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Descriptions have been transcribed from informational signs on site
The Shabis Tan-I-iqbal (Jodhbai's Palace)The imposing palace comprising the principal Haramsara of Akbar has been wrongly ascribed to Jodh Bai who has nothing to do with Sikri. It is the most impressive of all the royal edifices.
It consists of a large open quadrangle on the sides of which are suites of single-storeyed rooms with double storeyed blocks in the centre and corners to break the sky-line. The central block on the east forms a vestibule to the main entrance of the building and on the west is a small shrine supported on richly carved pillars. The shrine has niches for keeping images of Hindu Deities and a platform for the principal deity the Azure-Blue Blazed tiles of the roof of the palace are also noteworthy. It was most probably built between A.D. 1570 and 1574. #3675
Diwan
Khana-I-Khass and Khwabgah
This imperial residential complex is composed of two rooms on the ground
floor and a well-ventilated pavilion on the first floor (Khwabgah or Khalwat
Kada-I-Khass). The recesses in the walls of the lower rooms were possibly
meant for keeping the books and albums and it is likely that one of the
rooms was used as a dining hall.
The pavilion was richly embellished with mural paintings, now partly effaced,
and by Persian verses. Painted in gold, eulogising the palace its southern
window was know as Jharokha Darshan where from the emperor showed himself
to his people every morning. The royal ladies could easily visit the pavilion
from Haramsara which is connected through screened passage. #3686
Anup Talao
The peerless pool (Anup Talao), also called Kapur Talao by Jahangir, is
a pretty tank. It is 29.10 meters square and in its centre is a balustraded
platform approached by four causeways supported on short stone pillars.
Completed in A.D. 1575, it was intended for imperial amusement and private
functions. #3710
Hujra-I-Anup
Talao (Turkish Sul Tana's House)
This elegant pavilion consists of a small chamber surrounded by a verandah
supported on richly carved columns. Its exterior as well as interior has
ornamental relief of geometric and floral designs in red sand-stone which
give the impression of timber decoration. The ornamented shelves of the
chamber are also remarkable for their attractive design and finish.
The plain colonnades at the northwest and southeast were subsequently
added to connect it with Abdar Khana (girls school). It was completed
before A.D. 1575 when an important religious discussion I recorded to
have taken place in this pavilion. #3711
The Jewel
House (Diwan-I-Khas)
It is a unique building in the entire range of Indo-Islamic architecture.
Raised on a square plan, outwardly giving the appearance of a double storeyed
structure, it consists of a single vaulted chamber, open from floor to
roof, with an opening on each of the four sides.
In the centre stands a profusely carved column supporting a colossal bracketed
dapital. Four narrow balus traded passages radiate from the top of the
capital to the corners of the chamber.
This structure was intended for a special purpose which has been variously
conjectured as Ibadat-Khana (Hall for Relgious Discourses) or Diwan-I-Khass
(Hall of private audience) some consider it a hall meant for Tuladana
(weighing ceremony) for the emperor and Princess on the Persian New Year's
Day. #3715
The Treasury
Composed of three rooms and wrongly designated as "Ankh Michauli"
or blind mans' buff house, this building was most probably the Imperial
Treasury of gold and silver coins. Its notable features are the struts
supported on corbels projecting from the walls. The struts spring out
from the jaws of the trunked monsters in the form of serpentine scrolls,
derived from the Jain Temples of Western India. #3727
Treasury
Kiosk (Astrologer's Seat)
Raised on a square platform formerly enclosed by a stone railing this
interesting kiosk is popularly known as astrologer's seat. Its proximity
with the treasury suggest that it may have been the seat of the court
treasurer. Its ornamental torana arches are remarkable for their delicacy
and fine execution. The design being derived from the medieval Jain Temples
of Western India #3728
The Badgir
(Panch Mahal)
Popularly called Panch Mahal, this structure has five storeys, each storey
being smaller than the one upon which it stands and the growing one being
just a kiosk supported on four slender pillars. The building contains
176 columns of which the ground floor has eighty four columns, the first
sotrey has fifty six, the second twenty, the third twelve, and the top
storey has four. These columns are richly carved and provide interesting
varieties of design and ornamentations.
The building was intended as a place for recreation where the Emperor
sitting in the uppermost Kiosk enjoyed the fresh air of the evening and
the moonlight during summer nights. The ladies also visited the Panch
Mahal through the screened passage connecting its third storey with the
Haramsara. #3754
Northern
Palace of the Haramsara (Birbal's House)
This building, popularly attributed to Raja Birbal, was an integral part
of the Haramsara. Most probably Akbar's two senior Queens, viz. Ruqaiyya
Begam (1542-1626) and Salima Sultan Begam (1542-1612) lived in this house.
It is now open on all sides but was originally provided with stone screens.
Standing on a large concrete platform, it is a double-storeyed structure
raised on pillars and arches of plain masonry and hs four rooms on the
ground floor and two entrance porches with two domed chambers on the upper
storey. The walls and ceilings of the lower rooms are exquisitely carved.
The variety of ornamental carvings displayed both inside and outside.
The house testify to the mastery skill of the Sikri artisans in plastic
art and arabesque decoration. #3771
Lower Haramsara
This large colonnaded enclosure, wrongly called camel stables, elephant
stables and horse stables, was probably intended for housing the servicing
maids of the ladies palaces, for which an entrance was provided in the
north for the sanitary needs of the staff. Lavatory blocks were also provided.
The stone rings may have been used for fixing curtains for partitioning
the space. #3777
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