Panch Mahal

MAYURMANOJ

PLANING OF FATEHPUR, SIKRI.

Panch mahal is a five story place in fatehpur Sikri, Uttar Pradesh, india.

Panch mahal Also known as "Badgir",

which means wind catcher/tower.

Panch Mahal stands close to the Zeenana quarters or Harem and that consolidates the fact that it acted as a pleasure palace. The pillars that originally had Jaalis between them support the whole structure. The women of the royal household and ladies of the harem originally used the pavilion and that is why

Jaalis have been used. The pavilion gives a majestic view of the fort that lays on its left.

The pavilion gives a majestic view of the fort that lays on its left. It is built by Akbar and only took 10 years to build the whole city

View of the

panch mahal into the inner place area of fatehpur sikri, to

1574The place city, an area of numerous courtyards and

gardens, had three main functional areas. Here a residential pavilion in the foreground formed part of the zanana and beyond is the building traditionally known as

“jodha bai’s place.” It has a symmetrical courtyard, probably

for akbar’s rajput wives.

CROSS SECTION OF PANCH MAHAL (JODHA BAI’S PLACE)

Panch Mahal is located on the northeast direction of Jodh Bai's palace. It is a five-

floored pillared pavilion. This extra ordinary building was called badgir or wind tower, which was constructed to

alleviate the heat and is a very popular architectural mechanism of Persian

architecture. Originally, it was connected with main Royal chamber and Jodh Bai's

palace

The first floor has 84 pillars with row of eight pillars arranged in north to south

direction and row of six pillars arranged in east to west direction. The second

floor has 56 pillars with row of six pillars in north to south direction and row of four pillars in east to west direction and also

beautiful carved pillars with unique designs. Capitals of these pillars also contain beautiful carved designs like

floral vase, arch or rosette pattern. This floor also has a projecting chhajja and a

carved frieze.

The third floor is composed of 20 pillars with smaller in size. It contains row of five pillars

from north to south and row of three pillars from east west

direction having double pillars at northeast corner. The

fourth floor has 12 pillars in two rows. Pillars on eastern side are double. This floor also has beautiful jalied

balustrade. The top of the building is decorated with

beautiful square chhatri with a cupola.

. Panch Mahal is basically a five-storied structure that can easily pass as an

architectural marvel. Panch Mahal also signifies the undiluted imprint that

Buddhism has left on the Indian psyche. This is proved by the fact that Panch

Mahal is built on the Buddhist architectural style.

The women of the royal household and ladies of the harem originally used the pavilion and that is why

Jaalis have been used. The pavilion gives a majestic view of the fort that lays on its left.

Built on the pattern of a Buddhist Temple, Panch Mahal was basically a pleasure palace of emperor Akbar. He primarily

used it for relaxation and entertainment purpose. The

structure has been so designed that each story is pillared and is smaller than the other as you move upwards. While no less than 84 columns support the ground floor, the uppermost

domed floor has only 4 columns. The whole structure is very airy and was styled to give respite

from the scorching summers of Agra.