https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Battis_KhambaBattis Khamba - Revision history2026-10-24T06:29:27ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Battis_Khamba&diff=490097&oldid=prevDrshivambjpIND: Starting stub2025-06-27T11:24:13Z<p>Starting stub</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|17th century Mughal tower}}<br />
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[[File:Battis_Khamba,_Agra.jpg|thumb|Battis Khamba, {{circa}} 1893]]<br />
[[File:Chhatris north of Arambagh.jpg|thumb|Battis Khamba seen from [[Aram Bagh, Agra|Ram Bagh]]]]<br />
'''Battis Khamba''' (literally "tower of thirty-two pillars"{{Sfn|Nath|1982|p=192}}) is a [[tower]] located in [[Agra]], in the Indian state of [[Uttar Pradesh]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Some Other Monuments/Sites |url=https://asiagracircle.in/some-other.html |website=[[Archaeological Survey of India]] }}</ref><br />
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== Background ==<br />
The tower is dated to 1615–1620, during the reign of the Mughal emperor [[Jahangir]]. Traces of an extension on southeastern side of the tower indicate that it was originally part of a larger complex.{{Sfn|Nath|1982|p=193}} It was part of a garden known as ''Buland Bagh'' (literally, "high garden"), built by a [[eunuch]] known as Buland Khan, who served in Jahangir's court.{{Sfn|Nath|1982|p=190}}<ref>{{Cite book |last=Peck |first=Lucy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZtFbBAAAQBAJ&dq=Battis+Khamba&pg=PT99 |title=Agra: The Architectural Heritage |date=6 April 2011 |publisher=Roli Books Private Limited |isbn=978-81-7436-942-0 |language=en }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Jayyusi |first1=Salma K. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nY2DqJNPmioC&dq=Battis+Khamba&pg=PA569 |title=The City in the Islamic World, Volume 94/1 & 94/2 |last2=Holod |first2=Renata |last3=Petruccioli |first3=Attilio |last4=Raymond |first4=Andre |date=2008 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=978-90-04-16240-2 |pages=569 |language=en }}</ref><br />
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While there is no record regarding the purpose of the tower, it is presumed to have served as a [[lighthouse]] and a check-post, for collecting [[Duty (tax)|duties]] on goods transported across the Yamuna river. The area in which the tower stood was part of the ''[[jagir]]'' (grant) of the empress [[Nur Jahan]]. An account by Dutch merchant [[Francisco Pelsaert]], who lived in Agra in the 1620s, notes that the officers of the empress imposed levies on all goods transported across the river.{{Sfn|Nath|1982|p=193-194}}<br />
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It is part of a [[Monuments of National Importance (India)|monument of national importance]], listed as "Chattries on the Yamuna bank to the north of Ram Bagh, Agra", protected by the Archaeological Survey of India.<ref name=":0" /> {{As of|2020}}, a fence has been built around the monument.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kumar |first=Nirlosh |date=13 December 2020 |title=जहांगीर के ख्वाजासरा बुलंद खान की निशानी है बत्तीस खंबा, उपेक्षित है स्मारक |trans-title=Battis Khamba is a symbol of Jahangir's eunuch Buland Khan, the monument is neglected. |url=https://www.jagran.com/uttar-pradesh/agra-city-battis-khamba-is-the-symbol-of-khwajasara-buland-khan-of-jahangir-jagran-special-21162227.html |access-date=4 February 2025 |website=Jagran |language=hi }}</ref><br />
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== Description ==<br />
As described by the architectural historian [[Ram Nath]], the tower has an octagonal plan, and is built out of [[brick]] and stone masonry. It has three stories, with a ''[[chhatri]]'' (pavilion) structure mounted at the top.{{Sfn|Nath|1982|p=191}} <br />
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On each side of the first story (ground floor) is an arched entrance leading into the interior, which is an octagonal hall. The second story (first floor) follows the same plan as the first. The third story (second floor) consists of an octagonal room in the center, surrounded by a columned [[veranda]]. While four pillars are present on each side, one of these is common to two sides, thus making for a total of 24 pillars, leading to the name of the tower, which literally translates to "tower of thirty-two pillars", to be described as a [[misnomer]];{{Sfn|Nath|1982|p=192}} however, the next level has an additional eight pillars for at total of 32.{{Citation needed|date=March 2025}}<br />
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In the middle of the terrace on the third floor, there is a ''[[chhatri]]'' with more pillars and brackets to support the surviving ''[[chhajja]]'' (eave or roof).{{Sfn|Nath|1982|p=191-192}} Now in a dilapidated condition, it was originally covered with [[Porcelain tile|glazed tiles]]. A flight of steps on the southern side used to lead from the ground floor to the terrace. This has now been destroyed.{{Sfn|Nath|1982|p=191-192}}<ref>{{Cite book |last=Smith |first=Edmund W. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aVhBAQAAIAAJ |title=Moghul Colour Decoration of Agra: Described and Illustrated |date=1901 |publisher=supdt., Government Press |pages=3 |language=en }}</ref><br />
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== References ==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
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===Bibliography===<br />
* {{Cite book |last=Nath |first=Ram |author-link=Ram Nath |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ha5fG13V3XcC |title=History of Mughal Architecture |date=1982 |publisher=Abhinav Publications |isbn=978-81-7017-297-0 |pages=190–194 |language=en}}<br />
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[[Category:Buildings and structures of the Mughal Empire]]<br />
[[Category:Towers completed in the 17th century]]<br />
[[Category:Towers in India]]<br />
[[Category:Octagonal buildings in India]]<br />
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Agra]]</div>DrshivambjpIND