5/5 Armaan A. 11 months ago on Google
The
Diwan-i-Am,
or
Hall
of
Audience,
is
a
room
in
the
Red
Fort
of
Delhi
where
the
Mughal
emperor
Shah
Jahan
(1592–1666)
and
his
successors
received
members
of
the
general
public
and
heard
their
grievances.[1]
The
inner
main
court
to
which
the
Nakkarkhana
led
was
540
feet
broad,
420
feet
deep,
and
surrounded
by
arcade
galleries,
where
chieftains
(umaras)
on
duty
were
posted.[2]
On
the
further
side
of
it
is
the
Diwan-i-Am.
The
Diwan-i-Am
consists
of
a
front
hall,
open
on
three
sides
and
backed
by
a
set
of
rooms
faced
in
red
sandstone.[2]
The
hall
is
100
ft
x
60
ft
and
divided
into
27
square
bays
on
a
system
of
columns
which
support
the
arches.
The
roof
is
spanned
by
sandstone
beams.[1]
The
proportions
of
this
hall,
of
its
columns,
and
of
the
engraved
arches
show
high
aesthetics
and
fine
craftsmanship.
With
an
impressive
façade
of
nine
engraved
arch
openings,
the
hall
was
ornamented
with
gilded
and
white
shell
lime
chunam
plaster
work.[2]
Its
ceiling
and
columns
were
painted
with
gold.[1]
In
the
centre
of
the
eastern
wall
stands
a
marble
canopy
(jharokha)
covered
by
a
"Bengal"
roof.
A
marble
dais
below
the
throne,
inlaid
with
semi-precious
stones,
was
used
by
the
prime
minister
(wazir)
to
receive
petitions.
The
emperor
was
separated
from
the
courtiers
by
a
gold-plated
railing,
while
a
silver
railing
ran
around
the
remaining
three
sides
of
the
hall.[1]
The
audience
ceremony
is
known
as
Jharokha
Darshan.
Behind
the
canopy,
the
wall
is
decorated
with
panels
inlaid
with
multi-coloured
pietra
dura
stones.
They
represent
flowers
and
birds
and
are
reputedly
carved
by
Austin
de
Bordeaux,
a
Florentine
jeweler.[2][1]
The
hall
was
restored
by
Lord
Curzon,
while
the
inlay
work
of
the
throne
recess
and
the
plaques
of
the
arch
to
the
west
side
of
the
throne
were
restored
by
the
Florentine
artist,
Mennegatti.
Bernier
gives
a
full
account
of
the
splendid
appearance
of
the
hall
during
the
rule
of
Aurangzeb,
as
well
as
the
17th
century
merchant
Jean-Baptiste
Tavernier.[2]
