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2021-06-27T15:41:20Z

Reverted edits by 2409:4042:2D0F:B0F5:FC54:C2F8:AF23:7339 (talk) (HG) (3.4.10)

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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2017}}
[[File:Panchakki fountain, Aurangabad.jpg|thumb|Panchakki fountain, Aurangabad.]]
'''Panchakki''', known as the [[water mill]]. This monument is located in [[Aurangabad, Maharashtra|Aurangabad]], [[Maharashtra]], displays the scientific thought process put in medieval Indian architecture. It was designed to generate energy via water brought down from a spring on a mountain. The building, attached to the dargah of Baba Shah Musafir a [[Sufi]] saint is located in a garden near the Mahmud Darvaza and consist of a mosque, a madrassa, a kacheri, a minister's house, a sarai and houses for zananas.

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==History==
[[File:Panchakki Board.jpg|thumb|right|The board at the entrance of Panchakki]]
Most of the buildings in the [[dargah]] complex (including Panchakki) were erected by Turktaz Khan, a noble on the staff of [[Qamar-ud-din Khan, Asaf Jah I|Nizam-ul-Mulk Asaf Jah]] in about 1695 A. D. The oblong reservoir in front of the mosque and fountains were added 20 years later by Jamil Beg Khan. Dating back to the 17th century, this ingenious water mill was designed to use the energy generated by flowing water from a nearby spring to turn the large grinding stones of the flour mill. Shah Mosafar died in [[Islamic calendar|Hijri]] 1110. This watermill was used to grind grain for the pilgrims and disciples of saints as well as for the troops of the garrison.<ref name="Maharashtra gov - Gazetteer Department">[http://www.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/gazFileShow.php?filePath=/data/gazetteer/2002/04/25/20020425102943_file35.htm&level=1&gazetteerSqlId=20020425102943&distId=19&gazId=20020422121541 Maharashtra gov - Gazetteer Department]</ref>

==Operating process==
[[File:Panchakki.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Panchakki, Baba Shah Mosafar Dargah 1880s]]
The water-mill is kept fed with sufficient water by an underground conduit, which commences from a well just above the junction of the Harsul river with a tributary stream eight kilometers away. After crossing the tributary stream near its confluence with Harsul, this water-pipe proceeds to the Panchakki reservoir. The arrangement is such that the water is made to fall into the Panchakki cistern from quite a height in order to generate the necessary power to drive the mill. The cistern lies in front of the mosque whose bottom forms the roof of a spacious hall. The cool chambers of the hall are used in summers by pilgrims, and is about 164' X 31' ornamented with fountains. The excess of water is let in the Kham river.<ref name="Maharashtra gov - Gazetteer Department"/>

A fine view of the Kham river can be had from the windows of this hall. There is also a cenotaph to the spiritual preceptor of Baba Musafir Shah and a tomb to his disciple Baba Shah Mahmood and a few other graves. A huge [[Banyan]] tree on the southern margin of the reservoir provides shade and adds beauty to the whole scene. In the North-West corner, adjacent to the cistern, is the water mill driven entirely by water power. It is said that in the olden days, grain could be ground without physical effort.

The country here exhibits one of the most picturesque landscapes about [[Aurangabad, Maharashtra|Aurangabad]]. The Kaula Nala skirts the garden, and is first crossed by an old bridge with pointed arches and then by a second bridge which spans it lower down. The walls of Begampura are to the right and the city walls are to the left, while Shah Musafir's garden is between the latter and the river bank. The garden walls descend down to the bed of the Nala; and the dargah and the accompanying buildings, with the cisterns and the fountains that are interspersed, blend picturesquely with the garden vegetation.<ref name="Maharashtra gov - Gazetteer Department"/>
[[File:Panchakki at Aurangabad.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Panchakki, Aurangabad]]

==Recent==
An 18th-century library, housing manuscripts and a number of precious books have been reopened after 70 years here ([[Aurangabad, Maharashtra|Aurangabad]]). The library treasured about 100,000 books and writing pieces until Indian independence (1947). However, it was closed down in the 1970s due to administrative reasons due to which many of the library books were shifted to [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]]. The library presently houses 2,500 books on various subjects related to history, law, medicine, [[Sufism]], religion and philosophy in [[Arabic]], penned by philosophers, saints and scholars in [[Urdu]] and [[Persian language]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100111055226/http://sify.com/news/18th-century-library-reopens-in-Aurangabad-after-70-years-news-jmxwkeabhdc.html library-reopens-in-Aurangabad]</ref>

Panchakki also houses the headquarters of the [[Waqf]] board of [[Maharashtra]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://centralwakfcouncil.org/members.htm |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2010-10-01 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101004010746/http://centralwakfcouncil.org/members.htm |archivedate=4 October 2010 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>[http://mahawakf.com/ Maharashtra Wakf Board]</ref>

{{coord|19|53|22|N|75|18|56|E|display=title}}

==See also==
*[[Sufi Saints of Aurangabad]]
*[[Aurangabad, Maharashtra|Aurangabad]]
*[[Aurangabad Water System]]
*[[Ajanta Caves]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [http://wikimapia.org/142789/ Wikimapia]

{{Aurangabad district, Maharashtra topics}}

[[Category:Monuments and memorials in Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Aurangabad, Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Mughal architecture]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Aurangabad, Maharashtra]]

Panchakki - Revision history

imported>Serols: Reverted edits by 2409:4042:2D0F:B0F5:FC54:C2F8:AF23:7339 (talk) (HG) (3.4.10)