Khas Mahal

Khas Mahal of daughter Jahanara Khas Mahal of daughter Roshanara

The ‘Khas Mahal’ are two palaces built by Shah Jahan for his two daughters. The two palaces, shown above, are located between a larger baradari or central hall, all part of the larger palace complex of Shah Jahan. The three white pavilions which overlook the Jamuna stand on a terrace of white marble measuring 112’ by 96’. The central hall or baradari is 70’ by 40’. (It is barely visible to the right hand side of the photo at top right)  The colonnade or portico, which is of the same size as the inner hall, has five arches in front and three arches on each side. Three central archways lead to the inner hall and exactly on the opposite side are three marble windows over looking the river. At each end of the main hall are arched recesses giving access to the side rooms. The ceilings of this palace are flat and were richly decorated. There are also four iron rings in the roof of the central hall which suggest that chandeliers were hung to light the hall. The two almost identical pavilions, which flank the main hall, consist of two rooms and measure 15’ square respectively. They have a slightly curved and elongated roof. Both these pavilions are separated from the central hall by marble wall 8’ high. It is A view of some of the restoration of the Khas Mahalbelieved thatJahanara (Shah Jahan's elder daughter) occupied the northern pavilion. The pavilions are of red sandstone but were overlaid with white A view of the pleasure gardens and harem from the Khas Mahalshell plaster. The mural painting in the Khas Mahal is a fine example of gold work of this period. It has been done all along its interior from the dados to the ceiling in floral and other conventional patterns. The two main colors that have been used are gold and blue. The photo at bottom  left shows a part of the restoration of the Khas Mahal, begun by Lord Curzon.  The complex was planned out magnificently with the river on the one side and the beautiful Anguri Bagh (pleasure gardens) on the other. In front of this palace complex is a large tank (42’ by 29’) with five fountains. These fountains were fed by water from the tanks over the Jahangiri Mahal to the South. The photo at the bottom right shows the fountains and the Anguri Bagh from the pavilions.