Birbal’s Palace, Fatehpur Sikri, UP, India.
Fatehpur Sikri’s Royal palace complex is known for elegant Mughal architecture. Among many palaces one is of Birbal who was a close associate and noble of emperor Akbar.
Raja Birbal was an advisor, a Commander and a minister in Akbar’s Court. He was the most favourite Navratna of Akbar and he was most trusted courtiers of Mughal Emperor Akbar. He was a main commander besides he was a poet and a singer too. Birbal’s palace is situated close to the Royal Hurrem, which displays his importance.
This is a two storey structure which was the residence of Akbar’s most loyal courtiers Birbal. In the construction of this palace, special attention has been taken to the size and appearance.
Ground floor is having four rooms and two porticos and upper floor with two rooms, terraces which are enclosed by stone screens. Porticos are having pyramidal roofs made by red stone and crowned by elongated finials at the centre of two inverted lotuses in each roof. First floor rooms are having two hemispherical domes built on octagonal rims flanked by finials at the centre of inverted lotuses. First floor’s each room is having a hanging balcony supported by two stone brackets. Each open terrace can be accessed from both rooms. Visitors are not permitted to visit the first floor by the Archaeological Department.
It’s classical or Akbari architecture is superb and ornamentation is stunning.
In fact, from the entrance to the inner rooms, the walls, ceilings, and all structural elements, are special examples of marvelous adornment. Walls are having magnificent arched niches with fringes of lotus buds, lotuses, flames and borders with floral vines. Walls, ceilings, cornices and other elements are carved with Arbasque, geometrical, Swastik, Octagonal, Stars, floral etc motifs. Pillar capitals and eave brackets are beautifully decorated by carvings. The ornamentation work is done by highly skilled and perfect engravers on the red sandstone is amazing.
Exterior is also stunning and spectacular. Stone pillars, eave brackets, lintels, friezes, stone hangouts, hanging balconies, niches, balustrades, summits surrounding the domes, parapet etc are finely carved. Entrance into the house is through a magnificent segmented archway and top is decorated with a pointed arch which is having a fringe of lotus buds. In the centre below the point of the arch there’s a Sun and in level of the central point either side lotuses are carved. It’s very difficult to describe magnificence of the craftsmanship.
This structure is indeed a masterpiece, and a spectacular monument. I am not a good photographer, but through Pics , there is an effort to share all the special aspects of this monument with art and architecture lovers.
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