Panchakki

Panchakki is a 17th-century water mill complex in Aurangabad that is close to Bibi ka Maqbara. It has a court, a madrasa, the house of a minister, a mosque, houses for women, and a sarai. The mill's name comes from its use in grinding grains for the travelers. It is one of the historic places to visit in Aurangabad for those interested in ancient engineering and Mughal-era architecture.

This building gets its water from an underground stream that is 6 km from Panchakki and is a branch of the Harsul River. Clay pipes bring the water to the building. Panchakki is already very beautiful, but a big banyan tree that is almost 300 years old makes it even more attractive.

Historical Background

A nobleman named Turktaz Khan worked for King Nizam-ul-Mulk Asaf Jah. He built Panchakki and most of the other buildings in the complex. In about twenty years, Jamil Beg Khan added the wide, deep reservoir in front of the mosque, along with some beautiful flower waterfalls. This historic site is often included in Aurangabad tour packages for its architectural beauty and historical significance.

Engineers used advanced floor plans that were way ahead of their time to build this beautiful building. When it was first built, Panchakki was a real wonder of the country. Based on advanced physics and science, its main goal was to grind grains. It served saints, pilgrims, armed troops, and devotees who came to Aurangabad in the 17th century. It also aimed to generate electricity from a nearby spring.

Attractions in Panchakki

Library: After 70 years, Panchakki's library opened. The library held 100,000 books upon independence but closed in 1970 for administrative reasons. Authorities transported the books to Hyderabad. At present, the collection houses 2,500 books written by eminent scholars in Arabic, Persian, and Urdu. These cover subjects like medicine, science, law, philosophy, Sufism, and more. It contains the valuable Holy Quran with a golden covering on both sides.

Aurangzeb's spiritual guru and counselor, Hazrat Baba Shah Musafir's cenotaph is in Panchakki. Panchakki and its library were established by the great Sufi saint Hazrat Baba Shah Musafir of Bukhara, Russia. He was buried at Panchakki, where the memorial park has many fish tanks.

This attraction overlooks one of Aurangabad's most beautiful vistas. Kaula Nala bounds the structure, which contains two pointed-arched historic bridges. The 300-year-old banyan tree is a gigantic marvel. On one side, Begampura's walls encircle Panchakki, and on the other, Shah Musafir's garden lies between the city walls and Kaula Nala. The terrain is full of gorgeous fountains that bubble like delight.