Panchakki

5.00

Location: Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India

Estimated Visiting Time: 1-2 hours

Panchakki is known as the water mill. This place is located in Aurangabad, Maharashtra, displays the scientific thought process put in medieval Indian architecture and it was designed to generate energy via water brought down from a spring on a mountain. The building is attached to the dargah of Baba Shah Musafir a Sufi saint located in a garden near the Mahmud Darwaza.

Attraction

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, and 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 to generate the necessary power to drive the mill and the cool chambers of the hall are used in summers by pilgrims.

History

Most of the buildings in the dargah complex were erected by Turktaz Khan, a noble on the staff of 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 and In the 17th century, this beautiful 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 Hijri 1110 and this watermill was used to grind grain for the pilgrims and disciples of saints.

Inside/Outside Views

An 18th-century library, housing manuscripts, and several precious books have been reopened after 70 years here. The library treasured about 100,000 books and writing pieces until 1847 and it was closed down in the 1970s due to administrative reasons due to which many of the library books were shifted to Hyderabad and the library presently houses 2,500 books on various subjects related to history, Sufism, medicine, law, religion and philosophy in Arabic

Opening Hours

6.30 am to 9.30 pm is the visiting time of this place.

Entry & Others Fees

For Indians: INR 5
For Foreigners: INR 100

Near Restaurants

Great Sagar Restaurant
Nikhil’s Kitchen
Safwans Veg And Nonveg Family Restaurant
Silver Spoon Restaurant
Hillview Restaurant

Near Hotels

How to Reach

By air: Aurangabad airport is the nearby airport to this place.

By rail: Aurangabad Railway is the neatest railway in this place. It’s located at a distance of 4 km from this place which is approximately a 12 min drive.

By road: By road is the best way to reach this place. You can take a bus to reach Aurangabad city first. Aurangabad bustand only 1 km away from this place. Otherwise, you can hire a car or cab to reach this place directly.