE GREAT MOGUL, SHAH JEHAN
" The King appeared seated on his throne, at the end of a great hall (Diwan-i-Am) in the most magnificent attire. His vest was of white and delicately flowered satin, with silk and golden embroidery of the finest texture. The turban of gold cloth, had an aigrette whose base was composed of diamond of extraordinary size (Perhaps the famous 'KOHINOOR' ) and value, besides an Oriental Topaz, exhibiting a lustre like the sun."
He further writes " I can assure you that there is a confusion of diamonds as well as other jewels and that the throne is valued at Four kourous (crores)(1 crore=10 million)of roupies. ( Incidentally, he is describing the PEACOCK THRONE built by SHAH JEHAN, the builder of Taj). The throne was supported by six massy feet, said to be of solid gold, sprinkled over with rubies, emralds, and diamonds. I cannot tell you with accuracy the number or value of this vast collection of precious stones, because no person may approach sufficiently near to reckon them, or judge of their water and clearness.
The hall (Hall of public audience) has a ceiling covered with gold. The hall is raised considerably from the ground, and very airy, being open on three sides that look into the court. In the centre of the wall that separates the hall from the seraglio, and higher from the floor than a man can reach, is a wide and lofty opening, or a large window (The celebrated Jharoka, still to be seen ), where the Monarch every day sits on the throne, with his sons at his left and right; while eunuchs standing about the royal person flap away the flies with peacock's tail, agitate the air with large fans. Immediately under the throne in an enclosure, surrounded by silver rails, which are assembled the whole body of Omrahs, the Rajas, and the Ambassadors, all standing, their eyes bent downwards, and their hands crossed. At a greater length from the throne are the Mansabdars or inferior Omrahs, also standing in the same posture of profound reverence."
"The pillars of the hall were hung with brocades of gold and flowered satin. Canopies were raised over the whole expanse of the extensive apartment fastened with silken cords from which were suspended large tassels of silk and gold. "
"A tent called 'ASPEK' pitched outside, was larger than the great hall. It was completely enclosed by a great balustrade, covered with silver. It was supported by pillars overlaid by silver and gold. The outside of this magnificent tent was red and the inside lined with elegant Maslipatnam chintzes, figured expressly for that ver purpose with flowers so natural and colors so vivid, that the tent seemed to be encompassed with real parterres."
Unfortunately, the severe retribution by the English after recapturing Delhi in 1857 led to a demolition of many beautiful monuments and structures within the Red Fort. Before 1857 mutiny, the Naqar Khana (House of drums) gave on to an enclosed courtyard leading up to Diwan-i-Khas (House of public audience). However, today both these structures stand as isolated buildings , the original effects being absolutely lost.
Raj Prateek Verma
