Durbar Hall

Durbar Hall is a place where Indian Kings had their formal and informal meetings. The famous ones belonged to Great Emperors and Kings. In the North, places like Udaipur, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Jaiselmer, Agra have palaces that adorn such magnificent halls. The Mughal Emperor Akbar had two halls; one for his ministers and the other for the general public. Usually Durbar halls are lavishly decorated with the best possible materials available at the time.

In the south of India, the Mysore Palace had a number of such similar halls, especially the Peacock Hall, having colour tinted glasses imported from Belgium which were used for marriage ceremonies.

Durbar Hall - Fateh Prakash Palace, Udaipur

The Durbar Hall at the Fateh Prakash Palace is undoubtedly the most lavish Durbar Hall in India. It is one of the grandest chambers in Udaipur and its sheer size makes one gasp in awe. The chandelier in the middle is the most impressive and is complemented with paintings of Maharanas and various weapons adorn the walls. The hall has an exquisite ceiling and is surrounded by viewing galleries from where the ladies of the palace could get a view from the privacy of their veils. Lord Minto, The Viceroy of India laid the foundation stone for the Durbar hall in 1909.

Durbar Hall - Khilawat Mubarak, Hyderabad

Located in the old city of Hyderabad in close proximity to the Charminar, the khliwat complex, originally spread over 60 acres (240,000 m²) had numerous palaces and structures in its vast sprawl. One of the most important buildings to have survived the passage of time is the Durbar Hall. The symbolic seat of power, it housed the "Gaddi-e-Mubarak", the hereditary throne of the Asaf Jahi dynasty.

First constructed in 1750 by the Nizam, Salabat Jung, the Khilwat complex has been added to by successive nizams. Sikandar Jah shifted his residence to the Khilwat complex from the Purani Haveli in 1803 and was responsible for the first major constructions.

The plan of the Durbar Hall is in traditional Moghul style. Subsequent remodelling, at a time when European architecture was gaining acceptance, resulted in a unique and harmonious mix of diverse architectural styles. European architectural influences, although dominant, blend smoothly with the vernacular, to create one of the best examples of Inde European architectural synthesis. The resulting style was to become a distinctive feature of many later buildings in hyderabad as it provided for a change without compromising the spatial needs of eastern lifestyle and social requirements.

External links

1. Rajasthan Tourism[1]
2. Flickr.com[2]
3. The Hindu[3]
4. The Hastings Museum and Art Gallery[4]