Diwan-i-khas

When you hear the word Diwan-i-khas, the first thing that comes to mind are the Mughals. That’s because it was the Mughal ruler, especially Akbar, who would make Diwan-i-khas where he would only meet the khas or the special people. Diwan-i-khas, Fatehpur Sikri, is one of such Halls of Private Audiences that Akbar built where he would entertain and address the private members as opposed to the Diwan-i-aam, where the local masses could be greeted. The Diwan-i-khas in Fatehpur Sikri, Uttar Pradesh is a large royal building that would instantly grab your attention once you get to see the fort of Fatehpur.

What Are Some Traveler Tips?

There is no extra fee or entry ticket required for you to enter the Diwan-i-khas in Fatehpur Sikri. It is a part of the main fort palace and you can easily enter here once you have bought the ricket for Fatehpur Sikri.

What Is The History OF Diwan-i-khas?

Akbar was one of those emperors in India who thought far ahead of his times. While other rulers were busy serving the casteist society, Akbar would be attending to high and noble people of all faiths like Hinduism, Islam, Christianity and what not. He would call upon scholars of different faiths. It was built only to address and discuss about all such faiths with people of high orders.

Architecture

Being the hall for the private audiences, it is imperative that the architecture would be different from all other buildings. The Diwan-i-khas has an architectural design that surprises and attracts all the tourists. It has four umbrella-like structures called chhatris on top of the building. The pillars are intricately carved. It has a Persian style of architecture. There is four pillars with the chhatris and a central pillar or column. The pillar in the center is attached to the center platform and would act as the seat of the emperor. The scholars visiting Akbar would stand near the four pillars. All the ministers off Akbar’s court would sit in the diagonal galleries.

What Is The Best Time to Visit?

Located right inside the Fatehpur Sikri in Uttar Pradesh, the Diwan-i-khas is certainly one place where you would not like to visit during the summer months. The temperature can get pretty high and the summers can be hot in this part of Uttar Pradesh. You should plan a trip to the Diwan-i-khas during the winter months to avoid the excessive heat. What’s best is that the floor is also cool and you can simply take off your footwear and roam around the floor.

How to Reach?

Fatehpur Sikri is located in Uttar Pradesh and is en-route Agra is you are going from NH-2. If you are driving, it is seamlessly connected via roads. For those traveling via bus, the Idgah Bus Terminal is the largest bus terminal where you can buses from all parts of the state and neighboring states as well. Agra also has a domestic airport if you want to travel via flight. The nearest international airport is Indira Gandhi International Airport. If you wish to travel via rail, Agra Cantt or Raja Ki Mandi is the nearest railway station. From here you can get regular local buses as well as hire taxis and cabs to reach Sikri.

Interesting Facts and Trivia About

There are several interesting facts around the Diwan-i-khas. One says that in the early days, this part of the fort was used to store gold, gems, and other precious items. Apart from that, it is also believed that this structure in the Fatehpur Sikri Fort is the only structure that is known to have the perfect Persian style of architecture.