Delhi Information from Transcriptions
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Descriptions have been transcribed from informations signs on site



Diwani-I-Am
This large and magnificent hall was the Mughal Emperor's Hall of public audience. It contained delicately inlaid and carved marble Jharoka or the imperial throne. It was here that the celebrations on the inauguration of the fort took place.
This hall was originally covered over with a coat of burnished white shell lime plaster. Its ceiling and columns were painted with gold. The emperor in his throne was separated from the courtiers in the hall by a gold plated railing and a silver railing was erected on the three sides of the hall.
The Diwan-I-Am consists of a front hall open on three sides, backed by a set of rooms faced in red sandstone. The hall is divided into 27 square bays on a system of columns which support the arches. The roof is spanned by beams of sandstone. #577


Moti-Masjid
The Moti-Masjid (Pearl - Mosque) was built by Aurangzeb in 1659-60 for his private use. Concealed almost within a walled enclosere, this gem like mosque follows conventional Mughal pattern with attractive decorative elements. #597


Hammams
The marble Hammams (baths) formed a part of the Mughal Palace complex with arrangements for cold and hot water-bath. The interior is richly decorated with colourful inlaid designs in marble. Once some of the fountains set here emitted perfumed water. #601


Diwan-I-Khas
The Kiwan-I-Khas or the Hall of private audience was used by the emperor for giving private audience to the Courtiers and 'state guests'. The marble piers of the hall bear excellent inlay work and painted designs. The ceiling, which was originally inlaid with silver and gold was painted in 1911. The celebrated peacock throne which was removed by Nadir Shah in 1739, once stood on the marble pedestal in this hall. #617


Khas Mahal
Consisting of three parts, viz. Tasbih-Khana (Chamber of Telling Beads), Khwabgah (Sleeping Chamber) and Tosha-Khana (Wardrobe) or Baithak (Sitting-room), The Khas-Mahal (Private Palace) served as Emperors residence. Of the rich and beautiful decoration in the interior of the building, the attractive marble screen carved with a scale of justice is a charming specimen of the Mughal art.
The projecting tower to the East of Khas-Mahal is called Muthamman-Burj (Octagonal Tower) where the emperor appeared every morning before his subjects. #629

Rang Mahal
The Rang Mahal or the Palace of Colour which originally served as a part of Imperial Seraglio, was known as Imtivaz-Mahal (Palace of Destinction) during the time of Shah Jahan. Its whole interior was once richly painted and decorated. Some apartments of this building are called Shish-Mahal due to fact that their ceilings are decked with tiny pieces of mirror through its centre flowed the Nahr -I-Bihist (Stream of Paradise). #642

Mahatma Gandhi Words
I would like to see India free and strong so that she may offer herself as a willing and pure sacrifice for the betterment of the world. The individual being pure, sacrifices himself for the family. The latter for the village, the village for the district, the district for the province, the province for the nation, the nation for all. I want Khudai Raj, which is the same thing as the Kingdom of God on Earth, the establishment of such a Rajya would not only mean welfare of the world of the India People but of the Whole World … Mahatma Gandhi #722


Isa Khan Tomb Enclosure 1547 A.D.
Isa Khan Niyazi was a noble in the court of Sher Shah Sur. This enclosure includes his tomb and a mosque, both built during his own lifetime. The octagonal tomb, pre-dating Humayun's Tomb by only 20 years, has striking ornamentation in the form of canopies, glazed tiles, and lattice screens. Along the western side of the enclosure, the three-bay-wide mosque has a grand red sandstone central bay and striking mihrabs. Until the early 20th century, an entire village had been settled in the enclosure. #4469


Humayun's Tomb
1565-72 A.D.
Hamida Banu Begum, his grieving widow, built Emperor Humayun's mausoleum. Precursor to the Taj Mahal, it stands on a platform of 12000m square and reaches a height of 47m. The earliest example of Persian influence in Indian architecture, the tomb has within it over 100 graves, earning it the name, 'Dormitory of the Mughals'. Built of rubble masonry, the structure is the first to use red sandstone and white marble in such great quantities. The small canopies on the terrace were originally covered in glazed blue tiles, and the brass finial over the white marble dome is itself 6 m high. #4484

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