Life and Conditions of the People of Hindustan (1200–1550 A.D.) c7.s2.t1.18

c7.s2.t1.18

*The Royal Quarter.*—The capital city of the kingdom added to the list of these quarters one of its own and the most magnificent of them all, one in which the palaces of the Sultan and the houses for his establishments were built. We have already said something about the palaces and establishments of the Sultan. It should be observed here that the palaces and other staff buildings were not the only important features of the royal quarter, which was a magnificent town in itself. Besides the elephant and horse stables, army quarters and parade grounds, the royal quarter was conspicuous for its spacious and beautiful gardens, extensive play-grounds, mosques, baths, colleges and mausoleums. The foundation of a royal building was carried out with great solemnity amidst a scene of splendour. The hour was fixed, as usual, after consulting the astrologers. The Sayyids and the religious dignitaries of the State accompanied the monarch and even assisted sometimes in collecting the stone and mortar and other necessary material for building. When the inauguration ceremony began, His Majesty laid the first brick in the foundation with his own hands.¹ The work of construction began afterwards. If the building was a palace for the residence of the Sultan himself, many secret doors and concealed passages were designed inside it to help the escape of the monarch in times of danger, or for other uses.²