DiwaniKhas

DiwaniKhas, or Diwan-i-Khas, is the Mughal-era term for the hall of private audience. It was the space in imperial palaces where the emperor received confidential petitions, ambassadors, and high-ranking nobles away from the public gaze, distinguishing it from the public audience hall.

The name comes from Persian and Urdu elements: diwan meaning council or hall and khas meaning private or special. The Diwan-i-Khas functioned as a venue for sensitive discussions and formal audiences, reflecting the centralized authority of the ruler.

In the Mughal period (roughly the 16th to 18th centuries), the Diwan-i-Khas appeared in several major palaces, including the Red Fort in Delhi, Agra Fort, and Fatehpur Sikri. It served as a counterpart to the Diwan-i-Am, the hall of public audience, and was designed to convey secrecy and ceremonial importance while accommodating the ruler’s confidential decisions.

Architecturally, DiwaniKhas spaces were typically placed on raised platforms within palace complexes and furnished with a throne or seating for the emperor. They often featured elaborate stone or marble work, arches, and screens or curtains that provided privacy for private audiences, alongside decoratives such as inlays and calligraphy or other Persian-influenced motifs.

The best-known surviving example is the Diwan-i-Khas in the Red Fort, Delhi, associated with Shah Jahan. Other notable instances are found at Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri, illustrating a common imperial function across Mughal architecture. Today, the term remains a reference point in studies of Mughal governance, architecture, and ceremonial life.