Samosa Mahal

A triangular shape, the Samosa Mahal resembles the shape of an Indian snack known as samosa. It is said that it is the residence of one of the nobles of Mughal Emperor Akbar. Few or no records are available regarding the real name or occupants of the building. But its shape has been altered ever since its northern part was demolished and an enclosure ‘wall’ was raised in its place. The ‘Samosa Mahal’ is a single-story building with its main entrance to the west. The palace is truly an iconic monument from the Mughal era.

Red and grey sandstone have been used for the construction of the palace, with ornamental arches as well as friezes on all facets. Samosa Mahal has a series of rooms along with a long open veranda on all sides. Being a residential construct, it also has ‘hammams’ and toilets with earthenware pipes.

Samosa Mahal is a part of the ‘Fatehpur Sikri Fort complex’, which is about 36 km from the city Agra. Over the years, this place has become a center of attraction for the tourists. Due to accessibility and the beauty of the bygone history people find it interesting to visit it.

Attraction

The main attraction is the design of this single-storeyed Samosa Mahal, which is irregular, as a part of it has been destroyed. Due to its unique features, many people love to visit this place.

The architecture of the remaining building today is a testament to the ‘artistic abilities’ of the Mughals. The aesthetics and skills of that time, combined with red sandstone, still make it a ‘vintage collection’ of the Mughals. The palace is adorned with ‘ornamental arches’, beautiful pillars, and brackets that grace the verandas. During your visit, you can see traces of the paintings within its interiors, too.

A visit to Samosa Mahal Fatehpur Sikri will give you an opportunity to shop for souvenirs. For example, Marble inlays, ceramic arts, and leather-made goods are very common in the shops near the fort. ‘Embroidery’ works and traditional jewelry are worth checking out. Another must-buy item is the variety of attars (perfume oils).

History

It is said that it is the residence of one of the nobles of Mughal Emperor Akbar. It was built in the 16th century. Few or no records are available regarding the real name or occupants of the building. However, The Samosa Mahal is so known because of its triangular shape that resembles the shape of an Indian snack known as samosa. It is believed to be the residence of one of the nobles of Akbar. but its shape has been altered ever since its northern portion was demolished and an enclosure wall was raised in its place.

Inside/Outside Views

Samosa Mahal is single-storeyed and it has its main entrance to the west. The irregular courtyard is surrounded by ‘verandahs’ on its three sides. On the southern side, it has five rooms in total with its roofs supported by pillars as well as brackets.

The other two sides have a series of rooms, too, with an open courtyard. There are six rooms on the eastern side and four rooms on the northern side. As the palace used to be a residential building, it also contained hammams or baths and toilets with earthenware pipes. The palace has been designed beautifully, keeping in mind the ‘needs and comforts’ of the occupants. However, the combination of red and gray sandstone that was used to build it gives an aesthetic vibe. Ornamental arches and friezes have been used on all sides. One can see the traces of the paintings in the interiors even today. Beautiful pillars and heavy brackets still grace the verandahs.

Opening Hours

Monday 6:00 am – 6:00 pm

Tuesday 6:00 am – 6:00 pm

Wednesday 6:00 am – 6:00 pm

Thursday 6:00 am – 6:00 pm

Friday 6:00 am – 6:00 pm

Saturday 6:00 am – 6:00 pm

Sunday 6:00 am – 6:00 pm

Please Note: Samosa Mahal is open from ‘sunrise to sunset’.

How to Reach

By train: A small ‘Fatehpur Sikri railway station’ is close to the fort (about 3 km away). Trains are available from Agra to get there. From the station, you can take an auto-rickshaw or any other local transport.

By bus: Buses are also available for Fatehpur Sikri from many other nearby cities including Agra. Samosa Mahal Fatehpur Sikri is about 36 km from Agra. And it’s 35 km from Agra’s ‘Idgah bus stand’ and ‘Agra Cantt railway station’. From the fort, Fatehpur Sikri bus stand is 3 km away. You can hire an auto-rickshaw there to reach the fort.

By air: From the Agra airport, it’s 34 km away. However, the nearest international airport is in Delhi (215 km away). From the airport, you can take local transports to reach the site.

Tips for Travellers

We recommend hiring a knowledgeable and reputable guide for exploring. Beware of the scammers, who will try and interact with you.
Winter (from November to February) is the best time to visit it.
You can visit Samosa Mahal anytime during the year. It’s open from sunrise to sunset.
While it takes only about ‘20-30 minutes’ to explore this dilapidated palace, you must have at least ‘2-3 hours’ in hand to check out the entire Fatehpur Sikri complex.
Impressive building but too many downsides. So, if you are not physically fit, then do not take too much pressure.