Visitors at Diwan-i-Khas of Fatehpur Palace in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India.
The Fatehpur Sikri palace and the various other monuments within this imperial city complex were constructed under the guidance of Mughal emperor Akbar when he was merely 28 years of age. He had approached a Sufi saint, Salim Chishti to know about his probable heirs and he was told that his queen would bear him a second son who would succeed him to the throne. When in 1569 Prince Salim was born, Akbar decided to build a capital city near Sikri to commemorate the Sufi saint whose predictions turned out true.
The construction of this palatial complex was elaborate and painstaking with evidence being there that Akbar foresaw the miniature models of the various monuments and probably approved them before the constructing started.
The palatial complex construction was started in 1572 and were in the lines of Persian architecture as were evident in the courts of Akbar's ancestor, Timur. Initial phase of construction lasted from 1572 to 1575 by when the main buildings and their grounds were completed. In the later phase, from 1575 to 1585, while Akbar stayed within the grounds, he added many passages and corridors to the various buildings as per his needs and design. The Fatehpur Sikri palace complex served as his residential estate for fourteen long years after which they were deserted.
Most of the palace complex is constructed of sandstone since it was abundantly found in that region. The entire complex is like a narrow ridge which runs the length from north east to south west. The Sikri ridge probably already had some pre existing structures to which Akbar added new ones. The entire complex is designed as a plateau formation, with levels which recede downwards. The mosque was located at the highest level of the ridge -- the famed Jama Masjid. This also contains the tomb of the saint Salim Chishti in its courtyard. The Rang Mahal was a smaller palatial complex whereby the royal family stayed while the main unit was being built.
The main palace unit consists of Jodha Bai's palace, Birbal's palace, Miriam's palace, stables and guest houses. These being the private areas, the semi private or public areas consisted of Diwan-i 'Am which was the audience hall, Diwan-i Khass which was the private audience hall, Daulat Khana indicating the royal quarters and so forth.
Thus, the Fatehpur Sikri palace is an elaborate construction of several units and provides a picture of the way the Mughal emperor lead his life both privately and in court.
Diwan-i-Aam : Diwan-i-Am or Hall of Public Audience, is a building typology found in many cities where the ruler meets the general public. In this case, it is a pavilion-like multi-bayed rectangular structure fronting a large open space. South west of the Diwan-i-Am and next to the Turkic Sultana's House stand Turkic Baths.
Diwan-i-Khas: the Diwan-i-Khas, or Hall of Private Audience, is a plain square building with four chhatris on the roof. However it is famous for its central pillar, which has a square base and an octagonal shaft, both carved with bands of geometric and floral designs, further its thirty-six serpentine brackets support a circular platform for Akbar, which is connected to each corner of the building on the first floor, by four stone walkways. It is here that Akbar had representatives of different religions discuss their faiths and gave private audience.
Source : http://www.fatehpursikri.org/fatehpur-sikri-palace.html and Wikipedia
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