Life and Conditions of the People of Hindustan (1200–1550 A.D.) c7.s2.t1.32

c7.s2.t1.32

Before we close the description of royal dwellings, we shall consider a few other features of the residential palace. The royal residence occupied a conspicuous site, on an elevated spot, if possible. It was generally built by the side of a river so that the beauty of the building was enhanced by the stream which reflected it by day and threw its shadows by night.³ It is difficult to convey in words what one feels on visit to the royal buildings of Agra and Delhi or Lahore and Mandu. Beautiful gardens and other open spaces surrounded the palace. We have seen how stone was used in places like Chanderi where it was available. Red stone was used in large quantities. It was rubbed and polished to such fineness that in the words of Amir Khusrau, one could see one's reflection in the stone walls of the palace of Delhi.⁴ Little is said about the flooring of palaces until we come to the time of Babur, who is credited with using red stones for the flooring of his retiring rooms and drawing rooms, probably for the first time in Hindustan, though the point seems open to doubt.¹ How far marble was used is not clear, but the existing remains show that the extensive use of fine marble was deferred till the later days of Mughal glory.