The intended use of the hilltop palace is difficult to determine due to
two reasons. First, it is not easy to reach, requiring a long climb up
the hill and through a steep and narrow underground tunnel. Second, as
a place of imperial residence, it seems an unnecessary addition to the
fort because this need was filled by the Daulat-Khana. The
function of the hilltop palace is partly explained by its providing a
panoramic view of the surrounding plains and hills. This capacity
indicates that the building functioned as a “get-away,” as a place for
recreation and retreat.
However, it is important not to assess
this structure simply in terms of its possible utilitarian function. It
is the most prominent structure within a fort which was of key
strategic importance; further, its construction was likely commissioned
by Shah Jahan, an emperor who actively pursued the Mughal policy of
using architecture as a means of projecting personality and power.
Therefore,
the architectural symbolism of the hilltop palace should be considered:
the prominent position of the building in relation to the fort and
surrounding areas; how the structure altered the appearance of the
citadel in order to announce imperial presence; and the possible
motivation for repeating the design of the Daulat-Khana in a prominent location.
Placement and Approach
The
distinguishing physical feature of Daulatabad is the hill known as
Deogiri, a geological formation which can be seen for several
kilometers in all directions. The upper regions of this hill are narrow
and rocky and its apex consists of little more than a projecting rocky
escarpment supporting a gun turret. As the terrain of the hill is
increasingly flatter and broader toward the northeast, it becomes
capable of supporting larger architectural constructions.
It is
in this region that the hilltop palace is located, a structure which
can be seen from a significant distance in all directions except from
the southwest, where it is obscured by the gun turret. The front of the
building consists of a prominent octagonal burj which is made
more noticeable by its surface of white plaster. As stated earlier,
this part of the structure, which is an arcaded cloister, can be
related to a jharoka, the window at which a king would appear
before the public. From this portion of the building it is possible to
look out over the entire fort, as shown on the map of Daulatabad. The
structure is placed on an axis which cuts through the center of the Mahakot region of the fort, allowing the burj--its most ornate feature--to be seen from a complimentary angle throughout the fort.
In
addition, the building is placed so that it is visible from all gates
within the fort complex, allowing it to be seen from every approach to
Daulatabad. The length of the structure is visible from the Paithan and
Khirki (Aurangabad) gates, and it is seen frontally from the northeast
gate leading to Khuldabad. The hilltop palace is therefore situated in
a prominent position which allows it to overlook the entire fort and be
seen from a multitude of vantage points, including the roads leading to
Daulatabad from distant cities.
The visibility of the hilltop
palace from vantage points throughout the fort, and its conspicuousness
from all approaches to Daulatabad, shows that this structure was
strategically placed. This prominent location reveals the significance
of the building and its symbolic function of projecting imperial
presence and authority.