A Fascinating 16th Century Watermill-The Panchakki of Aurangabad
@gregario888 (1276)
Aurangabad, India
September 20, 2015 12:57pm CST
The Panchakki of Aurangabad, Deccan, is a must see tourist attraction, both for the domestic and the international tourists, who frequent this destination in droves, the year round. The Panchakki- is exactly what its namesake implies in Urdu/Hindi languages-a water mill. This engineering marvel, was created sometime during the year 1624 A.D., by a Sufi Saint from Central Asia, known a Baba Shah Musafir. This marvel of a flour mill, is a testimony to the engineering prowess of its time, of those artisans, who bought water to its site from a source 11kilometers away, in earthen pipes, and harnessed it to power this water mill, which was used to crush grains and make flour.
The Panchakki complex, has two large water tanks, a cistern, almost 20 feet high from ground level, from where the water drops in one of the tanks;a banyan tree almost 400 hundred years old, a madrissa or place of learning, a kacheri-a sort of office;a minister's room, houses for the zenana (female quarters)and a mausoleum, of its creator, the Sufi Saint Baba Shah Musafir.
In its hey day, the Panchakki complex, served as a tavern to travelers and commoners;as well as a seminary for students.
This place has a fascination for me since I was a kid, and I'm sure you will do the same to you!
3 people like this
3 responses
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
21 Sep 15
This mill is different from any I have ever seen and so unusual. I would love to be a tourist and see it along with others. For this mill to be still standing after such a long time is a miracle in itself. 
I love seeing things like this from other countries. Thanks for sharing.
I love seeing things like this from other countries. Thanks for sharing.2 people like this
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
21 Sep 15
@gregario888
How sad that some would vandalize and break pipes to pilfer water. It sounds like a place I would like to visit someday.
1 person likes this
@gregario888 (1276)
• Aurangabad, India
21 Sep 15
My pleasure marcyaz!, It is very much intact, though the excellent water supply system, that bought water to it, has been vandalized and pipes broken, to pilfer water. In case you ever plan a visit to India, which many foreigners do, I'm sure you'll love this place.
2 people like this
@topffer (42156)
• France
21 Sep 15
Creating a 11 km aqueduct just for a water mill looks like a record for me ! Generally it is easier to build watermills near water than to bring water to watermills
. It looks like an interesting building on your picture. Is this mill still in use today ?
. It looks like an interesting building on your picture. Is this mill still in use today ?1 person likes this
@gregario888 (1276)
• Aurangabad, India
21 Sep 15
In our age of electric and motor driven power, this flour mill is irrelevant, but it is not unusual to see the guides operate it even now, yes, it is in an operational state even now. The Aurangabad town had an excellent water supply system, based on capillary action, of aqueducts, ever since the sixteenth century. Water was saved in tanks on many flat topped hills , which are a usual sight around Aurangabad, and from there it was not only supplied to the entire town, but even to some places in its vicinity.
In the picture, you see water falling from the cistern, and under the staircase, you will find that flour mill, pretty much intact. To this day.
2 people like this
@topffer (42156)
• France
21 Sep 15
@gregario888 It is free energy, and we have still a few water and wind mills working here, mainly for oil (nuts or olive). Some of them have been restored recently and they play on both tourism and a small activity for the local population...
The Romans had also an elaborate system of aqueducts and water towers here, but it was abandoned later, and it is during the 17th C that running water came back progressively in a few cities. Mine is on a top of a hill, and got water again only in the 1830's.
When I watched your picture, I noticed first the cistern/water tower. It was smart to have build it near the water to avoid the need of an overflow canal and pipe : economy of means
.
.1 person likes this
@gregario888 (1276)
• Aurangabad, India
21 Sep 15
@topffer This is nothing short of a marvel, to pump water from across 11 miles without any pumping station, through high and low ground spaces. In fact, there are two tanks there, one that you see in the picture, the other one is some distance away. Even that tank has an underground cellar underneath it! It is amazing, you walk in that cellar and come to realize, its roof is holding a water tank almost seventy feet long and twenty five feet wide! Those craftsmen surely would have taught a trick or two, to our modern day engineers.
1 person likes this
@Shyamalaa (525)
• Udaipur, India
21 Sep 15
I have been to Aurangabad long time back, and I remember vaguely about the chakki. Thanks for refreshing my memory
1 person likes this
@gregario888 (1276)
• Aurangabad, India
21 Sep 15
Yes Shyamala, it is still very much there, and attracts many visitors each day.
1 person likes this
