Durbar (court)

In the former sense, the native rulers of the Indian subcontinent such as the Marathas and Rajputs, other Hindu or Muslim monarchies, like the Mughals and emirs of Afghanistan, and even Western colonial rulers received visitors in audience, conferred honours, and conducted business in durbar.

[2] Its membership was dual: the court's grandees, such as the vizier and major jagirdars (feudal landholders), shone at the ceremonies but the real political and administrative affairs of state rather rested with an inner circle around the prince, often known as divan.

In 1903, for instance, the Coronation Durbar was held in Delhi to celebrate the accession of Edward VII to the British throne and title of Emperor of India.

Located in the old city of Hyderabad in close proximity to the Charminar, the Khilawat complex, originally spread over 60 acres (240,000 m2), had numerous palaces and structures in its vast sprawl.

The symbolic seat of power, it housed the "Gaddi-e-Mubarak", the hereditary throne of the Asaf Jahi dynasty.

Sikandar Jah shifted his residence to the Khilawat complex from the Purani Haveli in 1803 and was responsible for the first major constructions.

The resulting style was to become a distinctive feature of many later buildings in Hyderabad as it provided for a change without compromising the spatial needs of eastern lifestyle and social requirements.

Maharaja Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV and his mother Maharani Kempananjammanni Devi commissioned the English architect Henry Irwin to build a new palace.

[9][8] The tallest tower, 44 m (145 ft) tall,[8][7] is at the centre of the palace and is topped with a gold plated dome.

[7] In Malaysian history, the durbar was the council comprising the four rulers of the Federated Malay States under British protectorate.

First held in 1897, it was a platform for the rulers to discuss issues pertaining state policies with British officials.