Takht Mahal

Takht Mahal, whose Persian name means throne palace, was the chief royal palace of the Bahmani sultans at Bidar. Set on high ground with wide views over the country around, it housed the court, government offices and the royal living quarters, and stood for both the power and the taste of the dynasty.

Its design blends Persian, Turkish and Indian elements. The facade had carved surfaces, balconies with ornamental edges and domes, and the interiors were finished with paintings, carving and calligraphy in floral and geometric patterns. The Diwan-i-Khas, the hall of private audience with carved pillars and arches, was used for matters of state, while the more open Diwan-i-Aam was where the sultan met his subjects. Fountains, gardens and pavilions surrounded the halls.