Diwan E Aam

Built by Mughal Emperor Akbar in the 16th century, Diwan E Aam is a homage to the memory of a great ‘Sufi saint.’ It was built so that normal people could visit the Akbar dynasty. Due to the greatness of the monuments in Fatehpur Sikri, ‘UNESCO’ has considered it as a ‘world heritage site’. Diwan E Aam is still one of the important destinations to visit even today in Fatehpur Sikri.

Diwan E Aam was the space used for various purposes of public nature, including the public audience hall where there was a daily public appearance of the ‘Emperor’, approximately three hours after sunrise. The Diwan E Aam was also used for the court ceremonies, the reception of guests, and the administration of justice, as well as some major festivals (for example: Nawruz and celebrations of military victories as well).

Attraction

At a distance of 1 km from Fatehpur Sikri Railway Station, ‘Diwan E Aam’ or ‘Hall of Public Audience’ is located inside the complex of Fatehpur Sikri Fort making it an easily accessible place. This is the very first enclosure of the palace from the entrance. The Mughal style architecture that is standing still witnessing the history is a center of attraction for both history lovers and architecture enthusiasts. The hall is a witness of bygone era and Indian history as well. The celebration of victory or the prayers, everything depicts then culture of this region.

History

By 1573, the Diwan E Aam was recorded to be used and is assumed to be one of the very first structures completed in this area. It was used by Mughal Emperor Akbar (1570 to 1580 AD) to hear the petitions of the general public every morning, as well as for public prayers and celebrations. Diwan E Aam consisted of 3 parts:

Front space for public
Center space for the emperor and
Adjacent space for royal ladies.

In 1584, the wedding ceremony of Akbar’s son was recorded as taking place in the ‘Diwan E Aam.’ Until 1582 (when Akbar abolished public prayers), the Diwan E Aam was used exclusively as a prayer space. To this end, it contained a ‘westward-oriented qibla.’ Also located along the west of the Diwan E Aam was a ‘royal pavilion’ where Akbar would sit, facing the worshippers.

However, the hall was restored by Lord Curzon (during the British rule)’ while the ‘inlay work’ of the throne recess and the plaques of the arch to the west side of the throne were restored by the Florentine artist, Mennegatti.

Inside/Outside Views

This building mainly consisted of three parts: front space for the general public, center space for the emperor himself, and adjacent space for royal ladies. This is a rectangular structure with multiple bays that have a large courtyard in the front. One of the most impressive features of this structure is the ‘Throne Chamber’ facing east. This chamber showcases a unique stone tiled roof. There are a few pillar corridors surrounding the 3 sides, which can accommodate over a thousand audiences at a time. To the west is the pavilion with the emperor’s throne and beautiful Jali screens on either side, separating the court ladies. Turkic Baths are situated in the southwest direction of the Diwan E Aam and next to the Turkic Sultana’s House.

An oblong complex comprising a large quadrangular space, 112.38 meters north-south and 55.20 meters east-west, the building is wrapped by a colonnaded passageway, which is also known as ‘Dylan,’ composed of one hundred and eleven bays. The ‘dalan’ is interrupted only by the emperor’s pavilion, which is in the middle of its western side. Apart from the entrance on the east (that leads to the Agra Gate), there are two other accesses to the enclosure too. The entrance on the south side connects the Diwan-E Aam and the State Archive (‘Daftar Khana’), as well as the entrance on the northwest angle that leads to the road from the villages of Sikri. Diwan E Aam

Opening Hours

Saturday 8 AM–6 PM

Sunday 8 AM–6 PM

Monday 8 AM–6 PM

Tuesday 8 AM–6 PM

Wednesday 8 AM–6 PM

Thursday 8 AM–6 PM

Friday 8 AM–6 PM

How to Reach

By Air: The nearest domestic airport is Agra Airport. That is nearly 34 km away from the site. The nearest international airport is ‘Indira Gandhi International Airport’. From there, visitors can opt for local transports like cab rentals in Agra or take a bus to Fatehpur Sikri.

By Rail: The nearest railway station is the ‘Fatehpur Sikri Railway Station,’ which is well-connected to major cities in India. Local transports are available to reach the site from the station. ‘Diwan E Aam’ is at a distance of only 1 km from Fatehpur Sikri Railway Station.

By Road: For those who prefer to travel by road, there are good road connections to Fatehpur Sikri from all the major cities in India. Visitors can take a road trip to the site. The distance from Delhi to Fatehpur Sikri is nearly 210 km, and it takes around 4 hours to reach the site by road. People from neighboring cities can also travel by road.

Tips for Travellers

We also recommend hiring a knowledgeable guide who actually knows all the vantage points for views as well as photographs. Elsewise, you can talk to the local people too. But beware of the ‘scammers’ who roam the complex. Ignore them if possible.

The best time to visit Diwan E Aam is between ‘October and March’ when the weather is pleasant.