Baradari (building)

Baradari, also Bara Dari, is a freestanding pavilion in cubic or octagonal shape built of wood, bricks, and stone. Being of one or two storeys it has a flat beam-roof supported by columns or arches. Each side of the structure is pierced by three-to-five arched doorways, designed to allow free flow of air. The four inner corners in cubic pavilions are taken by small rooms, that serve as a storage and/or stairwell to enable access to roof level. Octagonal pavilions have a central stairwell surrounded by galleries and arched walkways on each level. When built on the roof of an existing building, "Baradari" takes its most aeiry side and overlooks the landscape. The classic version of "Baradari" stands on a raised flat platform, accessed via open stairs from four sides, and marks the intersection of main walkways (khiyaban) in a garden enclosure (char-bagh) or palatial mansion (hawli, haveli).

As a light and ornamented structure the "Baradari" pavilion served as the seat of royalty and its retinue during hot and humid seasons in South Asia (India, Pakistan, Kashmir, and Punjab). Having an outstanding acoustics, the structure was well suited for live concerts, musical and dance performances (including mujra dance or courtesan dance), poetical and rhetorical display in front of the ruling elites and guests. "Baradari" probably is composed of two words: Bara - in Urdu/Hindi "Twelve" and of Dar - in Persian 'door'.

Geographically some of the historic "Baradaris" are located in Lucknow, Taramati Baradari,^[1] Hazuri Bagh Baradari,^[2] Baradari at Daulatabad Fort near Aurangabad, Maharashtra, Goshamal Baradari, Baradari at Palace of Man Singh I at Amber Fort Jaipur, etc.

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  Baradari at Mansingh Mahal, Amber Fort, Jaipur
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  Heera Mahal Baradari, Red Fort, Delhi
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  Hazuri Bagh Baradari, Hazuri Bagh, Lahore^[2]
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  Baradari at Shalimar Gardens, Lahore
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  Lahore Fort Baradari
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  Baradari at Hiran Minar, Sheikhupura, Pakistan
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  Baradari at Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur
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  Baradari at Shalimar Gardens First Level, Lahore
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  Baradari in Sherawala Garden, Gujranwala
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  Baradari at Roshanara Bagh, Delhi
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  Taramati Baradari, Hyderabad
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  Wazir Khan Baradari, Lahore
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  Kamran's Baradari, Lahore
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  Baradari Inner View at Sherawala Garden, Gujranwala
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  Baradari of the Golconda Fort
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  Baradari at Katasraj Mandir, Choa Saidanshah Chakwal District of Punjab in Pakistan
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  Baradari at Ana Sagar, Ajmer.