Diwan-i-Am Agra Fort

Diwan-e-Aam, or the Hall of Audience, is one of the many attractions found inside the Agra Fort, designated by UNESCO. Here, Shah Jahan, the Mughal Emperor, would address the issues of the populace in open forums. Purely from an architectural standpoint, it is a fantastic feat of design and craftsmanship.

It was built between 1631 and 1640 and is next to Machchhi Bhawan.

The enormous assembly hall is 201' by 67' in size and has two arched red sandstone entrances on the north and south sides. According to legend, the hall once had silver balustrades for the nobles, where they could stand according to their ranks, gold spandrels and column outlines. The royal appearance of Diwan-i-Aam is what makes it one of the most well-known. It is a nine-bay wide by three bay deep hypostyle hall made of red sandstone. The cusped arch shape, frequently utilised under Shah Jahan, has early Indian origins attributed to Hindu and Buddhist elements. Each column has 12 sides. The columns were plastered, painted, and gilded during Shah Jahan's reign, and lavish fabrics were draped between them to create an extravagant ambience. White marble that has been intricately carved and encrusted with priceless stones is used for the throne balcony. A minister is seated on a little bench in front of the throne. The wall behind the throne is decorated with pietra dura panels that include artwork of birds and flowers. Some of these panels were ready-made in Italy, and their settings are similar to the Mughal style. Behind the Diwan's eastern back wall, where the private apartments are located, is an elaborate, canopied throne-balcony for the emperor. The Takht-e-Murassa, also known as the Throne Room, is the name of this room. Marble windows with perforated screens were used to obscure them from the public's view to enable the women to see the daily activities of the Hall without being observed by the general public; the room was connected to the royal apartments.

Their presence significantly enhances the chamber's overall attractiveness. The gold-plated railing is the other prominent feature in the Hall of Audience, and it kept the emperor apart from the court officials.

The emperor's seat was in a rectangular 'jharokha'-style chamber with three apertures with heavily inlaid embellishments.

Its name was 'Takht-i-Murassa' (The Throne Room).

The marble dais, known as Baithak, was where the ministers sat.