Chapter 5 Analysis

The technologically advancement is so unique such that tick of a watch or the rustle of paper can be heard across a distance of 37m. Right below the whispering gallery, in the hall the dancers provided entertainment. Each tower consists of seven story and the upper floor of each opens on to a round gallery which surrounds the dome. In the Centre of the chamber is a square raised podium approached by steps in the Centre of each side. The tombs of Sultan Adil Shah, his two wives, his mistress Ramba, his daughter and grandson are located under the central dome. The octagonal turrets which project at an angle and the huge bracketed cornice below the parapet are important features of this monument. From the gallery around the dome, which can be reached by climbing up the turret passages, one can have a fabulous view

Inside the mausoleum hall, is a square podium with steps on each side.

In the middle of the podium, a cenotaph slab on the ground marks the actual grave below.

The real graves are in the basement, which can be accessed by a stair below the entrance on the west.

The south door is the main entrance to the tomb.

Fig 27: The Section

Fig 28: Balcony overlooking the whispering gallery below the huge dome.

3.2.2 NAPIER MUSEUM BAND STAND, TRIVANDRUM

Fig 29: Napier Museum Band Stand

The famed 19th century band stand in front of the 131-year-old Napier Museum might host police and army bands after a lull of at least two decades, according to Zoo and Museum officials.

It was a time when employees of the erstwhile State of Travancore would hurry around the capital city before night fall to manually light the “inverted cone” shaped street lamps. The vintage Rama Rayar lamp at LMS

junction is perhaps among the last remaining symbol of the period. Former Museum director K. Raveendran, quoting from the memories of his predecessors, said the police and military bands performed on the stand possibly between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. every day. With the advent of Malayalam broadcasting in the 1940s, radio slowly replaced the band music at Museum grounds.

Robert Chisholm, architect of the Napier Museum, designed the band stand as an ornamental focal point of the upper botanical garden surrounding the art museum. His design also met the acoustic requirements of the time.

Before the advent of electricity and radio, police and army bands regularly performed field music on the architecturally-impressive circular stone structure to entertain the colonial rulers of the Victorian gaslight

era.

Fig 30: Interior of Band Stand

CHAPTER FIVE