In earlier issues of mytravelnama, we had presented you some amazing facts and figures including pictures of Fatehpur Sikri depicting the pinnacle of administrative and spiritual glory of the Mughal empire during the reign of Akbar the Great. Well
In earlier issues of mytravelnama, we had presented you some amazing facts and figures including pictures of Fatehpur Sikri depicting the pinnacle of administrative and spiritual glory of the Mughal empire during the reign of Akbar the Great. Well, in the new year, let us have a long journey to the great emperor’s Royal Court. We take you all straight to the emperor’s “Daulat Khana”.
Daulat Khana refers to the imperial complex at Fatehpur Sikri meant for political, economic, financial and administrative affairs of the Mughal Court. The arrangement of the offices in the entire Daulat Khana complex is surprisingly similar to the office of a prime minister in modern times. The term Daulat Khana means ‘Abode of Fortune’. The complex consists of The Pachisi Courtyard, Ankh Micholi or the Royal Treasury (along with the astrologers’ seat), Diwan-i-Khas, Turkish Sultana Palace, Anup Talab, the Diwan Khana-i-Khas and the Khwabgah or the emperor’s royal sleeping chamber.
Pachisi Courtyard is a large paved courtyard resembling the designs in a gigantic chess board. The Pachisi game is played on a black and white chequered board with mohras or chess pieces. Akbar innovated a unique way to enjoy this game with his royal ladies, ministers and other Mughal nobles. He designed the centre of the courtyard in front of the Diwan-i-Am in the form of giant chequered board using black and white marbles. Instead of chess pieces or mohras he used attendants attired in bright dresses to pose as the chess pieces.
Ankh Micholi (The Royal Treasury)
Ankh Micholi is a beautiful red sandstone mansion, where emperor Akbar probably played hide and seek with his queens and the ladies of the royal harem. Historians are of the opinion that this mansion was probably used as the royal treasury.
Treasury Kiosk – Ankh Micholi, Fatehpur Sikri
The Ankh Micholi mansion comprises of three rooms. The front part of the complex reveals a small hall opened on all sides, containing richly carved pillars, textured walls and exquisitely designed arches. These arches or struts reveal the use of Jain architectural designs of Gujarat which the emperor might have used after his conquests in Western India. It is believed that this room was meant for the chief treasurer and his officers for managing various financial activities of the royal court. The other two rooms were probably used as vault-rooms for the royal treasury.
We overheard a guide claiming that emperor Akbar used to come here for consulting his royal astrologers for taking political, administrative decisions and discussing personal matters. This is why the mansion is also known by many as the “Astrologers Seat”.
All of us were excited that we were about to see Diwan-i-Khas, perhaps the most important mansion at Fatehpur Sikri in terms of historical and political importance. The Diwan-i-Khas or the ‘Hall of Private Audience’ is located in the north-eastern corner of the courtyard area of the Daulat Khana. This mansion is sometimes also referred to as the ‘Jewel House’.
We were astonished to find that this two storeyed red sandstone mansion showed predominance of Hindu architectural designs over Persian design elements. It housed two windows covered by Jaalika screens located on either sides of the southern entrance from the Pachisi Courtyard. The first floor repeated a similar look as observed in the ground floor. The first floor apartments were surrounded by a narrow balcony bordered by jaalika walls. The roof contained triangular khaprel rainsheds and bordered by beautifully decorated paraphets. The four corners of the roof contained four red sandstone chattris topped by white marble chhaparkhats.
To our surprise the interior of Diwan-i-Khas could be entered by four doorways located on the four sides of the mansion. It was a thrilling experience to feel that Akbar, used this special court for taking important administrative, political and socio-economic decisions. The four entrances led to a large hall containing the famous central pillar, the top of which used to be the emperor’s royal seat for hearing the proceedings in his special court.
The Central Pillar at Diwan-i-Khas holding the Royal Seat of Emperor Akbar
The central pillar along with the first floor galleries at Diwan-i-Khas
The majestic Diwan-i-Khas
Diwan-i-Am or Hall of Public Audience, is the royal durbar or court where emperor Akbar used to address his court proceedings for the public in general. The complex consists of an elevated pavilion harboring the royal throne from which the emperor used to take important decisions related to law and order, military & political issues and carried out routine day to day administrative functions of his court. The red sandstone royal pavilion 