Panch Mahal

The Panch Mahal is located in the historic city of Agra in India. Agra is a city of historic importance and has been mentioned in the epic of Mahabharata as Agrabana or paradise. During the Mughal reign in the 16th century, Agra was famous for its impenetrable fortress and later for the Taj Mahal. The Panch Mahal is another monument built northeast of the palace of Jodha Bai Palace or the Fatehpur Sikri Palace complex. It was originally designed to be part of the Jodh Bai’s Palace and was supposed to be connected to the main Royal Chambers. Its design is taken from the Persian Architecture and is very effective in keeping the heat at bay. An architectural marvel, the Panch Mahal was called the Bagdir or Wind Tower because of its cooling effect.

The name Panch Mahal of Agra literally means ‘Palace of 5 stories’. The five floors decreases in size as it goes up so that the entire structure becomes columnar. The floors of the beautiful monument are filled with pillars and are built more for its significance and splendor than for its strength. The first floor of the Panch Mahal has 84 pillars and this number is regarded as very auspicious in the Hindu tradition and belief. There are rows of eight pillars running in the north south direction and rows of six pillars running in the east west direction.