Muthamman Burj (Red Fort)

Coordinates: 28°39′22″N 77°14′37″E / 28.656085°N 77.243705°E / 28.656085; 77.243705

The Muthamman Burj in the centre of the eastern wall of the Red Fort (painting from 1843)

The Muthamman Burj, also written Musamman Burj, is a tower of the Red Fort located in Delhi.

The structure adjoins the eastern wall of the Khwabgah of the Khas Mahal. It is a semi-octagonal tower where the Mughal emperor would appear every morning before his subjects. This ceremony was known as the Jharokha Darshan. A balcony, the Khwabgah Jharoka (Place of Dreams Balcony), projecting from the central side of the tower was constructed in 1808-09 CE by Akbar II. This is described in an inscription over its arches. The dome above was perhaps originally covered in gilded copper, similar to the one in Agra Fort.

The river Yamuna originally laid much closer to the wall and tower but shifted its position since the original construction. At the lower level of the tower is a small gate, which enabled the emperor to move directly between the imperial enclosure of the fort and the banks of the river, where the royal barges would take him to Agra.

During the British colonial rule, the tower was used again for the great Durbar. It was from this balcony that King George V and Queen Mary appeared before the public in 1911 during the Delhi Durbar.[1]

References

  1. ↑ "Muthamman-Burj". Archaeological Survey of India. 2011. Retrieved 2013-12-09.
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