Birbal House in Fatehpur Sikri

Almost every other person has heard about Birbal, a counselor to the Mughal ruler Akbar. A Brahman minstrel known for his wit and ability to trick any person with his wisdom came to Akbar’s court during his reign. Soon he became one of the most prominent courtesans and was first titled as Hindu poet laureate and then with his achievements was ranked as the Raja. He became so close and dear to Akbar that without his counsel and advice, he wouldn’t take any important decisions. Birbal was one of those courtesans who believed in Akbar’s “Faith of Divine” and supported him completely. He was Akbar’s empire’s Prime Minister and was also considered as one of the nine gems of his court. This is why Akbar ordered the architects to build a house for his very dear and wise Birbal.


Birbal’s house was one of the most lavishly decorated buildings in the fort of Fatehpur Sikri. Situated at the north-west corner of Jodha Bai’s Palace, this was the largest of all the other regal residences. This luxuriously decorated house was built in 1571 and was honored with the presence of the Emperor himself. Though it was believed that Birbal was Akbar’s closest friend but it was unlikely that the Emperor would build such an opulent house for Birbal just next to his palace or give him a magnificent house rather than giving it to his close friends Fazl and Faizi. The House of Birbal was used more as a dwelling for Akbar’s senior queens: Ruqayya Begum and Salima Sultan Begum.

Though built for a Hindu Brahmin, the House of Birbal was inspired by Persian and Mughal architecture. This visually enthralling structure of the royal Harem is built in two storeys with complex arrangements yet intricate in its architectural embellishment. The ground floor has four square rooms of 16’-10” dimension. Open doorways and two quadrilateral entrance porches at the northwest and southwest corner of the building interconnect these four rooms. Where the four rooms are constructed with flat ceilings, the spacious porches are adorned with triangular chappar ceiling with a pyramid roof to keep the interiors of the building cool.

Divided into three parts with exquisitely carved classical architectural columns known as pilasters, the interiors of the building look magnificently beautiful. These pilasters are divided into three zones, each adorned with different carvings like a single border design, arabesque geometrical design and stylized floral design. The top storey is constructed with striking jharokhas overlooking the porch below with an uncomplicated chajja. The two rooms on the upper storey rest on an eight-sided cask, carved with a trefoil pattern. These casks have inverted lotus and kalash finials with stunning tile work, the only Hindu architectural designs used in it. The main attraction is the exterior of the building which is carved with eave brackets. Though these brackets are very commonly found in Mughal architecture, yet the way it is employed and designed in Birbal’s House is just magnificent.